Welcome to The Literacy Cookbook

This page curates my online resources for teaching students how to use “Argument vs. Evidence, Steps 1-6” to write more clearly.  The TLC Blog posts explain the steps, and you can find the needed materials in the Download Zone.

PS: For additional information, please check out my books:

• The Literacy Cookbook: A Practical Guide to Effective Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening Instruction
  


• Literacy and the Common Core: Recipes for Action
  
  
• Using Grammar to Improve Writing: Recipes for Action

Here's a video training module that explains the materials on this page:

Argument vs. Evidence MODULE This 33-min SELF-PACED video explains the six key steps regarding argument vs. evidence (from "What's the difference between argument and evidence?" to "How can I write a research paper from scratch?"). For more information to support your work around argument and evidence, please check out the following: TLC "Argument vs. Evidence" page Here's the FREE link to the Argument vs. Evidence MODULE PowerPoint. Here's the Argument vs. Evidence MODULE Step 2.5 Do Now (This is the handout I reference when discussing Step 2.5; you won't see it on the recording, but you will see it here.)

 

Step 1: Given a list of statements, distinguish the arguments from examples of evidence.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 1
• Argument vs. Evidence: Step 1 Revisited

Step 1 materials in the Download Zone:

• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson MAGIC TREEHOUSE
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson MAGIC TREEHOUSE --ANSWER KEY
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson BLANK TO COPY

 

Step 2: Given a list of statements, identify arguments and their relevant evidence.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 2

Step 2 materials in the Download Zone:

• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Planning STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Answer Key STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Statements STONE FOX

 

Step 2.5: Given arguments, select the most relevant evidence to support them.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Help Student Writers Find the Best Evidence
• Tools to Help Writers Explain Good Evidence (Part II)
• Various posts on Quote Sandwiches 
• An Argument for Quote Lasagna

Step 2.5 materials in the Download Zone:

• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5
• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5 Answer Key
• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5 Do Now
• Quote Lasagna Organizer (Shout-out to Allison Paludi at Great Oaks Legacy CS for her help with this tool!)

Step 3: Given arguments, support them with your own relevant evidence and explanation.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 3
• How to Teach Students to Write Strong Paragraphs
• See also the TLC “Effective Topic Sentences” page.

Step 3 materials in the Download Zone:

• Arg vs Evid Step 3 How to Find the Topic Sentence-Desk Paragraph Lesson
• Paragraph Response Scoring Checklist
• Sample Paragraph Responses for When I Was Puerto Rican

 

Step 4: Given questions, answer them with arguments and relevant evidence and explanation.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 4

Step 4 materials in the Download Zone:

• Story Detectives Organizer

 

Step 5: Generate your own questions that warrant research and debate.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 5

Step 5 materials in the Download Zone:

• 5Ws and H Organizer
• 5Ws and H Model

 

Step 6: Generate your own questions, then research and build arguments supported with evidence and explanation.

TLC Blog post(s):

• Approaches to the Common Core: Argument vs. Evidence, Step 6

Step 6 materials in the Download Zone:

• See TLC “Research Paper Guide” page.

 

IN THE DOWNLOAD ZONE for Argument vs. Evidence:

• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Planning STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Answer Key STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2 Statements STONE FOX
• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5
• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5 Answer Key
• Arg vs Evid Step 2.5 Do Now 
• Arg vs Evid Step 3 How to Find the Topic Sentence-Desk Paragraph Lesson
• Paragraph Response Scoring Checklist
• Sample Paragraph Responses for When I Was Puerto Rican
• Story Detectives Organizer
• 5Ws and H Organizer
• 5Ws and H Model
• Quote Lasagna Organizer
• Argument vs. Evidence MODULE Step 2.5 Do Now
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson MAGIC TREEHOUSE
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson MAGIC TREEHOUSE --ANSWER KEY
• Arg vs Evid Step 1 Intro Lesson BLANK TO COPY