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:
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:
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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):
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)
- Revisiting Argument vs. Evidence Step 2.5: Selecting the BEST Evidence (added 2-20-25)
- Various posts on Quote Sandwiches
- An Argument for Quote Lasagna
Step 2.5 materials in the Download Zone:
- Arg vs Evid Step 2.5 for BEGINNERS (added 2-20-25)
- 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
- NEW: Using ChatGPT to Strengthen Writing Instruction: Banishing “This shows that”
- 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):
Step 4 materials in the Download Zone:
Step 5: Generate your own questions that warrant research and debate.
TLC Blog post(s):
Step 5 materials in the Download Zone:
Step 6: Generate your own questions, then research and build arguments supported with evidence and explanation.
TLC Blog post(s):
Step 6 materials in the Download Zone:
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 for BEGINNERS
- 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 organizer MODEL
- 5Ws and H organizer MODEL rev 2025
- 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