English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes
Is it an arguable thesis?
Writing & Editing
CCSS W.11-12.1.ACCSS W.11-12.2.AEngland: A-level English (essay writing)England: AP Language and LiteratureEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q5
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Is it an arguable thesis?.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Thesis statements and supporting evidence; The Toulmin model: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, rebuttal
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Thesis statements and supporting evidence; The Toulmin model: claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, rebuttal). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which part of the Toulmin model matches this description? The evidence or facts offered to support the claim. (grounds / backing / claim / qualifier) → groundsPrompt: Ask what job each part does: state, prove, connect, support the connection, limit, or admit exceptions.
- Thesis: The town should ban single-use plastic bags. Which sentence best acknowledges and answers a counterargument? (Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves. / Plastic bags are bad. / Everyone agrees with me. / Bags can be blue or white.) → Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves.Prompt: A strong thesis takes a clear, arguable position and hints at the reasons.
- Which part of a Toulmin argument is this sentence? Last year there were 14 collisions involving cyclists on the high street. (backing / rebuttal / grounds / warrant) → groundsPrompt: Is it the position itself, a piece of evidence, the link between them, support for that link, a limiting word like 'in most cases', or an 'unless'?
Hook · 6 min
- Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
- Share the objective: Is it an arguable thesis?. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? This essay is about the novel 'Frankenstein'.
- Step 1: A strong thesis is arguable, specific and often previews its reasons; facts, vague generalisations and topic announcements are not theses.
- Step 2: It announces the subject only.
- Step 3: So the answer is: an announcement of the topic
- Answer: an announcement of the topic
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? Schools should replace one hour of screen time a day with outdoor learning, because it improves both concentration and wellbeing. (arguable, specific thesis / just a fact / too broad or vague / an announcement of the topic) → arguable, specific thesisPrompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
- Which statement is this: too broad or vague? (Shakespeare is a very important writer. / Schools should replace one hour of screen time a day with outdoor learning, because it improves both concentration and wellbeing. / In this essay I will talk about climate change.) → Shakespeare is a very important writer.Prompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
You do: independent practice · 17 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? The voting age should be lowered to sixteen because sixteen-year-olds already work, pay tax and can make informed choices. (arguable, specific thesis / just a fact / too broad or vague / an announcement of the topic) → arguable, specific thesisPrompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
- Which statement is this: too broad or vague? (In Macbeth, Shakespeare presents ambition not as a personal flaw alone but as a force encouraged by the people around Macbeth, especially his wife. / In this essay I will talk about climate change. / Technology is good and bad.) → Technology is good and bad.Prompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
Watch out for
- Writing everything at once without planning.
- Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Thesis statements and supporting evidence.
- Use concrete materials: a model text.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder