• 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.

1. Which part of the Toulmin model matches this description? The position the arguer wants the audience to accept. (backing / qualifier / grounds / claim) → claimPrompt: Ask what job each part does: state, prove, connect, support the connection, limit, or admit exceptions.
2. 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.
3. Which part of a Toulmin argument is this sentence? Our town should build a protected cycle lane on the high street. (qualifier / rebuttal / backing / claim) → claimPrompt: 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'?

• 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.

• 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.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? Electric cars produce no exhaust emissions while driving. (arguable, specific thesis / just a fact / too broad or vague / an announcement of the topic) → just a factPrompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
2. Which statement is this: an announcement of the topic? (Schools should replace one hour of screen time a day with outdoor learning, because it improves both concentration and wellbeing. / 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.) → In this essay I will talk about climate change.Prompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which statement is this: an announcement of the topic? (In this essay I will talk about climate change. / Cities should prioritise protected cycle lanes over new car parks, because they reduce congestion and pollution at lower cost. / Social media has changed the way teenagers communicate.) → In this essay I will talk about climate change.Prompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.
2. What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? This essay is about the novel 'Frankenstein'. (arguable, specific thesis / just a fact / too broad or vague / an announcement of the topic) → an announcement of the topicPrompt: Could a reasonable person disagree with it? If not, it's a fact or an announcement.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.