Lesson 4: Blogging and Argumentative Writing Workshop
Duration of Days: 1
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to set up their digital course portfolio (blog) and draft an introductory post that uses argumentative writing to state a position on a chosen civic issue.
How do I write for a digital audience?
What makes an argument "informed" versus just an "opinion"?
CT SS Inq 9–12.4: Communicate conclusions and take informed action.
MBL SS Standard 4C: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Tech Setup: Students create their course blogs (Google Sites, Blogger, or LMS-based).
Writing Workshop: Review the "Claims, Evidence, Reasoning" (CER) framework for argumentative writing.
Drafting: Students write their first post: "Why [Issue X] matters to me and my community."
Purpose: To establish the primary mode of reflection and assessment for the mastery-based capstone.
DOK Level: 3 (Strategic Thinking)
Provide "Sentence Starters" for argumentative claims; allow students to record an audio version of their blog post for a podcast-style submission.
Published Introductory Blog Post (scored via writing rubric).