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One of the most common writing problems I see isn't poor grammar. It's the gap between making a claim and supporting it. A student writes: “Schools should ban smartphones because they are bad for students.” The sentence expresses a position, but it doesn't yet give the reader much to evaluate. What exactly is the problem? Distraction? Learning? Social interaction? And what evidence would support the argument? For developing English writers, this is particularly demanding. They're not only learning how to express ideas in English; they're also learning how to organize reasoning, select evidence, and explain the connection between the two. I've found it useful to teach these moves separately before asking students to bring them together in a complete paragraph. That's the thinking behind my Middle School Argument Writing Toolkit for Grades 6–8. It contains four source-based writing units, worked examples, differentiated support for English learners, and practical activities focused on claims, evidence, and reasoning. Rather than asking students simply to “add more detail,” the activities help them understand what kind of detail their argument actually needs. You can explore the resource here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Middle-School-Argument-Writing-Claims-Evidence-Reasoning-ELL-Support-17909200 For English and ELA teachers: What do your students struggle with most when writing arguments—developing a clear claim, choosing relevant evidence, or explaining their reasoning?

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Middle School Argument Writing | Claims, Evidence, Reasoning & ELL Support

Help students turn an unsupported opinion into an argument a reader can check.This Grades 6-8 argument writing resource provides four original, source-based mini-units with explicit teaching, three writing support pathways, worked examples and feedback that names the next writing move. Students can…

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