Education Commons^™

Just Trust Me (2023-2024), Gabrielle Wall

Argument

The argument essay, “Just Trust Me,” covers a range of sources, motives, and technologies involved in the spread of disinformation. From Google search results to AI generated content and deep fakes, Wall ultimately argues for regulation of AI and intervention from government organizations rather than banning information. Her argument focuses on the consequences, such as voting or health decisions that can stem from unregulated practices of disinformation.

The Great Unknown: Unlimited Artificial Intelligence (2023-2024), Kathryn O'Brien

Argument

O’Brien begins this argument essay with the following reminder that “We use A.I. every day without even realizing. There are so many different algorithms built into every single app we use, as well as search engines like Google.” She goes on to consider the use of Artificial Intelligence in algorithms, online information availability, healthcare, and the arts. Throughout the use of examples within these various contexts, O’Brien interrogates the need for limits to AI in order to counter bias, limit the prevalence of hate speech, and ultimately preserve our humanity.

Myside Bias Shifting In The Written Arguments Of First Year Composition Students, Lezlie Christensen-Branum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation reports on research conducted to better understand how college student writers learned to work against their own biases as they researched and wrote arguments. I conducted a review of former studies to design a curriculum that would help students avoid bias and increase their ability to write arguments tailored to specific readers in ways that accomplish their goals. This review also informed the kinds of data to be collected and analyzed in order to accomplish the research goal, which was to understand whether and how each of seven students enrolled in a composition course reduced their biases. I …

Effects Of Teaching Argument To First-Year Community-College Students Using A Structural And Dialectical Approach, Sharon Radcliff

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure to what extent an experimental method of teaching argument incorporating elements from both Toulmin’s (2004) structural approach and Walton’s (2013) dialectical approach effects first-year college students’ ability to write strong arguments. This experimental instruction used critical questioning as a strategy in building a strong argument, incorporating alternative viewpoints, and creating a dialogue between claims and counterclaims, backed logically by verifiable evidence from reliable sources.

Using the Analytic Scoring Rubric of Argumentative Writing (ASRAW; Stapleton & Wu, 2015) that includes the argument elements of claims, data, counterclaim, counterclaim data, rebuttal claim, and rebuttal …

Enhancing Cultural And Linguistic Responsiveness In Argument Writing Pedagogy Through Effective Adaptations For English Learners: Insights From C3wp Resource Analysis And Three Experienced Teachers’ Practices, Katelyn Walsh, Katey Robinson, Rachel Deacon, Zuzana Tomaš

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This article examines recommended adaptations for English Learners (ELs) in the nationally-recognized C3WP argument writing program through the lens of effective EL literacy practices and culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. We present an analysis of C3WP EL tips and EL notices and argue that when evaluated from the second language literacy and linguistically and culturally responsive pedagogy perspectives, the C3WP program could be enhanced by adding guidance for 1) specific instructional supports designed to increase ELs’ access to the resources and 2) helping teachers leverage these learners’ multicultural and multilinguistic capital. To help imagine how such effective additional guidance could …

Intersections At A Multiethnic High School: C3wp Meets Culturally Relevant And Sustaining Pedagogy, Amy Carpenter Ford, Maria G. Kioussis

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

In this article we describe how an English teacher at a multiethnic, suburban high school adapted the National Writing Project’s innovative argument writing program, the College, Career, and Community Writing Program, to be culturally relevant and sustaining for students in her 10^th grade English Language Arts classroom. Building on the C3WP’s roots in critical pedagogy and emphasis on engaging multiple perspectives, we explore the program’s potential in multiethnic classrooms as part of a culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy. Specifically, we recount how the teacher employed tools from three mini-units (“Coming to Terms with Evidence,” ”Coming to Terms with Opposing …

Learning The Language Of Academic Writing: Using The C3wp As A Scaffold In The Secondary English Classroom, John Lennon

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Using academic language and employing textual evidence as support is a critical component of academic writing. However, many secondary students struggle to join academic conversations because of the skills associated with this type of writing. Through the implementation of the National Writing Project's College, Career, and Community Writing Program (C3WP) (2018) and focusing on the moves of academic writers presented by Harris (2006) and Graff and Birkenstein (2017), students can find ways to use evidence in a more constructive way in their research and argumentative writing. This essay will analyze student writing samples at various levels of skill development and …

Building An Earnest And Amicable Argument Culture In The Secondary Classroom, Dave Stuart Jr.

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

How do we build collaborative, positive argument cultures in secondary classrooms? In this article, the author walks through two methods for doing this. First, the author describes the use of organized sentence templates for making collaborative argument more accessible to students. Second, the author lays out a method for facilitating whole-class, argumentative discussions: pop-up debate. Classroom examples are provided to illustrate the concepts.

Housing First To Address Homelessness (2019-2020), Caitlyn Gonzalez

Argument

In this student example we can see a clear stance is taken by Gonzales as she argues that vacant homes should be used to house the homeless based on a “Housing First” program model. Her argument draws on examples, narrative, and statistics to persuade the reader as to why this model of government and not-for-profit intervention would help homeless individuals and families recover financial and social stability.

Government Funding For The Arts (2019-2020), Michael Kravchenko

Argument

In this example of an argument, Kravchenko makes the case for the need for continued funding for arts education. He points out the benefits of a funded arts education as increasing creativity, child development, and future career opportunities.

The Case For Less Immigration Restrictions In The United States (2019-2020), Elle O’Leary Kelleher

Argument

In this example of an argument, Kelleher explores how the issue of immigration has been taken up in politics and policy, but rests on many misperceptions, including the negative portrayal of immigrants in popular culture ranging from 1931 to 2013. Kelleher argues for a loosening of immigration restrictions based on benefits to the United States and based on a historical sense of “American values.”

David Gillespie's 'Teen Brain': A Valid Argument Let Down By Selective Science And Over-The-Top Claims, Sarah P. Loughran

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Screen time has arguably become the most concerning aspect of development for modern-day parents. A 2015 poll identified children's excessive screen time as the number one concern for parents, overtaking more traditional concerns such as obesity and not getting enough physical activity.

Comparison Of Two Approaches To Interpretive Use Arguments, Michele Carney, Angela Crawford, Carl Siebert, Rich Osguthorpe, Keith Thiede

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 2014) recommend an argument-based approach to validation that involves a clear statement of the intended interpretation and use of test scores, the identification of the underlying assumptions and inferences in that statement—termed the interpretation/use argument, and gathering of evidence to support or refute the assumptions and inferences. We present two approaches to articulating the assumptions and inferences that underlie a score interpretation and use statement, also termed the interpretation/use argument (Kane, 2016). One approach uses the five sources of validity evidence in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing …

Imagining Across Disciplines For A Sustainable Future, Emily James

Writing Center Analysis Papers

At present, the words sustainable and sustainability tend to be associated with environmental issues. Yet, the word sustain comes from the Old French sostenier meaning, “hold up, bear; suffer, endure” and Latin’s sustinere that adds, “hold upright; furnish with means of support; undergo.” Latin’s sustinere can further be broken down into the elements sub and tenere, the root of which, ten, means, “to stretch” (Harper). This paper reflects upon the ways in which the concept of sustainability affects my role as a writing tutor and composition instructor as I seek to help students stretch their abilities to develop ideas …

Smiles, Sighs, And Nods: The Power Of A Personal Narrative, Camille Sleight-Price

Writing Center Analysis Papers

As a writing tutor and composition instructor, each time I work with a student I am meeting and getting to know a stranger through their writing. Although each student comes to sit next to me with their own background, topics of interest and insecurities, in each case I get to accompany them on the journey of meaning-making through the processes of research and composing. This paper highlights one such instance of meaning-making with a student. It suggests that this meaning-making is not just about developing students’ academic skills like research, critical thinking and composition, but is an opportunity as a …

Measuring Cogency In Argument In The Seventh-Grade English Classroom, Millie Gonzalez-Balsam

Doctoral Dissertations

Constructing a cogent argument that addresses real-world problems aids students in the development of critical thinking and requires students to present multiple perspectives in a credible manner. Yet, rubrics do not always measure students’ reasoning. The purpose of this study was to create a valid and reliable instrument to measure cogency in argument. I created a Teacher Designed Rubric Measuring Cogency (TDRMC) based on Toulmin’s model of argument for its emphasis on context-specific warrants, and I used Wilson’s framework for assessment to operationalize the construct of cogency. I compared the TDRMC to the current standardized assessment rubric for the Common …

Civil Discourse In The Classroom: Preparing Students For Academic And Civic Participation, Melissa Legate

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis will explore the importance of civil discourse education. I assert that there is a tremendous need for productive means of disagreement in today’s society, and I propose that the classroom is an ideal setting in which to foster the skills needed for civil discourse. This document features arguments for the need for civil discourse, a detailed definition of it, multiple pedagogical approaches to civil discourse education, and an explanation of the ways in which civil discourse aligns with national- and state-level educational standards. Among this research are also examples of the work of Pierce High School’s English 9 …

Assessing Student Understanding Of Reasoning Using Argument-Based Contrast Matrices, Ethan Geheb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is strong national interest in increasing student proficiency in STEM, which includes the learning and practice of scientific argumentation. The codevelopment of scientific knowledge and argumentation has shown to positively influence student general understanding of argument construction, scientific knowledge and principles. Research indicates students continue to struggle with constructing complete arguments, with specific difficulty in correctly incorporating reasoning. Numerous frameworks have been developed to support student learning about argumentation. These frameworks contain common teaching strategies for introducing and teaching reasoning within the context of a science classroom. However, these strategies do not specifically target student struggle with using reasoning, …

Practicing Abstraction Argument And Explanation: The Little Goat And The High Priest, David Marshall

Open Educational Resources

A one page handout to illustrate and practice concepts of abstraction argument and explanation. There are suggested activities using the handout and for generating other similar assignments.

The Kite Runner (11th Grade), Alice Bilbrey

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

This three week unit for 11th grade English (American Literature) is for the assigned summer reading novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The first goal of the unit is to introduce the students to the concept that the established American literary canon has evolved to include diverse authors with myriad experiences and from different backgrounds. Furthermore, the lessons in this unit will introduce the concept that all language functions as rhetoric and is, essentially, an argument. Students will continue to revisit this concept throughout the year. Finally, students will explore three major themes of The Kite Runner: power/privilege, injustice, …

Integrating Multimodal Arguments Into High School Writing Instruction, Emily Howell, Tracy Butler, David Reinking

Publications

We conducted a formative experiment investigating how an intervention that engaged students in constructing multimodal arguments could be integrated into high school English instruction to improve students’ argumentative writing. The intervention entailed three essential components: (a) construction of arguments defined as claims, evidence, and warrants; (b) digital tools that enabled the construction of multimodal arguments; and (c) a process approach to writing. The intervention was implemented for 11 weeks in high school English classrooms. Data included classroom observations; interviews with the teacher, students, and administrators; student reflections; and the products students created. These data, analyzed using grounded-theory coding and constant-comparison …

Creating Arguments Using A Multiliteracies Approach: A Formative Experiment, Emily Howell

All Dissertations

This dissertation study addresses the New London Group’s (1996) concern that technology and globalization require an expanded concept of literacy that focuses upon the multimodal nature of communication. This study combined a formative experiment with multiple-case-study methods to understand the pedagogical implications of implementing an intervention based upon the multiliteracies perspective (New London Group, 1996), a perspective that remains theoretical in application. This study sought to implement this perspective in a ninth- and a tenth-grade English class in a rural school district and develop assertions that further the localized, pedagogical understanding and application of the present study’s intervention (Gravemeijer & …

Debate, Kevin Gaughan

Assessment & Feedback Cases

This is a work in progress. The idea is that a number of topics are selected that are relevant to the subject material, beyond the scope of lectures. Students are assigned to groups and then told which side of the debate they are on. Some sides/opinions are more popular but, like a lawyer, the idea is to present the best case/argument possible, independent of their own beliefs.

Argument Construction, Argument Evaluation, And Decision-Making: A Content Analysis Of Argumentation And Debate Textbooks, Neil Stuart Butt

Wayne State University Dissertations

Critical thinking abilities, especially the advanced critical thinking abilities required for decision-making, are important to both individuals and democratic policy making processes. Previous studies have indicated that argumentation and debate instruction can improve critical thinking abilities, but there are reasons to believe that current approaches are not as effective at developing decision-making ability as they could be, in part because they focus too heavily on argument construction, rather than argument evaluation and decision-making. In order to test which approaches to teaching argumentation and debate best encourage decision-making abilities, researchers need to know which elements are included in current argumentation and …

Ec04-470 When Words Are Used As Weapons: What Can I Do? (Part 3 Of A Four Part Series), Kathy Bosch

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In the midst of conflict, it's sometimes difficult to determine if the argument is hostile or actually a misunderstanding. However, according to Elaine Johannes, Kansas State University Extension family and community mental health specialist, if the conflict intentionally humiliates, degrades, belittles or antagonizes, there is no confusion whether or not the conflict comes from conversational style differences; it's definitely abuse.

One theory that examines the lack of understanding between women and men is attributed to gender differences in the ways they speak. Problems may exist when couples ignore these differences in conversational styles. The differences are neither good or bad, …

G99-1392 "Fighting Fair" In Marriage, Herbert G. Lingren

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide presents steps to follow to recognize and resolve marital conflicts through negotiation and finding mutually agreeable alternatives.

Do you ever use extreme or irrational tactics to gain your point (slamming doors, stomping around)?

Do you sometimes hurt your spouse in order to have the last word (sarcasm, name-calling)?

Do you store up grudges and use them to "hit" your partner over the head at a later time (revenge)?

Is your attitude "If I don't get what I want, I will quit cooperating?"

Do you continually expect others to do things the "right way" (your way)?

If you answered …

Nf98-388 How To Manage Daily Stress, Herbert G. Lingren

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Purpose: To learn about stress and coping, and to develop a stress management plan..

Nf98-387 Children And Stress, Herbert G. Lingren

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact offers some advice to help reduce stress in children's lives.

Nf98-383 Improve Communication For Better Understanding, Herbert G. Lingren

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact offers some advice on family communication.

Nf98-386 Get Rid Of Anger For A Healthy Life, Herbert G. Lingren

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact offers some advice to help reduce anger in one's life.