Types of Evidence and Writing “Solutions” transitions students from being critics to being visionaries. As a pivotal writing session in the Informational Reading & Writing Unit, this lesson ensures that student-led solutions are grounded in strong evidence rather than just good intentions.
Designed for a 100-minute block, the lesson begins by introducing students to the different “flavors” of evidence. Using the Types of Supporting Detail Handout, students learn to distinguish between concrete facts, domain-specific vocabulary, and powerful quotations. They then apply this knowledge to their own research, sorting their notes to see which types of evidence they already have and which they still need to find to fortify their claims.
The second half of the lesson is an intensive writing workshop. Students use the “Solutions” Paragraph Scaffold to draft a sophisticated informational piece that clearly outlines how their chosen activists are working toward liberation. The lesson concludes with a peer-review cycle using a standards-based rubric, allowing students to give and receive constructive feedback on the strength of their evidence.
What’s Included
-
Detailed 100-minute lesson plan focused on evidence-based solution drafting.
-
L9. Types of Supporting Detail Handout to help students categorize facts, definitions, and quotations.
-
L9. Informational Paragraph Scaffold: “Solutions”—a structured guide for drafting a persuasive, evidence-backed paragraph.
-
L9. Informational Writing with Rubric for student self-reflection and formal grading.
-
Revision Strategy Guide focusing on the integration of domain-specific vocabulary from the Word Wall.
-
Peer Feedback Sentence Stems designed to help students qualify or justify their views in light of peer evidence.
-
Alignment with WAESN Elements of Liberation (Agency & Liberation) and CCSS ELA standards for citing textual evidence and precise language.
Why Educators Use This Lesson
-
Technical Writing Mastery: Explicitly teaches students how to use different types of supporting details to build a “strong” academic argument.
-
Moves Toward Action: Directly aligns with Ethnic Studies goals by shifting the focus from “the problem” to the “solution” and “resistance.”
-
Built-in Differentiation: The paragraph scaffold provides a safety net for emerging writers while the Types of Evidence handout pushes advanced students toward higher-level synthesis.
-
Collaborative Rigor: The Numbered Heads and partner feedback strategies ensure that students are constantly justifying their choices to a real audience.
-
Metacognitive Revision: Includes a rubric-driven revision phase that teaches students to be their own best editors.
This lesson ensures that when your students speak up, they have the evidence to make the world listen.