The Silent Debate for The Gift of Magi. O'Henry
Look inside
Skills covered
- Textual Evidence
- Argumentative Writing
- Argument & Claims
- Thesis & Claims
- Close Reading
- Evidence & Commentary
Grades
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
Standards
- RL.11-12.1
- W.11-12.4
You may also like
- Free
- Printable
The "So What?" Sandwich
Turning floating quotes into real analysis
If your students can find evidence but freeze right after dropping it in, this one's for you. The fix isn't more quotes — it's teaching them what to say next.
- Grades 9-12 / Multi-Grade
- Writing Resources
- Textual Evidence
- +2
CCSS aligned · Zero prep
Free- Free
- Printable
The Counterargument Sentence Starter Bank
Give your students the sentence stems to argue like they mean it
Sentence stems for naming the opposition and then pivoting past it — the two moves most student arguments are missing.
- Grades 9-12 / Multi-Grade
- Writing Resources
- Argumentative Writing
- +1
CCSS aligned · Zero prep
Free- Free
- Printable
Comment Section Activity
Teacher Guide · Grades 11–12 ELA
Students use the familiar structure of an online comment section to do something they don't expect: literary analysis.
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
- Reading Lessons
- +3
CCSS aligned · Zero prep · One class period
Free- Free
- Printable
Character on Trial: ELA Activity Pack
Ready-to-Use · Discussion-Based · Critical Thinking Focused
A ready-to-use courtroom debate activity that builds critical thinking, evidence-based argumentation, and confident communicators.
- Grades 9-12 / Multi-Grade
- Projects & Performance Tasks
- Textual Evidence
- +2
CCSS aligned · Zero prep · One class period
Free