Research Writing Game and Activity for Middle School ELA

Do your students struggle to support their claims with logical evidence and credible sources? Do their papers feel more like a research soup than a logically organized argument? This engaging game and activity help students think critically about claims, evidence, sources, and organization.

First, the class is split into two teams. One team is for chewing gum at school, while the other team is against it. The two teams compete in a relay race to collect cards with claims and evidence that support their stance on the issue. As they collect their cards, they match their evidence cards to the claims they support.

Once both teams have collected and organized adequate support for their arguments, they take a look at the sources that are cited in their evidence. Each source has its own "reference card," and the students order these references according to the following:

• most recent to least recent
• most qualified to least qualified
• most convincing to least convincing.

This leads to important discussions about the credibility of sources, why convincing evidence is needed, and what it takes to persuade a reader.

The class then takes a stand (quite literally) on the gum-chewing issue as they split up and stand on one side of the room if they are pro-gum and on the other if they are anti-gum.

As an optional extension activity, the class then prepares for a structured debate, using evidence from the gum-chewing game and evidence that they find through their own research. As the students participate in their debate, they use what they have learned about claims, evidence, credible sources, and organization.

What's included?

• 2 Pages of teacher tips to guide you through the game, activity, and extension activity
• 3 Pro-gum claim cards for students to collect and organize
• 9 Pro-gum evidence cards with citations
• 3 Anti-gum claim cards
• 9 Anti-gum evidence cards
• 7 Pro-gum reference cards for students to evaluate for credibility
• 8 Anti-gum reference cards
• "Most Recent" and "Least Recent" labels for reference evaluation
• "Most Qualified" and "Least Qualified" labels
• "Most Convincing" and "Least Convincing" labels
• 1 Debate structure handout for students to follow in the optional extension activity
• 1 Debate grading sheet for quick and easy assessment

Help your students become critical researchers and writers with this fun and engaging lesson!