Skip to content
PlayOwl

English · Grade 12

Extended Analytical and Argumentative Writing

Learners write longer, more sophisticated essays. Responding to Henry David Thoreau's “Resistance to Civil Government” (1849, later called “Civil Disobedience”), they construct complex theses that concede and explain, sustain a line of reasoning across many paragraphs with clear sequencing and signposting, manage nuance with precise qualifiers and honest treatment of counterevidence, and plan and write both under time limits and through a full drafting process.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 155 minutes
  • Extended writing check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order and sort into groups
Try it now (no account) One of the five free starter courses Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Construct complex theses that concede, explain causes or set conditions, such as “although… because…” or “when… unless…”.
  • Sustain a line of reasoning across a long essay through purposeful paragraph sequencing, topic sentences and signposting.
  • Manage nuance with precise qualifiers, fair treatment of counterevidence and honest limits, while still taking a clear position.
  • Plan and write effectively both under time limits and through a multi-draft process.

Lessons

  1. Complex theses 6 steps3 practiceabout 35 min
  2. Sustain a line of reasoning 6 steps4 practiceabout 40 min
  3. Nuance without fence-sitting 5 steps3 practiceabout 35 min
  4. Timed and process writing 6 steps4 practiceabout 45 min
  5. Extended writing check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 12th grade reading

Guide for grown-ups