B. Delineate an Argument - RI.8.8 (20 minutes)

• Review the learning targets relevant to the work to be completed in this section of the lesson:

"I can delineate the argument in a section of The Omnivore's Dilemma."

"I can evaluate an argument, assessing whether Michael Pollan's reasoning is sound and the evidence presented on the topic of industrial farming is relevant and sufficient."

• Inform students that they will now use a graphic organizer to delineate an argument in The Omnivore's Dilemma. Direct students to Turn and Talk:

"What does the title 'Delineate an Argument' mean to you? What will you be doing on this graphic organizer?" (Responses will vary, but students should review their entrance ticket as needed, and determine that delineating an argument means they will be figuring out the author's specific argument and using details to describe it.)

"Why is it important to delineate the arguments in this module's texts?" (Responses will vary, but could suggest that because the author of our anchor text, Michael Pollan, includes his own claims about the information he is writing about, it will be important to understand them and compare them to arguments in alternate texts, or information from our background knowledge on the topic.)

"When might you need to look closely at arguments, and delineate them, in your own lives, and why?" (Responses will vary, but students should relate this to real life with examples such as: we need to look closely at the campaign materials peers present when they are running for student government to understand whether we agree with them before voting.)

• Explain to students that when they delineate arguments in The Omnivore's Dilemma, it will be important to consider how Michael Pollan's point of view on the information shapes his claims. Instruct students to retrieve their Author's Purpose and Point of View: The Omnivore's Dilemma note-catcher and identify the author's point of view from this section on the note-catcher. Refer to the Author's Purpose and Point of View: The Omnivore's Dilemma note-catcher (example for teacher reference). Prompt students to Think-Pair-Share:

"What is Michael Pollan's point of view in section 3 of The Omnivore's Dilemma?" (Responses will vary but may identify that Michael Pollan believes industrial farming comes at a high cost to animals, health, and the environment, and he believes there is a better way to raise beef.)

• Discuss with students the connections between analyzing arguments and the point-of-view work done in previous lessons.

"In the previous lesson, we analyzed the author's point of view on topics throughout The Omnivore's Dilemma. We determined the author's attitude toward food choices, corporations, and other key concepts. Additionally, we looked at conflicting viewpoints--how the author responded to certain viewpoints and popular opinions different from his own. Now we will dig deeper into the author's point of view by analyzing how his point of view is related to the main claim when he makes an argument in the text."

• Prompt students to find a partner, and display and distribute the Delineate an Argument: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Section 3 graphic organizer.
• Focus students on the top of the document, and tell them the graphic organizer has been partially filled out already. It begins by identifying the author's purpose and main claim of this section. Remind students that Michael Pollan's purpose is to describe the industrial farming approach to raising beef.
• Explain that a claim is a statement of opinion that can be proved or disproved with evidence and reasoning. Invite students to record the word in their vocabulary logs, and capture the definition on the academic word wall.
• Read the main claim section aloud as students follow along. Explain that in The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan does not come right out and state his claim as authors sometimes do. Instead, he implies his claim throughout the text sections. Ask students to Think-Pair-Share:

"How does understanding Michael Pollan's point of view help you understand, or identify, his claim?" (Responses will vary but should identify that knowing his point of view helps a reader anticipate the claims he will make in his writing, and it can help a reader infer the claims from the information in the text.)

• Remind students that when they write essays, they need to support their focus with points and evidence. In The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan needs to do that, too. He needs to support his claim with points and evidence. Tell students that the graphic organizer tracks Pollan's implied claim and provides space for supporting points and evidence related to each point.
• Using equity sticks, call on a student to read supporting point 1 aloud, and have students underline it in their graphic organizer. Call on another student to read supporting point 2 aloud, and have students underline it on their graphic organizer. Explain to students that in order to support these points, Pollan needs to provide relevant evidence so that readers will understand and believe the points he presents to support his claim.
• Ask students:

"What does the word relevant mean? What is relevant evidence?" (Relevant means something that is connected or applicable. Relevant evidence is connected to the claim and helps illuminate the point being made to the reader.)

• Invite students to record the word relevant in their vocabulary logs, and capture the definition on the academic word wall.
• Focus students back on their Delineate an Argument: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Section 3 graphic organizer, and direct students to read the relevant evidence connected to point 1 aloud to a partner.
• Ask:

"Why is this evidence relevant to supporting point 1?" (Discussions will vary, but should point out that the evidence directly relates to cows getting sick from their corn-based diet. The evidence is related, makes sense, and it helps the reader understand the point being made.)

• Complete the same step for point 2, asking students to read the relevant evidence connected to point 2 aloud to one another and discuss how it is relevant. (Discussions will vary, but should point out that the evidence directly relates to cows being fed parts of other animals and getting sick from it. The evidence is related, makes sense, and it helps the reader understand the point being made.)
• Move on to the section in the graphic organizer labeled "Sufficient Evidence." Explain to students that sufficient means enough or adequate.
• Ask students to Turn and Talk, deepening their understanding of the word sufficient:

"Imagine that it is snowing and -20 degrees, and your friend wants to go outside and play basketball in a T-shirt. Why won't a T-shirt be sufficient to stay warm in the weather?" (Responses should mention that the clothing won't prepare the friend for the elements and won't be enough to keep the friend warm.)

"Now, think of the sufficiency of evidence. Is the evidence in this section of The Omnivore's Dilemma presented 'sufficient'? Why or why not?" (Responses will vary, but may include: Yes, the evidence is sufficient because it presents enough information that helps the reader understand practices at feedlots. It makes readers consider the negative aspects of industrial farming practices, and it helps them understand that the claim that there are better ways to raise beef than in an industrial setting makes sense.)

• Invite students to record the word in their vocabulary logs, and capture the definition on the academic word wall. Cold-call on students to share their responses with their peers, and reiterate any important takeaways regarding the sufficiency of evidence. Direct students to work with their partner to capture a brief response in this section of the graphic organizer. For possible responses, see the Delineate an Argument: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Section 3 graphic organizer (example for teacher reference).
• Refer students to the section of their graphic organizer aligned to sound reasoning. Read aloud the sample response while students follow along. Ask students to Think-Pair-Share:

"What is addressed in this response?" (It discusses the soundness of reasoning from this section of text.)

• Explain that reasoning is the explanation of why a claim is true, including explanations of how the evidence given proves the claim. Ask students to Think-Pair-Share:

"Why is it important for a writer to include reasoning? What might happen if there were no reasoning included in sections of The Omnivore's Dilemma?" (Responses will vary, but may include that readers could be confused by evidence and not have a full understanding of the claim he was trying to support. It could lead to a confusing or incomplete argument.)

"What is meant by 'sound reasoning'?" (Responses will vary, but students should understand that sound reasoning is reasoning that is clear, makes sense, describes the evidence, and helps the reader connect the evidence back to the claim.)

• Reiterate that this answer explains the soundness of the reasoning presented in this section of text. Ensure students understand that in this response they will analyze the author's reasoning and explain how the author further examines and describes the evidence presented, connects it back to the claim, and helps the reader believe that the claim could be true.
• Invite students to record the words reasoning and sound in their vocabulary logs, and capture the definitions on the academic word wall.
• As needed, ask students to review pages 72-73 of The Omnivore's Dilemma and discuss the roles of particular sentences to help them understand Pollan's reasoning more deeply as they discuss their responses.
• Explain to students that they will complete the final two questions on the graphic organizer in the next lesson.
• Repeated routine: Invite students to reflect on their progress toward the relevant learning targets.