For any teacher interested in using digital tools in the classroom, one key question always remains: What exactly should students study? Like any good project, digital tools are only effective when students interact with interesting content. Often, the best projects ask students to study common global challenges and develop potential solutions. The resources on this page can support efforts to engage students in problem-solution based projects.
Handout_RecognizingMultipleViewpoints.pdf
One of the keys to being persuasive is being able to understand the full range of different perspectives that people may hold on the issue that you are studying. Before crafting the final copy of your persuasive piece, use the following handout to think through how others may feel about the same topic.
Handout_CollectingDifferentPerspectives.pdf
Now that you’ve thought through a range of different perspectives about the global issue that we are studying in class, it’s time to seek out real voices from real people who disagree with you. Engaging in conversations with those who think differently will help you to understand the issue that you are studying better. Use this handout to guide your efforts to collect viewpoints that don’t align with your own. Remember to show respect in any face-to-face conversations that you have! Sustaining conversations and thinking together will help everyone to learn more.
Handout_ExploringMisguidedArguments.pdf
Often, people who think differently about topics than you do will base their opinions on inaccuracies. While they may passionately believe that they have shaped their positions carefully, there are flaws in their thinking. The best persuaders can accurately describe the sources for disagreements and respectfully point out misguided arguments. Use this handout to structure your responses to individuals who hold inaccurate ideas about the topic that you are studying.
Handout_PersuasiveLetterOrganizingTemplate.pdf
Once you’ve gathered multiple perspectives and collected convincing evidence to support your point of view on the controversial issue that you are studying in class, it is time to create an open letter to a world leader that is designed to persuade. This organizing template can help you to structure your first draft. Remember that you can find sample letters covering a range of topics on the Letters to the Next President website (http://www.letters2president.org/).
Handout_PersuasiveLetterScoringRubric.pdf
Parents, students and teachers can use the following rubric to rate persuasive letters designed to influence world leaders.
Handout_UnderstandingtheProblem.pdf
This handout can help students to gather a range of evidence connected to global challenges.
Handout_EvaluatingPotentialSolutions.pdf
This handout is designed to be used in conjunction with the Understanding Global Challenges handout, and can be used to help students think through solutions that they are studying for controversial issues or global challenges.
Handout_OrganizingPSIntroductions.pdf
Writing about global problems and potential solutions requires a certain style. Writers begin problem-solution pieces by convincing readers that the problem being studying must be addressed and that there are practical solutions worth pursuing. To do so, they use several unique sentences in their writing. They include grabbers, backgrounders, persuaders and closers. This handout will help you to craft a draft of an introduction for your problem-solution piece.
Handout_OrganizerSolutionParagraphs.pdf
While the best writers rarely follow scripted templates, they almost always include the same kinds of sentences in their work. Similar to introductions, solution paragraphs in problem-solution pieces include grabbers, backgrounders, elaborators, persuaders and closers. The difference comes in the content shared. Use this handout to craft a draft of a paragraph explaining one of your solutions to an audience.
Handout_RatingPotentialSolutions.pdf
While working with your partners to select the best solutions for the global challenge or controversial issue that we are studying in class, you’ll need a way to come to consensus with one another. Use the following rating scale to start conversations about each of the potential solutions that you are considering.
Handout_RatingProblemSolutionPieces.pdf
Let’s face it: Not all problem-solution pieces are created equally! Some are more likely to convince readers to take action than others. Use this handout to rate the overall quality of the problem-solution pieces that you review.