Thinking and Writing

How to Argue.... Using Fallacies

This thorough unit is packed with information about some of the most common fallacies: how to spot them, and how to avoid them.

How to Argue.... Using Fallacies (part II)

Categorical syllogisms, illicit majors, equivocation, amphiboly, and more... it sounds tricky, but this unit clears away the confusion.

Poster: Fallacy - Package Deal

Poster defines the fallacy and gives examples. "Mick likes spiders, so he'll be pleased to find some in his shirt."

Poster: Fallacy - Slippery Slope

Poster defines the fallacy and gives examples. "Cats have kittens. So don't get a cat if you don't want to be a crazy cat lady with a house full of cats."

Poster: Fallacy - Ad Hominem

Poster defines the fallacy and gives examples. "Jack said Susan didn't cheat, but he is a thief, so she probably did cheat."

Writing: Problem Analysis Concerning Safety Issues at Zoo Facilities (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity asks students to consider a zoo safety issue and offer a solution. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings available in the Zoo Theme Unit.

Writing: Business Venture Report on Zoo Facilities Suppliers

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. A venture report provides details about a business, entrepreneur or team. Help the reader learn something new about the business or industry as you describe the relationship between zoo facilities and their suppliers. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings available in the Zoo Theme Unit.

Writing: Basic Research for Aquarium Animal Exhibit Species (upper/middle/high)

This assignment develops basic research skills that provide background information for future writing or reports. This activity helps students learn about animal species found at the aquarium. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings available in the Aquarium Theme Unit. See PowerPoint "A Visit to the Aquarium".

Writing: Case Study of a Human and Animal Bond (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. A case study requires that you investigate and describe the experiences of one or a few in a way that helps your reader understand that there are many others in similar circumstances. Develop an understanding of the postive personal relationships between humans and animals. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Create a Promotional Flyer for an Animal Shelter (middle/high)

Creating a powerful, single-paged sales or informational flyer is a fast and affordable way to get information out to the public. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of the animal shelter business. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Personal Essay about a Domestic Animal (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students communicate their ideas, observations and opinions regarding their experience with a pet or farm animal. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Position Paper on Animal Rights (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students explore opposing viewpoints and strengthens the ability to research topics and empathize with others. Argue for or against an animal rights issue. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Create a Promotional Flyer for Visitors to Coral Reefs (middle/high)

Creating a powerful, single-paged sales or informational flyer is a fast and affordable way to get information out to the public. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of how we can protect coral reefs. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Invertebrates of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Explain the Process of Invertebrate Live Cycles (middle/high)

Writing and following directions are important skills to have when putting something together, repeating an experiment, or learning new techniques. This activity helps students describe animal life cycles. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Invertebrates of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Create a Promotional Flyer for Fish Menu Specials (middle/high)

Creating a powerful, single-paged sales or informational flyer is a fast and affordable way to get information out to the public. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of the food service industry. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Fish of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Create a First Aid Instructional Flyer (middle/high)

Creating a powerful, single-paged sales or informational flyer is a fast and affordable way to get information out to the public. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of the nature and human health. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Reptiles of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Create a Promotional Flyer for a Wetlands Project (middle/high)

Creating a powerful, single-paged sales or informational flyer is a fast and affordable way to get information out to the public. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of the importance of wetlands. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Amphibians of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Define the Concept Reptilian Brain (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. The term “Reptilian Brain” can be clearly understood as you bring the concept into focus with your communicated meaning. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Reptiles of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Personal Essay on Artful Uses of Amphibians (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students communicate their ideas, observations and opinions regarding the use of amphibians to entertain or inspire us. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Birds of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Personal Essay on Your Emotional Reaction to Reptiles (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students communicate their ideas, observations and opinions regarding your feelings toward reptiles. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the reptiles of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Inquiry Search for Reptiles (middle/high)

In this paragraph and essay writing activity you will satisfy your curiosity about reptiles. Create a report that helps others understand what you have learned using a variety of resources. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Reptiles of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Make a Comparison of Plant Based Building Materials (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students compare and contrast building made from plant materials. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Plant Kingdom PowerPoint presentations found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Case Study of Notable Local Plant Species (middle/high)

In this paragraph and essay writing assignment students write a case study of a notable plant within their geographical region or local community. One of a series of focused writing activities based on abcteach's Plant Kingdom PowerPoint presentations, in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Case Study of an Extinct Plant Species (middle/high)

In this paragraph and essay writing assignment students study an extinct plant species and discuss the affect it has had on a geographical area or a human community. One of a series of focused writing activities based on abcteach's Plant Kingdom PowerPoint presentations, in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Promotional Flyer for a Plant Product (middle/high)

Students create a single-paged sales and informational flyer for the sales, use and/or preservation of a plant product. This assignment encourages a deeper understanding of the value of plants to an economy or culture. One of a series of focused writing activities based on abcteach's Plant Kingdom PowerPoint presentations, in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Basic Inquiry and Research for Cloth Fabric from Plant Fibers (middle/high)

In this paragraph and essay writing activity students will satisfy curiosity about fabrics made from plant fibers and create a report using a variety of resources. One of a series of focused writing activities based on abcteach's Plant Kingdom PowerPoint presentations, in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing Prompt: The Berated Waitress (elementary, middle school)

Part of the abcteach character-education series, which introduces children to challenging life skills decisions and asks them, "What would you do if this happened to you?" This one addresses misdirected anger.

Writing Prompt: Revenge?

Part of the abcteach character-education series, which introduces children to challenging life skills decisions and asks them, "What would you do if this happened to you?" This one addresses whether it's right to get back at a bully.

Comprehension: Fallacies (upper elem/middle)

Five logical errors are presented and explained, then reviewed with comprehension questions and writing prompts.

Writing Prompts: Quotes about Elections

Over 30 quotes on the topic of elections and democracy form the basis for writing prompts that require students to use their skills of reflection, research, and writing.

Unit: Writing a News Article (middle school)

Includes the main elements of a news article, writing headlines, writing a lead, story sequencing, differences between fact and opinion... all the basic aspects of news writing are included in this 15 page multiple-skill unit.

Worksheet: From Complex to Simple Sentences in the News (middle/high)

Take these complex sentences from real news leads and break them down into as many simple sentences as possible.

Poster: Fallacy - Appeal to Probability

Poster defines the fallacy and gives examples."Gina was so afraid. Her neighbor had a mean dog. Gina was sure it would bite her some day."

Poster: Fallacy - False Cause

Poster defines the fallacy and gives examples. "The sun comes up when my rooster crows. My rooster makes the sun rise."

Poster: Fallacy - Traditional Wisdom

Poster describes the fallacy and gives examples. "Of course we should drive big cars. We've always driven big cars."

Writing: Basic Inquiry for Zoo Animal Behavior (upper/middle/high)

This form provides leading questions about a animal behavior to help the student gather ideas and background information for future paragraph and essay writing assignments. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings available in the ZooTheme Unit. See PowerPoint "A Visit to the Zoo".

Writing: Create an Advertisement Script for a Public Aquarium (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Creating a 30 second advertisement script is a fun marketing assignment. It also develops an understanding of the relationships between aquarium facilities and their suppliers. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings available in the Aquarium Theme Unit. See PowerPoint "A Visit to the Aquarium".

Writing: Case Study of Careers Linked to Invertebrates (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. A case study requires that you investigate and describe the experiences of one or a few in a way that helps your reader understand that there are many others in similar circumstances. Develop an understanding of how one creates a career or business from their interest in animals. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Invertebrates of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Personal Essay on Fish Subject Art (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students communicate their ideas, observations and opinions regarding artwork featuring fish subjects. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Fish of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.

Writing: Position Paper on Reptilian Pets (middle/high)

Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students explore opposing viewpoints and strengthens the ability to research topics and empathize with others. Argue for or against keeping exotic reptiles as pets. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Birds of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.