KAKhaemenes AcademyEnglish 9 · Unit 10
High SchoolLanguage Arts

Term IV · Weeks 28–30

Unit 10

Argument, Debate & Civic Reasoning

Frame issues, distinguish claims from assumptions, test evidence, address counterclaims, rebut respectfully, debate, and revise position papers.

Begin Week 28Unit OverviewAssessments

Essential Question

What makes an argument fair, rigorous, responsive, and persuasive?

Text and Source Family

Paired arguments, policy excerpts, civic documents, editorials, and evidence sets selected for balance and source transparency.

Learning Priorities

  • Read closely and cite precise textual evidence.
  • Write through planning, drafting, feedback, revision, editing, and reflection.
  • Use language conventions and vocabulary as tools for meaning and style.
  • Discuss, present, listen, question, and respond with intellectual fairness.
  • Preserve major work in the Grade 9 portfolio.

Required reading · The Stage Direction

Original Academy text; available offline.

In the script, Ren said, 'Everything is settled.' During rehearsal, Ren turned away from the audience and folded the disputed letter into a pocket. The actor's movement gave the reassuring words an unstable meaning.

Reading assignment: Reread, annotate at least two details, explain what the passage supports and what remains uncertain, and draft one evidence-based response connected to the unit's essential question. Revisit during Weeks 28–30. Save writing in the existing portfolio.

Unit reading-response assessment · 100 points

After completing the unit reading, submit a response in the existing portfolio. Your teacher can use this rubric for feedback; this page does not automatically change your grade or mastery status.

Reading response scoring guide
CriterionPointsWhat strong work demonstrates
Comprehension20Accurately explains the text without inventing details.
Textual evidence25Uses specific, accurately contextualized quotations or details.
Interpretation25Explains how evidence supports a nuanced interpretation and acknowledges uncertainty.
Writing clarity15Organizes claims and reasoning in clear, precise language.
Revision15Demonstrates a meaningful change after review and explains why it improves the work.

Process: Read and annotate → draft → check quotations → seek feedback → revise → preserve both drafts. If a reading is a brief instructional microtext, also complete the course's longer assigned literature; the microtext does not replace it.

Three-Week Sequence

Read, analyze, compose, and demonstrate.

Week 28

Issue Framing & Counterclaims

How does the way an issue is framed influence possible conclusions?

qualifiers and modal verbs
Open Week
Week 29

Evidence, Rebuttal & Ethical Persuasion

What evidence is sufficient, relevant, representative, and ethically used?

logical transitions and paragraph sequencing
Open Week
Week 30

Debate & Position Paper

How should an argument change after serious engagement with opposition?

editing for concision, emphasis, and consistency
Open Week

Performance Evidence

1,200–1,600-word position paper and structured debate.

Students submit planning, one meaningful draft, feedback or conference notes, the finished product, and a short reflection explaining the strongest revision.

Add to PortfolioOpen RubricsDraft in PROSE

Standards Emphasis

Measured through authentic work.

  • RI.9-10.1,5–9
  • W.9-10.1,7–9
  • SL.9-10.1–4
  • L.9-10.3–6