Facing Calamity: Climate Change Facts and Fictions

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 5

8th Grade

Lesson 3 of 23

Objective


Identify a writer’s claims in a text and explain how they support those claims, as well as how they respond to conflicting viewpoints.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What evidence does Rosen provide to support the claim that climate change is caused by human activity? How does she respond to ideas that challenge this claim? Provide specific evidence from the section, "How do we know climate change is caused by humans?" to support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What is writer Julia Rosen’s overall purpose in this article, and how is the article structured? Provide at least one piece of evidence to support your answer.

  • What evidence does Rosen provide to support the claim that the earth is warming? Provide at least three examples from the text.

  • How does Rosen respond to the misconception that there is significant debate in the scientific community about whether climate change is happening and caused by human activities? Provide specific evidence from the section, "How much agreement is there among scientists about climate change?" and use the word "consensus" in your response.

Discussion Questions

  • How often do you have conversations with adults in your life about climate change? Do you ever hear misconceptions about climate change? 

Vocabulary


Text-based

consensus

n.

an idea or opinion shared by all people in a group

skeptic

n.

a person who expresses doubt about a popular opinion or idea

Academic

author's purpose

n.

the author's motivation for writing a text, specifically as it relates to the impact on the reader.

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Article: “The Marshall Islands Are Disappearing” by Coral Davenport 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is Tony deBrum and why does he travel the world speaking with other political leaders?

  • Whom does Tony deBrum think should pay for the damage caused by climate change on the Marshall Islands?

  • How is climate change affecting life for the people of the Marshall Islands (and how might it affect life in the future)? Provide at least two examples.

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.8.6 — Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.
  • RI.8.8 — Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RI.8.1
RI.8.2
RI.8.4
RI.8.9
RI.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.b
W.8.10
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Lesson 2

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Lesson 4

Lesson Map

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