We too often equate “argument” with the words of cable news talking heads who spout their own perspective without listening to other viewpoints on issues. Our year-long advanced course on argument invites students to see argument as a conversation exploring multiple perspectives and sources. Ultimately, we want our students to be engaged citizens who are motivated to better understand the complexity of issues important to them. We will engage with the National Writing Project’s College, Career, and Community Writers Program in order to sharpen skills and pedagogy around teaching argumentative writing. The College, Career and Community Writers’ Program was developed by the NWP over the past five years to improve the argument writing of students in grades 6-12 by introducing teachers to new instructional practices. There is regular use of formative assessment tools to focus teachers’ analysis of student work.

Summer Launch

• July 30th- 31st 9am – 4pm at UC Berkeley
  • Understand the program
  • Gain background on argumentation

Academic Year 2018-19

• 20 hours continued engagement throughout the school year to:
  • Examine student work
  • Reflect on practice
  • Plan units of instruction
  • Participate in professional learning/development
  • Dates:
    • Thursday October 11th 5-7:30pm Edna Brewer Middle School
    • Thursday, November 15th 5-7:30pm Edna Brewer Middle School
    • Thursday, January 31st 6-7pm Google Chat
    • Saturday, March 9th 9am-4pm UC Berkeley
    • Thursday, April 4th 6-7p Google Chat
    • Thursday, May 9th 5-7:30 Edna Brewer Middle School

Please ​note, ​there ​are ​additional ​credit ​card ​and ​processing ​fees ​of ​$20.00 ​for ​using ​this ​online ​registration ​service. ​To ​avoid ​these ​fees ​please ​use ​the ​paper ​registration ​form ​found ​on ​the ​BAWP ​website (https://bayareawritingproject.org/summerpd/). ​