Philadelphia Writing Project
Supporting Civically Engaged Argument Writing with Primary Sources
Curriculum Collections
Transportation has changed dramatically, from the horseless carriage to self-driving cars. The rules of who and what is allowed on city streets are constantly debated. Students can join the ongoing conversation about the use of ATVs and dirt bikes in cities like Philadelphia.
Modern space activities have added numerous orbiting objects just beyond our atmosphere. What should we do—if anything—about the growing number of objects, both large and small, that circle the Earth? Students can join the ongoing conversation about managing the challenges of space debris.
Recently, some states have adjusted child labor laws. Historically, child labor laws were introduced during the Industrial Revolution to protect young workers. Invite students to explore the history and current regulations of child labor. What should we do—if anything—about changes to child labor laws?
Over the past century, a range of technologies have changed the ways that we produce, purchase, and dispose of the clothes we wear. Some of the most recent technological changes have had significant impacts on our environment. What should we do—if anything—about the impact of clothing production on the environment?
Viewing public monuments and memorials as texts to be read and rewritten invites critical thinking about whose stories are told. Students can contribute to conversations about what we value as communities. What kinds of monuments, memorials, and markers do we want in our communities?
Modern human activity has significantly impacted our oceans, causing issues like oil spills, algal blooms, plastic pollution, and warming waters. Communities have proposed various solutions, from banning plastic straws to designing technologies to remove plastic waste. What should we do—if anything—about the environmental challenges facing our oceans?
Museums around the world display artifacts from various cultures, some of which have contested ownership. Students explore the question, "What should museums do with artifacts that communities want back?" They consider the ethical and cultural implications of repatriation.
Text Sets
Dive deep into questions about the sale and showcasing of tropical fish. Do tropical fish make good pets? Where do pet stores get their tropical fish? Students decide whether or not tropical fish should be allowed for sale.
Elections are central to democratic society. As voters, we express how we want our communities and country to be governed. However, American elections have often had low voter turnouts, especially at local levels. Should Americans be required to vote in elections?
Professional sports teams, colleges, and high schools across the country have used names, images, and symbols of Indigenous peoples as team names, mascots, and logos. Over time, some teams changed their mascots and names while others maintained them. Students can engage in conversations about the naming and branding of sports teams and the use of Native American names, images, and symbols.
As prices of goods and services increase over time due to inflation, the penny decreases in value. At this point, it costs more to mint a penny than the penny itself is worth. Students consider the question, "Should the US government continue to mint new pennies?" As they look at changes in prices over time and the science and engineering behind making pennies, students will decide what a penny is worth.
Eradicating Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can ruin an outdoor activity and leave an itchy red bump to remind you of its unwelcome visit. In some cases, the mosquito might carry a life-threatening disease. Students engage in debates about science, ethics, and policy as they consider whether we should try to eradicate mosquitos from our ecosystem permanently to prevent diseases.
Hair is often part of a person's identity. Sometimes, institutions and governments have enacted laws and policies that dictate or restrict how someone should wear their hair. These policies are often connected to race and culture. Should hair policies exist? If so, in which contexts?
States, with the support of the federal government, provide free or reduced price lunches to millions of children in our country. In recent years, some states and districts have provides all children, regardless of family income, with free lunches. In other states and districts, students may be denied a lunch if they owe money for lunches that have already been provided. Students can join the conversation about school lunch both at their school and across the country.
Palm oil is used in a number of hygiene and food products that we use every day. Due to the high demand for palm oil, plantations in tropical climates around the world have increased the harvesting of palm oil. Over-harvesting of palm oil has caused deforestation, affecting fragile ecosystems and endangering native species. What should we do in our part of the world, if anything, to address this issue?
One of America's favorite pastimes is enjoying sports played by elite athletes. Professional teams partner with local and state governments to build stadiums and arenas. In the process of building a venue, communities discuss where these venues should be built and who should pay for them. In Philadelphia, community members are debating the potential impacts of a new arena near the city's historic Chinatown.
Creating a Culture of Argument — Coming Soon!
Black Literary Societies
Black Literary Societies have been important parts of America's cultural and educational development. Black people would meet to write, read, discuss and debate issues that were written about in newspapers, magazines, books and educational papers. What can we learn from Black Literary Societies, like those in Philadelphia, as we create cultures of argument in our classrooms?
Articles, Ads, and Opinions—Oh My!
Newspapers are full of words and images that serve a range of purposes. Journalists, publishers, advertisers, and community members create texts that are then shared with the wider world in newspapers. Modern webpages, particularly those with news articles, also often have a combination of images and ads with different creators and purposes. How might we sort through the different kinds of texts we might find in newspapers and online?
Writing Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds
The Op-Ed, often opposite the editorial page in a newspaper, has a special role in contributing to civic conversations. As students dig into ongoing civic conversations about issues of importance, they may craft their own Op-Eds. What can we learn from Op-Eds from the past as we create our own?
Arguments in Images, Photographs, and Cartoons
Images can carry arguments. The lighting, framing, and editing of a photograph can communicate information about a subject or issue. A political cartoon is often an overt, visual effort to persuade a viewer about a topic. How might we develop visual literacies to unpack the persuasive meanings of images?
This website features resources created by educators affiliated with the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP), supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources grant from the Library of Congress.
This page was updated 15 September 2024.