Philadelphia Writing Project

Supporting Civically Engaged Argument Writing with Primary Sources

Text Set

Palm Oil

Palm oil is used in a number of household and food products that we use every day. Due to the demand for palm oil, plantations in tropical climates around the world often harvest palm oil by clearing threatened rainforests. Over-harvesting of palm oil has contributed to deforestation, affecting fragile ecosystems and endangering native species. What should we do in our part of the world, if anything, to address this issue?

FEATURED PRIMARY SOURCES

 

TEXT SET

Introduce the Issue

Teachers may introduce one or both of the featured historical primary sources above alongside more current news articles to introduce the issue and jumpstart inquiry.

Go Deeper

Students may use these texts—or excerpts from these texts—to identify additional perspectives on the issue. 

 

Additional Planning Resources

Primary Sources

Classroom Informational Text

 

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.