Argumentative Writing

New Planet Activity Due to the pollution in the air, the Earth’s ozone layer is way too thin. Days are getting hotter and hotter. In a couple of days, the Earth is going to be too hot for humans to survive. NASA has a rocket that will send people to a new planet so that they can repopulate and the human species will not become extinct…the only problem is the rocket can only take 10 people!!!

New Planet Directions To Start: Each person will receive a list of 10 people. Only 3 of the 10 people can go to the new planet. Each person has 5 minutes to decide by themselves who will go. New planet worksheet will be on white paper, use the back of the sheet to create your list.

New Planet Directions Next: Each person at the table needs to take their list and work with the rest of group to decide who will go to the new planet. Using general consensus, each group has 7 minutes to come up with a list of 3 people. Select a recorder and a reporter.

New Planet Directions Finally: Locate your placard at the table and look on the back to see the name of the person from the list. You are now that person. Does this change your point of view? Your group has 7 minutes to discuss and make any changes to their list, if there is a need to do so. Select a recorder and a reporter.

New Planet Group Questions How did you make your decisions individually? How did your group make its decisions? What were some challenges? How did you handle the conflict? Did you have to compromise? Did a leader emerge? What was the leader’s style? How did she/he lead? What values influenced your decisions? Where do our values come from? What can happened when people with different values get together? (Point out any stereotypes that seemed to influence decisions. Reinforce no judgments in this group.)