This or That
“This or That” is a National FFA literacy strategy in which students choose between paired items (e.g., Hamburger or Steak, CAFO or Family Farm, GMO or Non-GMO) and write one to two sentences justifying each choice. The resource includes a choice worksheet and processing questions to help students develop and justify opinions and identify the elements of reasoning.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- Identify components of justifying statements.
- Identify elements of reasoning.
- Description
- A word strategy that allows students to choose items that appeal to them and also aids their ability to justify their reasoning for choosing that item.
- Example Activities
- This strategy can be used to assist any students in creating opinions or decisions on different topics. It can also be used to help students identify the elements of justification.
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
Common Core – Language
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.6Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Common Core – Reading: Informational Text
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.1Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.2Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
Common Core – Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.