Common Core Alignment: Grades 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-12.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

How you can use this free resource in your civics, government, or political science class:

It is suggested to bookend a unit with the essential question by using it to start a class discussion at the beginning of the unit and to prompt reflective writing at the end of the unit. It helps to project the question on the board both times so that students can see it and refer back to it.

You might consider refreshing students’ content knowledge before they begin writing. Even if they struggle with writing, the chance to practice thinking independently about hard questions is valuable for every student. Every opportunity for rigorous independent thought brings them one step closer to becoming the thoughtful and reflective citizens that our democracy needs!

Click below to get the 20 civics essential questions free from the Forward-Thinking Curriculum store on TeachersPayTeachers.com: