Title
Skill
EBA Activity
Claims and/or
Warrants
Reviewing MEAL paragraph structure in preparation for writing argumentative essays
Making a Basic Argument
Four Corners
You may use the following claims:
 If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I would be the main idea (M).
 If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I would be the evidence (E).
 If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I would be the analysis (A).
 If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I would be the link (L).
Procedure
Timing/Pacing
Standard Four Corners
 This lesson comes early in the Puritan unit. Prior to this lesson, students have begun reading
excerpts from “Of Plymouth Plantation” by William Bradford, and also some of Anne
Bradstreet’s poems. Students need a basic background knowledge/familiarity with “MEAL”
paragraph structure. After this lesson, students will begin working on pre-writing for a practice
AP argumentative essay on the “value of public expressions of opinion.” They will continue
reading Puritan texts and working on the writing process for this argumentative essay.
 This activity is 20-25 minutes.
 This activity comes at the end of the lesson. During the first part of the lesson, students come
up with thesis statements and three claims about the value of public opinion (after watching and
taking notes on several short video and audio clips on freedom of speech, and discussing and
brainstorming about the essay prompt).
The rationale for this activity is that it is a fun way to review the parts of an effective paragraph and
how to develop an effective paragraph early in the year before the students write their first major
essay. It allows students to bring their personality into the lesson by role-playing the part of the
paragraph that they identify with most strongly, and to come up with reasons for the value of that
paragraph element. Ideally, students will later reflect on the activity and come to the conclusion
that ALL parts of the MEAL are important based on the arguments they have heard, and students
will also think about how all parts of the paragraph work together and support each other.
Notes
Follow-up
Activities
Text
To include a written activity, follow up with a mini paragraph writing activity.
1. “Of Plymouth Plantation” excerpts by William Bradford
2. Poems by Anne Bradstreet
3. AP Language and Composition argumentative essay prompt from 2006 on the value of
public opinion
(all of these texts can be found on the internet)
Boston Debate League © 2012
Name:_____________________________________ Class: __________ Date:______________
Four Corners
Background Information
Warrant- Reason for your stance.
Claim
If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I
would be the main idea (M).
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I
would be the evidence (E).
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I
would be the analysis (A).
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
If I could be any part of a MEAL paragraph, I
would be the link (L).
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Speech Structure
“I _________________ with the claim
______________________________________________________________________.
My warrant for this stance is
______________________________________________________________________.”
Boston Debate League © 2012