MAKE ARGUMENT WRITING FUN! It’s time to DITCH the “school uniforms” and “cafeteria food” essay prompts!
Middle schoolers learn best when they’re engaged, curious, and having fun.
Project-based learning shouldn’t stop in elementary school. In fact, it is the secret to unlocking your students’ writing potential. In this fully immersive, role-playing murder mystery students become detectives, investigate a fictional crime, and build a full argumentative essay to prove their claims.
What Makes PBL Argumentative Writing So Unique?
Unlike traditional writing assignments, this project transforms argumentative writing into a high-stakes investigation. Students aren’t just forming opinions—they’re detectives building a case. By analyzing evidence, interrogating suspects (a.k.a. character motives), and piecing together clues, students become fully immersed in the writing process. It’s hands-on, minds-on learning that feels more like a mission than a worksheet.
Here’s How PBL Argumentative Writing Works:
This project is divided into two immersive parts—one rooted in discovery, the other in structured writing support.
Part I: The Investigation
Students step into the role of a detective, receiving direct instructions from a “chief” or “sergeant” as they begin analyzing evidence from the murder of Vultor Isore. Their mission? Build a case based on facts, clues, and critical thinking.
They’ll examine:
- Crime scene photos
- Police report
- Witness statements
- Psychology articles
- Newspaper coverage
- Autopsy and toxicology report
CHOOSE DIGITAL, PRINTABLE, OR BOTH!
EXTENDED ACTIVITY: CREATE A CRIME BOARD! Students cut out the evidence pieces they want to use and create a visual crime board to organize their case. As they build their theory, they’re already planning the foundation of their argument essay.
✍️ Part II: The Argument Essay Writing Workshop
Once their case is built, students transition into a fully guided writing experience designed to support every step of the argumentative essay process. This includes:
- Mini-lessons on hooks, background info., thesis statements, counterclaims, topic sentences, evidence, elaboration, and conclusion
- Broken-down model essay sections for analysis and imitation
- Guided templates for every paragraph and element
Whether they’re struggling writers or confident ones, every student gets the tools they need to write with purpose, clarity, and structure.
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