Grade 6 Fall — Argumentative Writing, Claim-Evidence-Warrant (Toulmin Lite), Counterclaim Acknowledgment, and Pronoun Mastery
Lesson 17 60 min eng.g6.f.lesson_17.revision_pass_fourteen_named_moves

Revision pass — the 14 named moves rubric

Skills targeted
Objectives
  • Students apply the 14-criterion rubric (MG-21) to their own argument draft.
  • Students identify the 3 weakest criteria for their draft and revise.
  • Students introduce final Tier-2 Set 13 words (corroborate, undermine, evaluate).
Vocabulary
reviserevisioncriterionnamed movesaudit

Lesson plan

Warm-up

5 min

Look at MG-21. Which 3 of 14 criteria do you predict are weakest in your draft?

Teacher moves
  • Affirm self-awareness
  • Note: most G6 writers underestimate criteria 3 (embedded evidence with citation), 5 (counterclaim concession-pivot-refutation), and 10 (vague pronouns)
  • Connect to Graham & Perin: explicit revision strategy (effect size 0.82)
Media
M-6-F-VOC-17-A Chart Physical / non-image

5-card spread: CORROBORATE (confirm from another source), UNDERMINE (weaken without outright disproving), EVALUATE (judge credibility or strength), SUBSTANTIATE (provide evidence for), REFUTE (disprove with evidence). Each card has word + syllabification + part of speech + definition in argument context + example sentence ('The two sources CORROBORATE each other by ___'). Color-coded edges purple. Print-ready 8.5x11.

Direct instruction

15 min

Revision is NOT proofreading. Revision is the explicit move to STRENGTHEN — Graham & Perin's #1 evidence-based writing recommendation (effect size 0.82). The 14-criterion rubric (MG-21) gives you named moves. Today: audit your draft against ALL 14 criteria, then pick your 3 WEAKEST and revise. Final Tier-2 words today (MG-19 final 5): CORROBORATE (confirm from another source), UNDERMINE (weaken without disproving), EVALUATE (judge credibility), SUBSTANTIATE (provide evidence for), REFUTE (disprove with evidence). Each is a precision word; use one in your revision.

Key examples
  • The rubric makes the strength criteria visible. You can't revise what you can't see.
    model Read your counterclaim paragraph. Does it CONCEDE the strongest version? Does it PIVOT? Does it REFUTE with specific evidence? If any of the 3 is weak, revise.
    prompt Audit criterion 5 (counterclaim concession-pivot-refutation).
  • This single audit fixes 80% of clarity problems in middle-grade arguments.
    model Highlight every it/this/that/which in your draft. For each: what does it refer to? If unclear, add the noun.
    prompt Audit criterion 10 (vague pronouns).
  • Precision word changes vague agreement to specific corroboration.
    model Original: 'My second source agrees with my first.' Revised: 'My second source CORROBORATES the first by reporting the same finding through a different methodology.'
    prompt Use 'corroborate' in a revision.
Checks for understanding
  • Self-rate: of 14 criteria, how many can you confidently mark YES right now?
  • Pair-share: name your 3 weakest criteria
Media
M-6-F-WR-17-A Chart Physical / non-image

MG-21 enlarged to 18x24 with all 14 criteria listed and color-coded by category (intro/body/counterclaim/sourcing/mechanics/style/conclusion). Each criterion has a 1-sentence rubric: YES (criterion met), PARTLY (partial), NO (not met). Side note: 'This rubric extends G5-spring's 12-criterion with COUNTERCLAIM-CHECK and SOURCE-CREDIBILITY-CHECK criteria added at G6.' Dyslexic-friendly font.

MG-21 Chart Physical / non-image

14-criterion argumentative peer-editing rubric (extension of G5-spring's 12): 1. INTRO has hook + context + arguable claim. 2. EACH BODY PARAGRAPH uses CEW (claim + evidence + warrant). 3. EVIDENCE is embedded with signal phrase + quote + citation + warrant sentence after; uses at least 2 sources. 4. WARRANT explains HOW evidence supports claim (the 'because' move; not 'this shows'). 5. COUNTERCLAIM is acknowledged with concession-pivot-refutation sequence. 6. SOURCE CREDIBILITY: each source passes 3 of 4 credibility criteria (author / publication / date / bias). 7. PRONOUN CASE is correct (subjective for subject; objective for object; possessive for ownership). 8. INTENSIVE PRONOUNS used correctly (for emphasis, not as objects). 9. PRONOUN NUMBER/PERSON is consistent (no drifting between 'you' and 'one'). 10. VAGUE PRONOUNS fixed (every this/that/which/it has a clear antecedent). 11. NONRESTRICTIVE ELEMENTS use commas/parentheses/dashes correctly. 12. SENTENCE-PATTERN VARIATION (at least 3 of 6 patterns visible across the essay). 13. TONE consistent and audience-appropriate (formal at G6 default; named tone maintained). 14. CONCLUSION synthesizes or calls to action (not summary). Each criterion = YES/PARTLY/NO + notes + quote space. Print-ready 8.5x11.

Guided practice

22 min
Tasks
  • Apply all 14 criteria to your draft. Mark YES / PARTLY / NO + notes.
    scaffold MG-21 rubric at desk; green revision pencil
  • Pick your 3 weakest criteria. Revise to strengthen each.
    scaffold Revision-decision flowchart; teacher conferences
Media
M-6-F-WR-17-B Interactive Physical / non-image

Print-ready 8.5x11 check-off sheet (one per student per revision pass). 14 rows with YES / PARTLY / NO check boxes + notes column + quote-space column. Bottom: 'WEAKEST 3 CRITERIA' (numbered list) + 'REVISION ACTIONS' (3-row plan). Dyslexic-friendly font.

Formative assessment

4 min
Exit ticket
  • Name 1 specific revision you made today and the criterion it addresses.
scoring Specific revision + criterion = mastery; revision without criterion = practicing; no revision = reteach

Closure

2 min
Moves
  • Restate: revision is NOT ___; revision is ___
  • Preview tomorrow's SBAR peer-edit pass

Homework

15 min
Tasks
  • Apply remaining criteria (4-9) to your draft. Mark and revise as needed. Bring full revised draft to lesson 18 peer-edit.

Exercises in this lesson

eng.g6.f.ex_35
Apply the 14-criterion MG-21 rubric to YOUR draft. Mark YES / PARTLY / NO for each. Identify 3 weakest criteria.
 self audit fourteen criteria · diff 4
eng.g6.f.ex_36
Pick your weakest criterion from ex_35. Revise the relevant paragraph to address it. Show before/after.
 revise weakest criterion · diff 4

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • MG-21 rubric at every desk
  • Revision-decision flowchart (rank criteria; pick weakest 3; revise)
  • Green revision pencil
  • Teacher conference for stuck revisers
Extensions
  • Apply MG-21 to a mentor argument text (Stevenson Just Mercy excerpt) — does the mentor pass all 14?
  • Revise your weakest paragraph 2 different ways and choose the stronger
English Learners
  • Bilingual MG-21 rubric
  • Visual rubric icons for non-readers of English at writing-level
  • Pair with L1-fluent peer for criterion check
Ieps 504s
  • Reduce to 7 highest-priority criteria (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 13)
  • Pre-marked weakest-criteria identified for student
  • Extended time

Teacher notes

Revision is the highest-impact writing intervention per Graham & Perin (effect size 0.82). Many students confuse revision with proofreading. The 14-criterion rubric makes revision visible and concrete — students see what 'strengthen' means. Watch for students who 'revise' by changing surface things (a comma, a synonym) without addressing the rubric's substance criteria. Coach the SUBSTANCE moves: warrant depth, counterclaim engagement, source-credibility note. The rubric stays in writing folders through G7-G8.