ELA Lines of Inquiry
A line of inquiry is a series of lessons focused on a particular topic or question in which learners have opportunities to learn and practice multiple skills from the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) while also building content knowledge. The English Language Arts lines of inquiry below include CCRS-aligned lesson plans, texts, slides, and other resources for teaching the lessons. Each lesson has options for differentiation, incorporating digital literacy skills, and extending learning beyond the classroom. If you would like support with implementing a line of inquiry, please contact your program’s Agency Consultant.
Below you will find lesson plans for all lessons within the following lines of inquiry. Each lesson plan has links to all materials needed to teach the lesson.
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Economics Line of Inquiry
Factors of Production
This lesson is the first in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building Social Studies content knowledge about economics and ELA skills in using information from graphs, charts, and tables. Lesson 1 introduces the basic economics concept of factors of production, along with the skill of interpreting information from various types of graphs. Learners use information from the graphs to answer questions related to factors of production.
Self-Employment
This lesson is the second in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building Social Studies content knowledge about economics and ELA skills in using information from graphs, charts, and tables. In Lesson 2, learners have the opportunity to build knowledge about economic concepts related to self-employment and entrepreneurship by reading a text and analyzing statistical information presented in tables. The lesson culminates with learners using that information to write advice to individuals who are interested in self-employment.
The Labor Market
This lesson is the third in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building Social Studies content knowledge about economics and ELA skills in using information from graphs, charts, and tables. Lesson 3 focuses on building knowledge about the labor market. Learners read texts and interpret graphical data about employment rates. The culminating activity has learners making a claim about the labor market and supporting it in writing with evidence from both a text and a graph.
Creating and Presenting a Business Plan
This lesson is the fourth in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building Social Studies content knowledge about economics and ELA skills in using information from graphs, charts, and tables. Lesson 4 is a culminating assignment in which learners bring together the skills and knowledge they’ve learned in the first three lessons to create and present Google Slides for a business plan. Digital literacy skills are required for this assignment, and links to tutorials and videos demonstrating how to use the software are included. The time needed to complete this lesson will vary depending on the digital literacy skill level of the learners and on the size of the class, since learners will present their slides.
Extended Response Line of Inquiry
Introduction to the Extended Response/Identifying and Evaluating Claims and Evidence
This lesson is the first in a five-lesson line of inquiry focused on writing the extended response for the GED RLA exam. Lesson 1 introduces the extended response, expectations, and guidelines for the GED exam. Learners begin unpacking writing prompts and analyzing passages to identify claims and supporting evidence. Reading passages are provided, but instructors may substitute different passages in the lesson. Options for adapting the lesson for learners planning to take the HiSET exam are included.
Organizing Evidence
This lesson is the second in a five-lesson line of inquiry focused on writing the extended response for the GED RLA exam. Lesson 2 focuses on organizing evidence that authors use to support their claims, including identifying the types of evidence and evaluating the validity of evidence.
Analyzing and Evaluating Claims/Writing Claims
This lesson is the third in a five-lesson line of inquiry focused on writing the extended response for the GED RLA exam. Lesson 3 focuses on analyzing and evaluating claims to determine which is better supported with evidence. Learners also write their own claims, beginning their work on the written portion of the extended response.
Writing the Extended Response
This lesson is the fourth in a five-lesson line of inquiry focused on writing the extended response for the GED RLA exam. Lesson 4 focuses on writing the essay. Learners learn about the structure of the essay, write the components of the essay, and then evaluate their work using a rubric.
Proofreading and Editing/Summative Assessment
This lesson is the fifth in a five-lesson line of inquiry focused on writing the extended response for the GED RLA exam. Lesson 5 is the culminating lesson, which guides learners through the proofreading and editing process, as well as allowing them the opportunity to complete the process of writing an extended response independently.
Natural Resources Line of Inquiry
Introduction to Natural Resources and Analyzing Arguments
This lesson is the first in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building science content knowledge about natural resources and ELA skills in evaluating arguments and writing an extended essay. Lesson 1 introduces the topic of natural resources, including vocabulary and concepts that allow learners to begin analyzing claims about resources. The learners also practice writing an argument and supporting it with evidence.
Locating and Writing Claims and Evidence
This lesson is the second in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building science content knowledge about natural resources and ELA skills in evaluating arguments and writing an extended essay. Lesson 2 focuses on identifying claims and evidence in arguments, evaluating the validity of claims, and determining how well authors support their claims with evidence. The learners continue practicing writing arguments and supporting them with evidence.
Evaluating Claims
This lesson is the third in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building science content knowledge about natural resources and ELA skills in evaluating arguments and writing an extended essay. Lesson 3 continues practice on identifying claims and evidence in arguments, evaluating the validity of claims, and writing claims and supporting them with relevant evidence.
The Extended Response
This lesson is the fourth and final lesson in a four-lesson line of inquiry focused on building science content knowledge about natural resources and ELA skills in evaluating arguments and writing an extended essay. Lesson 4 puts all of the skills learned in the previous three lessons together in an easy-to-follow guide to writing an extended response. Learners have the opportunity to write extended responses with support from the instructor, as well as independently.