Four Corners Activity

Dive into Thinking & Writing

AGREE DISAGREE

AMBIVALENT NO OPINION

Writing Activities based on Common Core

Standards and Bloom’s Taxonomy

by
Constance D. Casserly

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

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 Four Corners Activity
Teacher Notes
Common Core Standards for Literature: College and Readiness Anchor Standards
Writing: W1, 2, 4, 5, 10
Speaking and Listening: SL 1, 2, 3, 4,
Language: L 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Remember/Understand: describe, explain, identify, observe
Apply: compose, illustrate, paint, draw, dramatize, simulate, interview
Analyze: infer, differentiate, examine, distinguish, determine, deduce
Evaluate: conclude, discuss, verify, support, select, give your opinion, justify
Create: hypothesize, imagine, compose
Who: Teachers identify: grade level, ability levels, and special-needs students.
What: Students will
A. demonstrate their thinking skills, from the concrete to the creative, and from
knowledge to creating.
B. develop their writing skills by showing instead of telling, by creating word pictures, by
using concrete, specific nouns and adjectives and by choosing vivid verbs that show
both action and the emotion of the person doing the action.
When: The teacher chooses when the activity will enhance lesson content and will
develop writing and higher level thinking skills.
Why: Students will exhibit their range of thinking skills from knowledge through evaluation.
These activities allow them to show their analytic and critical-thinking skills in writing and
talking. This activity offers teachers a good writing baseline, so they can assess what areas of
writing they need to focus on during the year.
NOTE: This is an excellent first day activity because it:
1. Makes the students think (the prime objective of my classes).
2. Teaches them to express themselves verbally in a non-argumentative manner.
3. Requires them to listen to others’ opinions.
4. Gets the students actively involved on the first day of school.
How:
A 20 minute activity
1. On each of four large sheets of paper, print one of the stances given below. Tape each
one in a corner of the classroom.
2. Read one of the statements below and tell the students to stand by the sheet that
shows their opinion on the subject.
3. Using a fake microphone for a prop, walk around the room and interview one or two
students from each point of view.
4. Continue this until all students have had a chance to express themselves.
5. Do not allow them to argue with each other.
6. Remind them to express their thoughts firmly, yet politely.

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
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Follow-up Activity:
1. Students are to choose one of the topics and to express their opinions in writing.
2. The opinion essay must have a clear thesis statement and be developed with a
minimum of three points.
3. Students must address the opposing points of view for their topic when posing their
arguments.
4. The essays must suggest a viable solution in the conclusion.
5. Allow the students to start the essays in class (10-15 minutes) and then finish them for
homework.

NOTE: These are points that I use. Adapt them and/or add other controversial issues to fit your
students’ situation.

Students are to take a stance (Agree, Disagree, Ambivalent, No Opinion) on one of these
statements, and then defend their opinion on the back of the Student Directions sheet.

1. High school hours should run from 8:30am-3:30pm.

2. The School District should change their 6-point grading scale to a ten-point scale so
seniors’ GPA’s are more competitive with other school districts.
3. Pop Tarts are better than Toaster Pastries.
4. A healthcare bill where the very rich are taxed to pay for the costs is fair.
5. Generally, females have it easier in life than males.
6. Pro-Football cheerleaders detract from the game instead of enhancing it.
7. In order to become independent of foreign oil, the U.S. needs to start drilling in Alaska.
8. A/B Honor Roll students should be allowed to drive off campus at lunchtime with
written parental permission.
9. In each of the four main academic areas (English, Math, Science and Social Studies) one
all-male and one all-female section should be offered instead of all of them being
mixed-gender.
10. Considering Wendy’s, Burger Kind and McDonalds, Burger King has the best over-all
menu.

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
Cover Frame & Graphic from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Keith-Naquin
 Four Corners Activity

Student Directions:
Part 1: take a stance- Agree, Disagree, Ambivalent, No Opinion- on one of these statements by
standing in the corner under the sign that best reveals your opinion on the topic.
Part 2: defend your opinion on the back of this directions sheet. Use the Note Section under
the question of your choice to jot down your thoughts and those your peers’ presented during
the Part 1 of this activity.

1. High school hours should run from 8:30am-3:30pm.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. The School District should change their 6-point grading scale to a ten-point scale so
seniors’ GPA’s are more competitive with other school districts.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Pop Tarts are better than Toaster Pastries.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. A healthcare bill where the very rich are taxed to pay for the costs is fair.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. Generally, females have it easier in life than males.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. Pro-Football cheerleaders detract from the game instead of enhancing it.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7. In order to become independent of foreign oil, the U.S. needs to start drilling in Alaska.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
8. A/B Honor Roll students should be allowed to drive off campus at lunchtime with
written parental permission.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9. In each of the four main academic areas (English, Math, Science and Social Studies) one
all-male and one all-female section should be offered instead of all of them being
mixed-gender.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
10. Considering Wendy’s, Burger Kind and McDonalds, Burger King has the best over-all
menu.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
Cover Frame & Graphic from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Keith-Naquin
 Four Corners Activity

AGREE

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

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 Four Corners Activity

DISAGREE

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

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 Four Corners Activity

AMBIVALENT

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

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 Four Corners Activity

NO
OPINION

Copyright © 2011, 2016 Constance D. Casserly All rights reserved by author.

Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited.
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