Successes and Challenges in Supporting Adolescents’ Argumentation Skills in Public Policy Discussions

Both the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies State Standards and the Common Core State Standards in ELA/Literacy emphasize the importance of making reasoned arguments supported by evidence. Administrators play a critical role in supporting the effective teaching of argumentation. However, limited knowledge exists concerning how adolescents understand and use evidence in framing arguments. This project builds knowledge about how adolescents understand and use evidence when engaged in a public policy deliberation.