This Argumentative Essay Bundle for Romeo & Juliet was designed to walk your 9th graders step-by-step through the writing process: while keeping them focused, supported, and OFF Google (at least until the final typed draft).
 
Prompt: Does fate or the characters' own decisions lead to the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet? Argue whether the play suggests that people control their own destinies or are at the mercy of fate.
 
This isn’t just an essay assignment, it’s a fully scaffolded writing system that:
Breaks down each paragraph (intro, body, conclusion)
Forces students to include context BEFORE evidence
Uses a paper-based first draft to eliminate distractions + AI access
Aligns with CER/PEEL writing strategies
Builds confidence in even your most reluctant writers
 
What’s Included?
Scaffolded First Draft (Printable)
Structured paragraph-by-paragraph writing guide
Sentence frames + guided prompts
Helps students organize ideas before typing final draft
4-Point Rubric (Student-Friendly)
“Major Aura / Cooking / Mid / Cooked” levels
Clear expectations for:
*Introduction (hook, context, thesis with 3 claims)
*Body paragraphs (topic sentence, context, evidence, reasoning)
*Conclusion (restated thesis, summary, mic drop)
*Formatting & conventions
Exemplar Essay (Different Text)
Models a strong argumentative essay
Uses the SAME structure and expectations
Allows students to see success without copying your core text
MLA Checklist
Easy-to-follow checklist for formatting
Helps students stay accountable for final draft expectations
Teaching Slides (Low-Prep, Ready-to-Use)
Lecture slides with built in timers (most text is editable)
Breaks down:
*What is an argumentative essay
*How to write an introduction
*Body paragraph structure (with context!)
*How to write a strong conclusion + “mic drop”
Peer Editing Packet
Guided peer feedback
Helps students give meaningful, structured feedback
Reinforces rubric expectations
 
Created by a 9th Grade ELA Teacher for 9th Grade ELA Teachers
This is the exact system I use in my own classroom!