Frankenstories

In this activity, students practice writing a short argumentative text on the topic: "Should cellphones be allowed in school?" After the class has agreed to write from a pro-cellphone (or non-cellphone) perpective, each student: (1)  states their position and gives one positive argument for allowing cellphones; (2) adds a counterargument mentioning one possible problem with cellphones at school; and (3) responds to that counterargument, adds another supporting argument and finishes with a concluding sentence in favor of cellphones. 

• Target age: 11-12

• Target language level: A2-B1

• Location: indoors

Written production: students will collaboratively produce a short argumentative text about whether cellphones should be allowed in school.

Interaction: students will collaborate in Frankenstoreis by contributing sentences, voting on the best options and deciding which arguments are most convincing.

• Students will be able to take a clear position for cellphone use in schools and support it with arguments.

• Students will be able to identify a counterargument and write a refutation that defends their perspective.

• Students will be able to write an argumentative text with a clear introduction, arguments, counterargument, refutation and conclusion.

1. Create a free account on Frankenstories.

2. Explore the dashboard with all of the features and adjust the settings to what you like.

3. Set up the specific game for this lesson: create a room for "Cellphones in school" and prepare the five rounds with clear prompts.

4. Prepare scaffolding: argumentative structure and sentence connectors.

PRE TASK: brainstorming of pros and cons

The teacher makes two columns on the board with the pros and cons of cellphones in school. The students will think about ideas: "How could cellphones help/cause problems at school?" and they will note down keywords in the columns.

Next, the teacher will show the structure of the story that the students will build in Frankenstories.

1. Introduction + standing point

2. Pro argument 1

3. Counterargument

4. Refutation + Pro argument 2

5. Conclusion

MAIN TASK: writing an argumentative story 

• Round 1: write 1-2 sentences that clearly say you are FOR cellphones in school and give one positive thing they add to school.

  • Students write> vote  > add the winning sentences to the Frankenstory.

• Round 2: write 3-3 sentences that explain the positive effect in more detail. Give an example of how cellphones help in school.

  • Students write > vote > add the winning sentences to the Frankenstory.

• Round 3: write 2-3 sentences giving a strong negative point about cellphones in school. 

  • Students write > vote > add the winning sentences to the Frankenstory.

• Round 4: answer the negative point and write 2-3 sentences that show how we can reduce the problem, and add another reason why cellphones are still a good idea.

  • Students write > vote > add the winning sentences to the Frankenstory.

• Round 5: write 1-2 sentences to finish the text and summarize your main reasons.

  • Students write > vote > add the winning sentences to the Frankenstory.

POST TASK: next lesson

The students read through the first argumentative text. This lesson they are going to write another argumentative text, but from the other standingpoint.

The teacher hands out every individuals students prompts and then the students re-write them to correct grammar.

Edit the prompt texts, image and round instructions