✍️ Opening Claim and Why

Students draft an evidence-free opening claim about their chosen controversy and a brief paragraph explaining why they currently believe it, using a claim-because structure and precise language instead of summary. They then exchange drafts, give feedback to 2 peers, receive feedback on clarity, arguability, and possible bias, and revise their position statement before submitting it. This creates the first stance they will later test against evidence and counterarguments.