Writing in the social studies also encourages students to appreciate different kinds of writing. Writing to persuade is different than merely writing to inform. Students learn to identify biases in sources, and to understand that not everything that they read is true. They can also engage in persuasive exercises where they try to change the minds of other people. This forces them to see that there are two sides to every issue. Being able to express controversial points-of-view in a way that is respectful of others fosters a sense of maturity within the students that will help them in later life.

Debating historical issues and understanding how people lived differently a long time ago will also help students comprehend that their way of life is not the only way people have lived, in ages past. Students learn to read primary source documents to understand how people of the past thought...
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