Defending the Tao

This persuasive writing worksheet is designed for students in Grades 8, 9, and 10 to develop strong argumentative writing and philosophical reasoning through close engagement with C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. Learners take a clear position either supporting or critiquing Lewis’s defense of objective moral values (the Tao), then build a structured essay using textual evidence and modern examples, strengthening logic, clarity, and ethical evaluation.

Learning Goals

• Argumentative Writing with Evidence (Grades 8-10)
  Students craft a clear thesis and support it with well-reasoned points drawn from text and real-world contexts.
• Persuasive Essay Structure
  Learners practice organizing ideas into introduction, body paragraphs, counterargument, and conclusion.
• Ethical Theory Analysis
  Activities require evaluation of Lewis’s claims about objective morality and human nature.
• Critical Thinking & Counterargument
  Students address opposing viewpoints and respond thoughtfully to strengthen their argument.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with secondary ELA writing and philosophy standards.
• Guided Essay Framework
  Step-by-step structure supports students through complex argumentative writing.
• Text-to-World Connections
  Encourages application of philosophical ideas to contemporary moral issues.
• Supports Academic Writing Skills
  Reinforces reasoning, coherence, and evidence integration.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Defending the Tao worksheet helps students engage deeply with philosophical argument while practicing persuasive academic writing. By defending or challenging Lewis’s ideas using evidence and reflection, learners strengthen critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and confidence expressing complex viewpoints. Whether used for an essay assignment, philosophy unit, or writing assessment, this printable resource provides meaningful support for structured, thoughtful argumentation.

This worksheet is part of our Abolition of Man collection.