Students investigate how MLK’s argument connects injustice to psychological well-being, using literary analysis and mental health research to answer the question of how systemic racism harms marginalized communities. Over four weeks, they develop discipline-specific argument writing, discussion, and evidence evaluation skills through collaborative inquiry, weekly exit-ticket reflection, and revision. The work culminates in an evidence-based essay and a multimedia case study that trace how their thinking evolved, then share their learning with peers, medical pathway students, and caregivers at Justice in Focus Night.

Students will develop a defensible argument that answers how injustice shapes human well-being by drawing evidence from Letter from Birmingham Jail, mental health research, and contemporary examples of systemic racism. They will analyze rhetoric, reasoning, and point of view in texts and spoken presentations, then use that analysis to strengthen an essay, a revised draft, and a multimedia case study for Justice in Focus Night. Students will collaborate in discussion, communicate claims with empathy and precision, and use weekly exit-ticket reflection to track how their understanding of racism, mental health disparities, and psychological well-being evolves over time.

Students will create annotated text evidence charts, a shared discussion tracker, and weekly exit tickets that connect one claim from MLK’s letter to a current example of injustice affecting mental health and well-being. Throughout the project, they will draft and revise an evidence-based argument essay using passages from Letter from Birmingham Jail and contemporary mental health research, with visible growth shown through draft comparisons. They will also produce a multimedia case study that pairs one MLK quote with a present-day example of systemic racism and includes a recorded or live spoken reflection explaining how their thinking changed. The culminating products for Justice in Focus Night will include the final essay, the multimedia presentation, selected essay highlights, and a reflection board for visitors from English classes, the medical pathway, and families.

Open with a gallery walk that mixes key excerpts from Letter from Birmingham Jail, short youth-friendly mental health data visuals, and current headlines about systemic racism, asking students to post quick reactions to the question of how injustice shapes well-being. Follow with a structured circle discussion in which students build on one another’s ideas, evaluate which pieces of evidence feel most convincing, and begin naming possible claims they may later argue in writing. Close by introducing the driving question and the final products—an evidence-based argument essay, a multimedia case study, weekly exit-ticket reflections, and the Justice in Focus Night exhibition—so students can see the real audience and purpose from day one.

Host a Justice in Focus Night where students present their final argument essays, revised draft comparisons, and multimedia case studies to another English class, medical pathway students, and caregivers. Set up stations with video presentations, highlighted passages from Letter from Birmingham Jail, current mental health research, and reflection boards showing how students’ thinking evolved through weekly exit tickets. Include a short spoken component at each station so students explain how one MLK quote connects to a contemporary example of systemic racism and its impact on psychological well-being. Close with a feedback walk in which guests leave comments or questions about the strength of the evidence, clarity of the argument, and relevance to community well-being.