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All Journal Research in Social Sciences and Technology
William B. Russell
School of Teacher Education, University of Central Florida, Florida, USA
Education

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What Does English Learners’ Writing Reveal? A Case Study of Structured Academic Controversy in a High School Social Studies Classroom Clara Lee Brown; Stewart Waters; William B. Russell
Research in Social Sciences and Technology Vol 11 No 2 (2026): Research in Social Sciences and Technology (Special Issue)
Publisher : Research in Social Sciences and Technology- OpenED Network

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.46303/ressat.2026.7

Abstract

This paper investigates how a Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) approach can support English learners (ELs) with below-grade-level English proficiency in meeting rigorous national social studies standards. In a case study, three high school ELs in a U.S. History class wrote protest letters to President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the World War II Japanese American internment (Executive Order 9066). Prior to writing, students analyzed primary sources using guiding questions to consider multiple perspectives. Analysis of the letters revealed evidence of four National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) thematic standards (Themes 1, 2, 5, and 10), while focus group interviews showed student awareness of two of the same themes (Themes 2 and 5) and one additional theme (Theme 6). These findings suggest that SAC enabled ELs to access rigorous content while addressing NCSS standards. A key benefit of SAC was the development of critical thinking and communication skills essential for democratic participation. The SAC process also afforded ELs meaningful opportunities to produce authentic writing that demonstrated engagement with high-level social studies concepts and civic reasoning.
Social Studies in the Era of GenAI William B. Russell; Stewart Waters; Matthew Hensley
Research in Social Sciences and Technology Vol 11 No 2 (2026): Research in Social Sciences and Technology (Special Issue)
Publisher : Research in Social Sciences and Technology- OpenED Network

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.46303/ressat.2026.11

Abstract

As GenAI continues to reshape how we access information, communicate, and understand the world, social studies education must adapt to prepare learners for civic life in an increasingly automated and algorithm-driven society. From AI-generated content and multi-media to predictive policing and algorithmic bias, today’s students face unprecedented ethical, historical, and civic questions that demand thoughtful exploration.
Co-Authors Clara Lee Brown Matthew Hensley Stewart Waters