Getting Started

1.Take out your Word Generation folder and read over last week’s passage, Should School Be A Place For Debate?

Students will debate should schools be a place

for debate.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

controversy - a great difference of opinion; an ongoing disagreement

justify - to defend, explain, or show to be right

perspective - point of view, way of looking at things

bias - a tendency to prefer or favor one position or side over another

debate - a discussion of a problem where both sides are presented

Students will debate should schools be a place

for debate.

Turn and Talk

Pro or Con?

Debate

Pro - argues the yes side of the debate

Con - argues the no side of the debate

Moderator - use accountable talk sentence stems to keep the debate going. After pro and con each speak, moderators summarize arguments and recall focus words used

Evaluator - tallies the number of focus words used by pro, con, and moderator

Opposite Sides1. One side of the room is the “Yes” side, and the opposite side of

the room is the “No” side

2. Only the student with the talking stick is permitted to speak. Everyone else is standing up straight and actively listening.

3. Be prepared to own your answer.

Must provide evidence to back up your claim.

Use focus words.

Use phrases like I believe that…, I agree with you but…, You make a good point, but have you considered…, Can you show me evidence in the text that…

4. If you are sufficiently swayed by a justification from the other side, be prepared to justify your move to that side of the room.

Should Schools Be A Place For Debate?