Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debate in the Classroom: The Pebble Mine Pundits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and debate the pros and cons of the Pebble Mine in Alaska from a variety of perspectives. They also write a position paper that either supports or opposed Pebble Mine develpoment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That's Your Side of the Story!

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders discuss the elements of effective debating. they debate governmental issues after reseraching selected topics. With student permission, the debate may be videotaped for viewing to other classes or during open house.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Class Forums: An English Language Arts Lesson for Information Resources

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders listen to a controversial piece of writing. They with opposing viewpoints face one another. After ground rules are suggested and adopted by the group, 10th graders articulate their positions in successive turns.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Liberation of the Garden Gnomes

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students read a lighthearted story about the controversial Garden Gnome Liberation Front. They debate the public's right to own garden gnomes. Personal - to lighten up the classroom a bit with a somewhat
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teachers: Citizenship: Government Central

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners research about the Queen and examine the arguments for and against having a Royal Family. They study the function of a monarchy and hold a debate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Commission of Inquiry

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the role and functions of a commission of inquiry and participate in a democratic debate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drug Testing In Schools - Take A Stand

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine facts about drug testing in schools.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gun Debate

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students read a passage about the right to bear arms and complete a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And Your Point Is . . .? Part I

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students, in groups, complete a WebQuest titled "Love Canal Debate". They follow the WebQuest to research and write papers on different points of view regarding the Love Canal environmental disaster.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Debate - Demonstrating Effective Communication Skills

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore and engage in the art of debate. When both sides have been presented each pair have a few minutes to prepare a rebuttal based upon what the opposing side has said. A rubric imbedded in this plan is used as an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Holding the Debate on the Modern Issue of Equality

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Pupils present opening statements, along with their sign and slogan reflecting their point of view on an issue. 3. They debate the issue of whether there should be a double/single standard to promote equality in the United States services.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CHANGING THE WEATHER

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders relate previous knowledge of cloud formation to the "seeding" of clouds and justify their stance on a position taken in a debate on weather control.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cycling Through Controversy

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students research different perspectives and debate environmental issues. They consider different viewpoints when proposing solutions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

STS Biology - Teaching Controversial Topics

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Each of the three activities submitted presents difficult science topics in the context of the human experience. The activities focus on real-world problems, which have science components, from the students' perspectives.
Article
This Nation

This nation.com: What Is a Filibuster?

For Students 9th - 10th
This site answers the questions "What is a filibuster? Why are they permitted in the Senate but not the House? Can you do anything to stop one?" Good discussion of the term in the context of U.S. government.
Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: Us Presidential Candidates Face Off in First of Three Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
A record attendance was recorded for the first debate of the major party candidates in the 2016 run for president. Read about the questions moderator Lester Holt probed Trump and Clinton with.
Website
Other

Urban Debate Leagues: Learn to Debate

For Students 9th - 10th
Wide, broad site offering a wealth of resources for beginning debaters. Includes links to videos (requiring RealPlayer). There is a link to the basics of argumentation as well.
Handout
Other

Grinnell College: Reblesky: Debate Guidelines

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This set of debate guidelines includes information on debate format as well as preparing for a debate. It uses a computer science class debate prompt.
Website
Other

Debate Central: Learn About Debating

For Students 9th - 10th
This web site has debate information on how to debate, how to judge, how to coach, how to be a better speaker and how to research.
Primary
Other

Critical Concepts: Dramatic Monologue

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a discussion of dramatic monologue form. Includes a poem as an example, Hardy's "The Man He Killed."
Handout
Other

Weak Analogy

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides alternate names for the concept, a definition, examples, and explanation of the examples. The author is a former college professor, so the information can be trusted.
eBook
Other

Rules online.com: Robert's Rules Online

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site focuses on the study of parliamentary law and provides the full text of Robert's Rules of Order Revised (published 1915), completely indexed and keyword searchable.
Graphic
Other

Manitoba Speech and Debate Assoc.: Debate Scoresheets

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site has several scoresheets for judging a debate. Includes a parliamentary debate scoresheet and cross-examination scoresheet.
Handout
Other

Manitoba Speech and Debate Association: Rules of Parliamentary Debate

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The Manitoba Speech and Debate Association presents the Rules of Parliamentary Debate. Twenty rules provided.