Getting Started

1. Take out your Word Generation folder and

read over last weeks 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.
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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 Sides
1. 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?