DEBATE

Pro
Junior
Book 1
Workbook

Teacher’s Guide
Answer Keys and
Sample Answers
 Unit 01 Books vs. Smartphones
The debate topic of this unit is whether children should spend more time reading books or using

smartphones. The arguments in favor of books include the learning and linguistic benefits, while the

arguments for smartphones explain why they are more fun and can help children learn.

Example Argument (page 06)

In my opinion, reading books is better than using smartphones. The reason is that children can
grow their imaginations. For example, books like Harry Potter use our imaginations. The
world in Harry Potter has magic and monsters. So, we have to use our minds to think what
the world is like. This helps children be more creative. However, when we use smartphones, we
do not use our imaginations much. All the information is in pictures, videos, or sound. This
means we cannot improve our creativity.

Debate Expressions (page 07)

I am positive that children should spend more time reading books than using smartphones. My
first reason is that books help children learn to concentrate. For example, they have to focus
on the words and understand their meanings. This will help them learn new vocabulary words.
It will also make their thinking skills better. Therefore, I do not agree with our opponents who
say that using smartphones is more helpful for children.

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 Unit 02 School Uniforms
The debate topic of this unit is whether students should be required to wear uniforms at school. The pro

arguments include how uniforms help students get dressed faster and study better. The con arguments

include uniforms being unfair for students in public schools and that they deny students’ self-expression.

Example Argument (page 08)

I believe that wearing normal clothes is better than wearing uniforms. My supporting argument

is that normal clothes are more comfortable. If students wear normal clothes, they can choose

clothing that is comfortable. This way, they can focus more on their classes. But uniforms are

not very comfortable to wear. They might be too big or too tight. They are also usually darker

colors. This makes the students feel hotter when it is sunny. So, students will be too

uncomfortable to study.

Debate Expressions (page 09)

It is our opinion that wearing uniforms is good for students. Our team’s first argument is

uniforms help students to study harder. To give an example, some students spend 30 minutes

or more each day choosing clothes. This means they have less time to study or do their

homework. The other team believes that students have the right to choose their clothing. I

think our opponents are wrong since students are just kids, so they do not have the same

rights as adults.

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 Unit 03 Animals in Zoos
The focus of the debate in this unit is whether animals should live in zoos. The arguments in favor

include how zoos protect endangered species whereas the arguments against explain how keeping

animals in zoos is wrong.

Example Argument (page 10)

To me, it seems that most zoos are helpful for animals. I feel this way since zoos help animals

to survive. These days, thousands of animals are endangered. Their homes are being destroyed.

When animals live in zoos, they will always have homes. The workers at the zoo will take good

care of the animals. They will give them all the food and water they need. This is why most

animals live longer in zoos. Scientists found that 80 percent of animals live longer in zoos. But

if animals live in nature, they will probably run out of food or get hunted.

Debate Expressions (page 11)

I strongly believe that keeping animals in zoos is wrong. First of all, we should respect the

rights of animals to live freely. For instance, most animals want to live in nature with their

families. Taking away this freedom of choice is wrong. My opponent believes that zoos keep

animals safe from danger. But the problem is the animals in zoos will be less happy than in

nature.

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 Unit 04 Bicycles on Sidewalks
In this unit, students will debate whether bicycles should be allowed on sidewalks. One of the arguments

in favor is the sidewalk is safer for cyclists. One of the arguments against is bicycles should follow the

same rules as other vehicles.

Example Argument (page 12)

I am sure that bicycles should stay on roads. For one, bicycles cannot hurt pedestrians on

roads. When bicycles are on roads, they are with other vehicles away from pedestrians. This

means they will not hit people walking or cause them injuries. But when bicycles are on

sidewalks, they can easily hit people. This can lead to serious accidents. For instance, when I

was younger, I was hit by a cyclist on a sidewalk. The cyclist did not see me. He hit me while

he was going very fast. I fell and broke my arm. I had to go to the hospital then.

Debate Expressions (page 13)

My opinion is that bicycles should be allowed to ride on sidewalks. For one, roads are made

for cars, trucks, and other large vehicles, not for bicycles. To be specific, cyclists do not have

much protection if a car hits them. Even with a helmet, the cyclist will still get badly hurt. The

other team thinks that letting bicycles on sidewalks will cause more accidents. However,

accidents on between bicycles and pedestrians will not be as serious.

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 Unit 05 Free School Lunches
Whether schools should give free lunches to students is the focus of this debate. The arguments in favor

of free school lunches include the way they benefit students from low-income families, while the

arguments against them state that schools cannot afford to give free lunches.

Example Argument (page 14)

I agree that students should not pay for school lunches. In many ways, schools are like parents

to students. They are responsible for the children during the school day. They are supposed to

take care of the children. Parents do not make their children pay for every meal. For the same

reason, schools should not make their students pay to eat. If schools make children pay for

meals, then some students cannot pay. This means that schools are not doing their jobs right.

They are not taking care of all their students.

Debate Expressions (page 15)

My main argument is schools do not need to give students free lunches. For starters, giving

free lunches to all students would be a waste of money. What I mean is some students come

from families with a lot of money, so they don’t need free lunches. These students can pay for

their lunches. The other team thinks that schools should give free lunches. They are wrong

because free lunches would cost governments too much money.

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 Unit 06 Physical Education Class
Students will debate the pros can cons of mandatory physical education class in schools. Among the pro

arguments are the benefits of exercise. The con arguments include how P.E. classes can make students

too tired to study in their other classes.

Example Argument (page 16)

I think that it is wrong for schools to tell students to exercise. Some students may enjoy doing

other activities more. Schools should respect students’ decisions and let them do what they

want. For instance, imagine a boy who likes reading but does not like sports. The school

should let the boy spend more time reading. This way, the boy can learn more and do better

in class. But if he has to go to PE class, then he might feel a lot stress. This can make him less

happy in school.

Debate Expressions (page 17)

I strongly believe that all schools should make students exercise. To start with, most children

these days do not exercise much. Think about how many kids today just go home and play

games or watch TV. Some students spend a lot of time studying in academies. These activities

do not help students stay healthy. On the other hand, our opponents think that it is

wrong for schools to make student exercise. However, schools must teach their students how

to have healthy habits.

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 Unit 07 Cities vs. Rural Areas
The debate topic of this unit is whether children should grow up in cities or rural areas. The arguments

in favor of cities include how children can have more learning opportunities in cities. The arguments in

favor of rural areas discuss the benefits of having access to the outdoors.

Example Argument (page 18)

I strongly believe that children should grow up in cities. Cities give children many chances to

learn and be successful. Cities usually have the best schools. The adults who live in cities are

usually very educated. They are more successful. For example, most rich people in the world

live in big cities like New York and London. If children live in big cities, then they have more

chances to learn how to succeed. In rural areas, few people have jobs in big companies or

make a lot of money. So children there cannot learn how to succeed as easily as children in

cities.

Debate Expressions (page 19)

I am sure that it is better for children to grow up in rural areas. To start with, children will have

less stressful lives in rural areas. To be specific, children will not have to study as hard in school.

The reason is that most rural schools have fewer students. So the students do not have to

compete as much as city students do. Our opponents argue that children can learn more in

cities, but living in cities can be too stressful for kids.

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 Unit 08 Card Games in Schools
This unit’s debate focuses on whether children should be allowed to play card games such as Pokémon

and Yu-Gi-Oh! in schools. The arguments against allowing them include the distraction the games can

be for students, while the arguments in favor of allowing them explain that students should be allowed

to use their spare time in school freely.

Example Argument (page 20)

To me, it seems that schools should not allow card games. These card games can distract

students. When students play card games, they spend too much time thinking about the

games. For instance, they might think about what cards they want to buy and sell to other

students. Or they think of new strategies to win the games all day. As a result, these students

will not focus on their classes. If schools allow these card games, then students will learn less

and have lower grades.

Debate Expressions (page 21)

I believe that students should be allowed to bring card games to school. First of all, card

games are a safe and fun way for students to spend their break times. To be more specific,

card games are an easy way to meet other students and become friends with them. They can

have a good time trading cards and playing against one another. The other team believes that

card games are harmful for students. However, playing card games is not so different from

playing sports like basketball.

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 Unit 09 Children Making Decisions
In this unit, students will debate whether children should be allowed to make decisions. One pro

argument is that children can learn the process of making decisions. One con argument is that children

do not have enough experience to make good decisions.

Example Argument (page 22)

I am sure that kids should be allowed to make their own decisions. By doing so, they can

practice making decisions. This is important because children will need to be independent and

make their own decisions as adults. This can help children be more successful as adults.

Scientists say that kids who start making decisions from early age can be more successful than

the children who do not. When they are adults, these children tend to have better jobs and

more friends. If parents always make decisions for their kids, then they never learn to be

independent.

Debate Expressions (page 23)

My belief is that parents should make decisions for their children. First of all, kids are too

young to make decisions for themselves. For example, children do not have enough experience

to know what is a good or bad decision. So they need some help from adults. With their help,

they do not need to make mistakes and regret them later. Our opponents believe that children

should control their lives. However, children are still young and need their parents’ help.

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 Unit 10 Free Music Downloads
In this unit, students will debate whether people should be allowed to download music free. The

argument that free downloads help less famous musicians become popular is among the pro arguments,

whereas the notion that downloading music without paying for it is stealing is presented as a con

argument.

Example Argument (page 24)

It is my opinion that people must pay to download music online. The first reason is that we

must pay for the things we want to have. In our society, everything that people make costs

money. If you want to see a movie, you need to pay for a ticket. If you want to move into a

house, you need to pay for it. For the same reason, people need to pay for music that they

want to download. Letting people download music for free would not be fair because the

musicians would not get money for their work.

Debate Expressions (page 25)

I am sure that people must be allowed to download music for free. For one, musicians cannot

stop people from downloading their music for free anyway. For example, thousands of websites

let people listen to and download songs for free. It is not possible to erase all these websites.

It makes more sense for artists to just let people download their songs for free. The other

team’s opinion is that musicians will not make enough money. But this is not true because they

can make money by selling concert tickets.

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