Debate Ready: How To Get Your Students Arguing The Right Way.

Arguing is an art form, and teaching how to debate is a valuable skill for high school students.

Debate provides students the exposure to “strengthen critical skills such as leadership, interpersonal influence, team building, group problem solving, and oral presentation” (Leuser). Debates help students develop reading comprehension, literacy, and critical thinking skills. They also provide a structured platform for students to express their opinions.

Students take a purposeful stance when they tie facts to their ideas and engage in scholarly, competitive discourse. But expressing an opinion isn’t enough these days, which is why debates matter so much. In today’s world, messaging has become convoluted, so students need to learn how to think objectively about different points of view without degradation.

But for a debate to be successful, students need to understand what civil discourse looks like, sounds like, and how to respectfully disagree. This requires educators to set ground rules for debates. Teachers need to emphasize respect for different opinions and perspectives. It also means providing structure for the discussions so all participants can present their arguments equally.

How to strengthen your students’ debate skills with children’s books

One of the best ways to start a unit of study on the debate is to analyze the points of view with students. Children’s books offer a plethora of resources for understanding different perspectives.

These titles will help get your students in the right frame of mind… and provide perspective on point of view:

• The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel
• Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne
• Flotsam by David Wiesner

To kick off this exploration, set up stations around the classroom. Each station should feature a different children’s book. Students then circulate the room and complete this activity by performing mini-literature circles. Leave time at the end of the lesson to debrief by asking these questions:

• What do these books all have in common?
• Whose point of view resonated or struck you the most and why?
• How does the point of view affect each story? Does it make the story more relatable or emotional for the reader?
• Can you identify a shift in point of view in each story? How does this shift alter the reader’s understanding of the story?
• Does the point of view reveal any bias or prejudice in the story? If so, how does it influence our understanding of the story?
• What effect does the author’s choice of point of view have on the reader’s empathy for the characters? Does it make them more or less sympathetic?
• Can you identify any symbolism in the point of view? Does the author use point of view to convey a larger message or theme?

4 ways to enhance your students’ argumentative thinking and writing

Once students understand how point of view shapes an argument, they’re ready to begin practicing the art of argumentation. Prepare students for a culminating debate with these argumentative activities.

Ethics Discussions:

Present your students with ethical dilemmas relevant to their age group or specific readings. For example, students could discuss the use of AI in schools and if it has a place in education. Have them discuss the issues and encourage them to find different ways to look at situations. This helps build their critical thinking skills and fosters open-mindedness.

Speed Debates:

Like speed dating in its structure, students prepare a non-stop argument for a short time. Pair up your students and have them discuss a specific topic. After each discussion, students rotate and debate with another partner. This activity gets students thinking on their feet and helps them practice articulating their points of view. Be sure to debrief this activity with reflection questions about their participation and the strength of their arguments. Have students refine their points and re-do this activity again.

Argument Mapping:

Students organize their arguments by creating a flowchart or mind map to help them make sense of their thoughts. This strategy is excellent for those who struggle to arrange their thoughts or need visual aids when they’re presenting.

Media Analysis:

This exercise highlights the structure of arguments and the speaker’s persuasion strategies. Students dissect media (news articles, speeches, opinion pieces, TV & radio shows, podcasts, etc.) and deconstruct the arguments made by the speaker. They evaluate the techniques used by politicians and others to argue their points.

Once students understand perspectives and how they influence an argument, they’re ready to debate! Here are some popular high school novels to use in student debates:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Students can debate the themes of racism, equality, and justice explored in this classic novel.
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding: This book can spark discussions around power, order, and chaos, as well as the consequences of mob mentality.
• 1984 by George Orwell: Students can debate the dystopian themes of totalitarianism, government control, and individualism vs. conformity.
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: This novel can spark debates on ethical issues related to technology, individual freedom, and the notion of happiness.
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: A favorite among teens, this novel touches on themes of growing up, loss of innocence, and teenage rebellion.

Divide the class into two teams and have them debate an assigned viewpoint, or they can create their own. Use this argument lesson plan and graphic organizer to help students collect text evidence to form the basis of their argument. Your students will take on different perspectives and engage in a lively discussion.

After the in-class debate, provide time to reflect. Students need to consider the strength of their own arguments. More importantly, students must think about the points made by their opponents. Changing viewpoints fosters authentic reflection.

Teachers can help students understand how point of view shapes an argument by recording the discussion. Playback the recording the following day, and invite students to think about their logic and delivery and if they noticed any gaps in their or their opponents’ arguments. This will help students see themselves and their active listening skills in action.

Final Thoughts

Teaching debate helps students develop more than communication and critical thinking skills. Debate encourages students to think objectively and practice patience and tolerance when discussing sensitive or controversial topics. Discussing hard things makes them better equipped for conversations in other areas of their lives. Learning to listen, share viewpoints, and handle disagreements tactfully is a valuable skill that will serve them well.

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Glose for Education is an online platform that makes reading a social experience. Readers learn from one another by creating shared spaces to interact with digital texts. Click here to learn more about how Glose for Education can support your instruction. And, download this free lesson plan to help students make their point.