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Let Me Convince You
Students discuss the purposes of persuasive speaking and writing with emphasis upon what makes them different from other kinds. They brainstorm and discuss ways to select "The Greatest American Who Ever Lived" and prepare a persuasive...
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Designing Visual Support For "The Greatest American" Speech
Students study several periods in American history, define the term "greatest American," and brainstorm possible criteria for selecting great Americans. They create a three to five minute persuasive speech along with visual aids to...
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Debating the Three Gorges Dam Project: Power to the People or Environmental Catastrophe?
Students explore the controversy behind the building of the Three Gorges Dam in China. One group of the class researches the government's stance on building the dam. Another section of the class represents an environmental group who...
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How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?
Students examine the different perspectives of Igbo women. They simulate a silent debate in response to the question, "Is the Igbo society sexist?" They write their response to the question and exchange papers with their partner as the...
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Advanced Debate
Students give two practice speeches to captain or other group member. They perform a speech which is videotaped; view and critique the performance. Finally, they videotape another student.
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858: Interactive Map Activity
Learners utilize an interactive map to explore the 1858 Senate campaign in Illinois. They examine how factors such as population, transportation, and party strongholds can affect campaign strategies. Students write an essay discussing...
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The Media and You
Learners create a system to approach news articles. They analyze media content for main ideas and overall themes and summarize key points. Students draw upon personal experiences to build on ideas presented in news articles.
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Campaign Hot Buttons
Students participate in a simulation that asks them to work as staffers for a candidate running for office. They are assigned to design, administer, and analyze a simple poll on an important community issue. Students develop a position...
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Giving a Persuasive Speech
Students examine how to plan their own thoughts, write down specific notes, and prepare to give their speech on a topic from the list. They take a specific side and present their arguments to the class.
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Are Curfew's Fair?
Students explore and discuss how curfews are set up. They discuss how difficult it can be to define appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Students role play situations involving curfew and the behaviors they are meant to curb.
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Everyday Heroes
Students research heroes and create their own criteria of what constitutes a hero. They choose a personal hero and create a web page that portrays the individual and their accomplishments. Students create a presentation for the class.
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Preliminary Reflection on the Death Penalty
Students discuss the death penalty. They explore specific cases and form an opinion of whether or not they agree with it. They share their opinions, pro or con, in the form of a debate.
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Human Trafficking & Modern Day Slavery - Debating the Fundamentals
Students research the trafficking and slavery issues in a country of their choice. In groups, they prepare arguments which support their point of view. They reverse their positions to make the debate more interesting.
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Friday Forum (Day 5)
Students evaluate their performance in different debates about the laws of Michigan. They write a letter to an editor of a newspaper sharing their opinions. They write journal entries as well.
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Legislative Debate: The Importance and Role of Debate within the Legislative Process
Learners learn the legislative process as they debate real-life issues that affect students within their age group. To prepare for the debate, learners consult newspapers, selected articles, case studies, and other media resources....
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Labour Market Flexibility
Students discuss the concept of a flexible labor market. They research the desirablity of this type of market and present their findings to the class. They participate in a debate as well.
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the Young Offenders Act: Modeling Parliamentary Proceedings
Students examine parliamentary procedure by following rules of order, constructing and presenting well thought out arguments, and submitting reports of the proceedings.
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Good Shopping
Students participate in a debate in which they discuss shopping decisions. They discover their power as a consumer of goods and the factors that influencing purchasing.
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The Big Debate
Students participate in a debate about whether to have chocolate sold in schools. They gather information and use the proper materials for the debate.
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Debate in the Classroom: The Pebble Mine Pundits
High schoolers 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.
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Class Forums: An English Language Arts Lesson for Information Resources
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.
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Planning the Persuasive Paper and Debate
Ninth graders work in pairs, using the big six research method, to research a controversial subject of their choosing, write a persuasive paper expressing their views, and then debate with other teams.
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Liberation of the Garden Gnomes
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
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Teachers: Citizenship: Government Central
Young scholars 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.