English

Oral Language 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.3

Reading/Literature 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.5, 4.6, 5.6, 5.7

Writing 3.10, 4.7, 5.8

History/Social Science

Standards of Learning will vary according to course of study.

Mathematics

Probability and Statistics 3.21, 3.22, 4.20, 5.18 (if mathematical visual aids such as graphs, tables, or charts are used)

ES.7: Communication skills

ES.8: Decision-making skills

Group Debate

Group debates enhance a student’s organizational and communication skills, which are vital to effective leadership. Selected students debate issues ranging from historical questions to social issues, and other classmates write majority or minority opinions.

Steps To Complete the Activity

• Assign a topic of debate. Example: Should western Virginia have separated to form another state?
• Break into two groups, one for and one against the issue.
• Have groups research the issue.
• Have groups focus the debate by subtopics. Examples: Politics, lifestyle, slavery, taxation
• Ask students to exchange ideas within the group.
• Have each group choose one person to debate each subtopic. Debater will have two minutes to present and one minute to argue the subtopic. Debater may use visual aids such as graphs, tables, or charts.
• Have each group choose one person to summarize the information presented and debate the original question.
• Award the debate to the group that presents the more convincing argument in terms of accuracy and adequacy of information and presentation effectiveness.
• Have nondebaters write a paragraph stating their opinion on the question, addressing all subtopics.

To conclude the activity, have students examine the process and identify examples of leadership displayed during the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the debate.

• What do you think qualified particular students to be leaders?
• Did the leader of the group encourage and try to include everyone’s contribution?
• Were the people who spoke in the debate the leaders?
• Were you a leader during any phase of the assignment?
• Would you like to be a leader in a similar assignment?