[LIT] debating

[macwendy at cox.net]

I am a 7th grade teacher and I so do, so very much, want to teach my Honors classes how to debate.  How do I start?  Besides going to the Lit Serve, other ideas are out there?  We have to teach the persuasibe essay and we have doing it ad nauseum since 5th grade.  I would like the to take a 'hot topic' write a persuasive essay based on researched facts for pros and cons, and then develop the essays into debates.  Suggestions?????

Thanks in advance,
Wendy
---- Bill IVEY <bivey at sbschool.org> wrote: 
> Hi!
> 
> Here's a link to an article in the "Baltimore Sun" entitled "Power of
> debate not up for dispute."
> http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.debate13jan13,0,7004514.story
> 
> My students wanted to do a debate this year, and chose as a topic
> "Resolved: that the island of Dokdo should belong to Japan." This rather
> unexpected and esoteric topic probably has to do with the fact that we
> have a number of Koreans in the class, and this territorial dispute is a
> hot topic and very emotional to Koreans. (The choice of "Japan" in the
> resolution was made by flipping a coin, to be fair to both sides.) Like
> the kids in the "Sun" article, my students worked in teams to research,
> write, and deliver their speeches. They also pre-wrote "canned questions"
> they could use in cross-examination if nothing came to mind as they
> listened to what the other team was actually saying during the debate.
> They were evaluated by a rubric having to do only with good speech
> techniques (which they, of course, wrote). The debate was judged, however,
> not only by speech techniques but also by strength, coherence and
> organization of ideas, and understanding of the opposing team's ideas. The
> kids loved it, and did a great job on debate day.
> 
> Do any of you teach debate? What has worked for you? Do any of your
> schools compete with other schools in debate?
> 
> Take care,
> Bill Ivey
> Stoneleigh-Burnham School
> 
> 
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