The students compete by arguing either for or against a viewpoint. They present their own arguments and refute others’ arguments in a respectful manner.
The method trains students to think critically, formulate well-founded arguments, and strengthen their oral presentation skills.
BEFORE
Prepare, or have the students prepare, a series of issues, alternatives, or proposals that they will argue for or against.
Divide the class into two or more teams. Each team will either argue for or against something, or argue in favor of their own proposal.
Introduce the debate and the rules of the game, for example, whether interruptions are allowed or not, and how long or how many rounds the debate will last.
Give the teams time to prepare their arguments. Each team should note down their main arguments and any examples they plan to use.
One team starts by presenting their arguments (e.g., why train travel is better than flying). The other team listens actively and prepares a response/counter argument.
Team 2 responds to Team 1’s arguments by challenging them and presenting their own.
The debate continues until time is up or the agreed number of rounds is completed.
| Engage | Investigate |