Civil war unit lesson 4 - debate preparation

1. Let’s Debate!
Learning how to prepare and do well in a
classroom debate.

2. Objective
By the end of the lesson, SWB ready
to debate the following subjects from
the perspective of Northerners or
Southerners prior to the Civil War:
slavery and tariffs.

3. Debates!
What is a debate?

4. Debate
A debate is where two sides with
different opinions on an issue talk
about why their view is right and the
other view is wrong.
A debate is like an organized
argument!

5. Debates
Don’t get confused though! A debate is not...

6. Debates
Debates have lots of rules to make sure
people are respectful, the time spent is
worthwhile, and it is a pleasant
experience where people learn.

7. Rules of a Debate
Each side presents their arguments while
the other side is respectfully listening.
There is no name calling!
People do not shout at each other!

8. Debate Format
1 Minutes - Opening Statement
3 Minutes - Present your case
5 Questions - Answer each question
using facts.

9. Debate Preparation
Who thinks you can show up to a
debate without doing research and
preparing for the big day?!
NOOOOOO!
You must prepare!

10. Debate Prep. Example
Topic: “Pizza is the best food on Earth!”
The debate is going to be about whether or
not this is statement is true or not.
Let’s say that you are on the side that
agrees with this statement. What do you
think the first step would be to get ready for
the big debate?

11. Research!
You want to do some research on your
topic.
Researching a topic gives you the tools
that you need to do a better job than the
other side in the debate.
What type of things could we research with
regards to the pizza topic?

12. Research!
How many pizzas are sold each year...
The awesome ingredients used on a pizza...
How many pizzas people eat daily...
Remember, you want to do research to
make your topic look good!

13. Gather Information
While you are researching, you can gather
information.
You might want to categorize into different
groups:
Positive information, and how it helps you,
and
Negative information, how it hurts you, and
arguments against that information.

14. Positive Information... how it helps you.
Each year, 3 billion pizzas are sold This shows that are really popular!
There are over 61,000 pizza restaurants in the U.S. This shows you can easily get pizza.
Most pizzas have cheese and pepperoni This shows that pizza is made with ingredients that a lot of people
love.

15. Negative Information... how it hurts you... how to counter the information.
Pizza is fattening This shows that pizza is unhealthy People don’t need to eat that much pizza
to fill up, therefore, its not that bad for you!
Pizza can give you a stomach ache This shows that pizza can make you sick. A person can get a stomach ache from
any food, not just pizza.

16. Debate Topic
Are you ready to see what we
are going to debate next
class?!?
Are you sure?

17. Debate Topic
Get excited!

18. Debate Topic!
“Slavery in America is a great thing.
The tariffs on the other hand, are
horrible!”
Agree?
Disagree?

19. Debate Topic
You will now be split up into two groups.
Remember, you don’t have to personally
agree with the statement in order to debate
on the side that agrees with the statement.
You are just trying to find information that
helps your cause.

20. Independent Practice
Now it’s your turn to prepare!
1) As a small group, use notes from the past
classes and computers to gather information
and put it on your Debate Action Plan.
2) Divide up in your group who wants to
present what information.
3) Pick someone to give the opening
statement.