Debating across the curriculum

Some of the advantages of using debate across the curriculum are:

• Improving students’ ability to form arguments and to use reasoning and evidence
• Allowing students to explore subject matter in depth and from different perspectives
• Providing the ability to structure thoughts
• Providing an engaging, active, pupil-centred activity which students enjoy
• Hitting literacy and citizenship targets across the curriculum
• Providing speaking and listening opportunities for EAL pupils
• Giving stretch and challenge to G&T pupils
• Increasing student’s confidence, self-esteem and articulacy

Teachers’ observations about the use of debate in the curriculum

When surveyed, teachers who use debate in the classroom reported the following benefits:

• Improves self-confidence and self-esteem
• Uses higher order thinking skills
• Builds skills in research, teamwork and note-taking
• Is an active pupil-led classroom strategy
• Improves literacy and leads to better essay writing
• Builds speaking and listening skills
• Enforces the need to use evidence
• Teaches skills in building and responding to arguments
• Gives opportunity to practise thinking on your feet and working under pressure
• Leads to structured thought and structured writing
• Acts as an effective summary and revision tool
• Shows that there are two sides to all issues and gives a constructive format for disagreement to be aired
• Pupils enjoyed the activity and their learning.

Resources to get you started:

• Five steps for preparing a debate with a class
• Top ten style tips for persuasive speaking
• Questions to ask yourself while debating
• Using an hour to prepare for a debate
• How do I speak for up to five minutes?
• Different forms of rebuttal
• Rebuttal worksheets
• Guidance for chairpersons in a debate
• Note-writing frames for 3-a-side debates
• Note-writing frames for BP (British Parliamentary) debates