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