Teaching Effective Debate & Argumentation K-12
Trainer: Engy Hammam
Duration: 15 Hours
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the importance of debate and argumentation in developing students’ critical thinking, speaking, and writing skills.
2. Identify key elements and structures of effective arguments and debates.
3. Design age-appropriate debate activities aligned with curriculum standards.
4. Teach students to construct well-supported arguments and counterarguments.
5. Facilitate respectful, inclusive, and engaging classroom debates.
6. Assess students’ debating and argumentation skills using clear rubrics.
7. Integrate debate into various English language arts units (literature, writing, reading comprehension, etc.).
Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Debate & Argumentation
• Purpose and benefits of debate in education
• Debate vs. argumentation vs. discussion
• Links to language development, critical thinking, and SEL
• Age-appropriate expectations (Elementary, Middle, High School)
Module 2: Elements of Effective Argumentation
• Components of a strong argument: claim, evidence, reasoning
• Understanding logic, fallacies, and persuasive techniques
• Teaching ethos, pathos, and logos
• Teaching students to differentiate between opinion and evidence
Module 3: Debate Formats & Structures
• Overview of common debate formats:
• Selecting the right format for different grade levels
• Sample debate scripts and outlines
Module 4: Preparing Students for Debate
• Research and preparation strategies
• Teaching students to build arguments and counterarguments
• Note-taking, outlining, and fact-checking
• Group roles: speakers, moderators, timekeepers, judges
Module 5: Facilitating Classroom Debates
• Setting norms and rules for respectful discourse
• Encouraging equitable participation
• Managing dominant and reluctant speakers
• Integrating technology
Module 6: Argumentative Writing & Debate
• Connecting oral argumentation to argumentative writing
• Using debate as a pre-writing strategy
• Teaching thesis statements, body paragraph structures, rebuttals
• Peer feedback and revision based on oral debates
Module 7: Assessment & Feedback
• Developing clear rubrics for speaking and argumentation
• Formative vs. summative assessment of debate performance
• Giving constructive feedback
• Student self- and peer-assessment strategies
Module 8: Integration and Lesson Planning
• Designing debate-based units and lessons
• Sample lesson plans and projects
• Cross-curricular integration (e.g., social studies, science, ethics)
• Adapting debate for inclusive classrooms (ELLs, SEN)