Classroom Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Grade Levels: 8 - 12
Objectives
- Students will use their research skills.
- Students will understand a position well enough to be able to respond to arguments against it.
- Students will understand the Lincoln-Douglas style of debate.
Materials
- Student handout outlining the procedures of a Lincoln-Douglas debate
- References about topic being covered
- Internet Resources
- Issues outlined by Public Agenda
http://publicagenda.org/issues/issuehome.cfm
- Issues outlined by Public Agenda
- Egg timer
- Assessment outline
Procedures
- Choose debate topic.
- Assign teams; distribute Student handout.
- Discuss the procedures of the debate. Allow students to review the Assessment outline.
- Students research their positions. Allow groups to brainstorm about the position and devise arguments.
- Require each group to turn in a position paper which outlines the three to five points which support their position. These papers must have a bibliography. Also, ask them to identify holes in their arguments, where the other group will attack.
- Perform the Debate!
