Whole-class debates
Although a traditional debate of four or six speakers in front of a class can be a very useful classroom tool, there are ways in which an entire class can be involved directly in a debate.
It may often be difficult to get everyone in a class to speak in the debate proper, but you can involve an entire class in the process of the debate.
Before the debate, this can include brainstorming and pupil coaching. During the debate, this can include judging, asking Points of Information, speaking in a floor debate, acting as reporters or working together in a role-play debate.
Why is whole-class debating useful?
- It promotes the many benefits of debating to an entire class.
- It is a good way to get pupils involved in debating who may not normally wish to be. For example, a pupil who may not be confident enough to speak in a debate may over time become so by taking part in other ways.
The whole-class debating concept can be mixed and matched to suit the particular needs of a given class.
In the exercise Debating with reporters, for example, there can be six speakers in the debate, two or three pupil judges, one or two chairperson(s), one or two timekeeper(s) plus four reporters. As well as this, there is the possibility of building in pupil coaches and a floor debate.
Debating brings benefits to all pupils, regardless of ability - it can improve communication skills, enhance critical thinking abilities and encourage an engagement with current affairs.
Here are links to some of the ways in which whole classes can enjoy the benefits of debate
Debating in Schools case study - James Young High School
S2 students at James Young High School put on a show debate for the younger students and encouraged all the S1 teachers and classes to take up debating. Now the students have begun to write their own speeches and formulate their own arguments in the classroom debates.
Word file: Debating case study - James Young High School (37 KB)