Debate 101 for Middle Schools
Debates in a middle-school setting can be a rich and beneficial experience for students. Middle-school students typically range in age from 12 to 14 years old. This is an ideal age for students to begin analyzing important topics and challenging themselves to do their best in a team or individually.
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Selecting a Topic
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The first step for creating a debate in a middle-school setting is to select a topic. A satisfactory public-debate topic for middle-school students will be one the students have some familiarity with in one of their classes, or from the school itself. For instance, if the students are learning about energy within their science class, a useful debate topic could be, "The United States should produce its energy from renewable resources and not fossil fuels." A broader topic that might concern the student body could be, "Vending machines should be banned on school property."
Creating Sides
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The next step for a middle-school debate is to assign sides. Typically, two sides need to be formed: the affirmative, or the supporting side, and the negative, or disagreeing side (some topics may be multifaceted, which would require multiple debate teams). To create these sides, either the teacher can assign students to a particular stance, or students may be allowed to choose what side of the debate they want to be on.
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Requiring Research
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Requiring students to undertake research for their topic is essential for a school debate. In order for students (especially if they are unfamiliar with the topic) to understand a topic and be able to debate it, they must research it and locate useful information. Students should be required to find at least three sources that support their viewpoint on a particular topic. Having a student incorporate researched information can create a richer and more in-depth debate.
Staging the Debate
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In order for any debate to be successful, a moderator must be used. A teacher or student can act as the moderator. The moderator's job is to lead the debate in a respectful and functioning manner. It is up to the moderator to decide which side speaks when. At the beginning of the debate, a single member from both sides should make a brief opening statement. During the debate, speaking should alternate between groups, and between members within each group. At the end of the debate, both sides should make a brief closing statement. The affirmative side is usually chosen to make its opening and closing statements first.
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References
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