THE LITERARY DEBATE

Fostering: Close reading and textual evidenceSpeaking and listeningRhetorical skills

8:15 – 9:30 a.m. Session I

Presented at the 2012NEATEFall Convention byRoz KubekPembroke Public Schools

Today’s Session:1. The Basics:

a. Definitionb. Materialsc. Timed. Objectivese. Organizingf. Getting

Startedg. Rules

2. Assessment:a. Rubricb. Self-

Assessments

3. Pointers:c. Some ideasd. Some tips and

feedback

The Literary DebateA “semi-formal” debate over a

literary question

Presented at the 2012NEATEFall Convention byRoz KubekPembroke Public Schools

Materials needed: A literary text or texts (agreed upon editions) A stopwatch

A classroom physically divided into two sides

Debate Rules and Protocols

Optional but nice: A lectern or podium

*(Other options: t-shirts, costumes, a “panel” of judges; external sources)

The “Unstated” Objectives To get students

to actively read, listen, and speak to each other

To provide a structure for teaching speaking and listening skills while teaching everything else we need to teach

The Stated ObjectivesPro (The Angels)

To prove construct within a reasonable doubt using clear and logical arguments and strong textual evidence

To defend position convincingly

Con (The Devils) To disprove construct

by finding holes in argumentation and support (and by offering an alternative or counter-argument)

To defend objections convincingly

Minimum Time Needed 4-5 classes

(+ Can be extended up to 2-1/2 weeks)

How to organize Create teams (if class

is large, create a team of judges)

Define roles for students prior to their self-assignments

Explain the goal and pointers for success

Explain the “rules” including time, deportment, and objections

Allow 2-3 classes/homework for prep

Allow 1-2 classes for argumentation

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

*Introduce the protocol and the goal • Create

groups

• Supply the “thesis” or have the “Angels” supply the thesis

• Students choose roles for research and presentation

Class and home time for group planning, research

Teacher acts as facilitator/coach

Class and home time for group planning, research

Teacher acts as facilitator/coach

The debate Closing submitted the next day as needed

The de-bate

THE BASICS: Start with: Shorter texts

A manageable construct

A clear definition of roles

Yourself as judge

2 consecutive runs in fixed teams

Self-selected student roles

A “walk-through” practice debate

The Roles for Both Sides(2-3 people/role)

Opening argument (4 min each)

Constructive arguments (4 min each)

Rebuttals (3 minutes each)

Closing arguments (4 minutes)

Objectors (optional separate role)

Objection #1: Point of Information Made during arguments only

Asked of speaker who can grant or deny

Always in the form of a question- Usually rhetorical Isn’t it true that… Can’t it also be argued that…

Speaker can choose to answer or not

Objection #2:Point of Order Can be made during argument or rebuttal

Asked of moderator who can ask clarifying questions

Moderator accepts or denies point

Made when other side has basically made a mistake: Incorrect citation Out of context Irrelevancy (2-3 people) Wrong info

Objection #3:Point of Personal Privilege Can be made any time

Bathroom break

Other side is getting too personal and straying from argument

Assessments Self-assessments

Assessed based on presentation using rubric

Can count as extra quiz points for winning side or as a quiz or test grade (usually with a follow-up essay)

Some Debate Topics Excerpts from Milton’s Paradise Lost – The fall of

man is primarily the fault of ________________

Kafka’s The Hunger Artist (short story)- The story is an allegory for the role of the artist in society.

Sexton’s To A Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph The overall tone of the poem is ironic.

Hardy’s Convergence of the Twain Man is a victim of his own hubris (rather than cosmic forces).

Debate Topics: More Suggestions from Longer Works Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment- The epilogue

(salvation for the main character) is a reasonable literary conclusion to the novel.

Dickens’ Great Expectations or Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet- The original endings is the logical ending of the work.

Great Gatsby or Death of a Salesman- Gatsby (or Willy Loman) is a victim of society (rather than of his own choices)

Of Mice and Men-Lenny and George’s dream was never realistic and its failure was inevitable.

Students’ Tips for Debaters Speak loudly and

slowly (“She’s old”). Make sure your

points are organized and lead the judge back to your thesis.

Make sure you cite! Don’t deny all of the

points of information, but you can deny some of them.

Make sure you explain WHY your quote is good evidence.

Don’t make your quote too long- She has trouble following long quotes.

Listen for places to object– It throws off the speaker.

But make sure you know what you are talking about when you object!

Most of All: The winning team KNOWS the (work being debated)- If

you didn’t read it, you’d better read it before the debate or your team will be mad at you.

KNOWS the audience- You want to win them to your side and not frustrate them.

USES TEAM WORK- You need people who can write a good closing and people who can think fast, too.

Samples of Self-Assessments “I prepared well; I logged in

three hours of close reading for our first argument and became the bible expert for our group.”

“I caught a major mistake the other team made about the connotation of the word “grasp,” and that cost our team.”

“We had great arguments and thinking, but they beat us with specific evidence from the poem.”

Next time: I will ask to do the opening or the closing because I got too rattled thinking on my feet when I didn’t understand the book well enough.

Next Time: I will make sure the weaker members of the group are confident they know what to do.

10 Minute Practice Debate To a Friend Whose

Work Has Come to Triumph by Anne Sexton

Is the speaker’s tone to the audience sincere or is the speaker being ironic?

Angels: Tone is sincere- Proof?

Devils: Verbal Irony-Proof?

Student Feedback

Questions? Comments? Ideas for Topics?