Inner Circle/Outer Circle Debate Strategy

Subjects

• Language Arts

• Civics
• Current Events

Grades

• 3-5
• 6-8
• 9-12
• Advanced

Brief Description

Objectives

• listen to the views of others and respond to them.
• contemplate multiple views on a controversial issue.
• develop oral speaking skills and impromptu responses in a group discussion.
• develop skills in supporting one's opinion with facts and examples.
• write an editorial or position paper.

Keywords

Materials Needed

• chairs, one per student
• writing paper and pencils/pens
• a topic for debate (topic/resource ideas provided)

Lesson Plan

This debate strategy focuses on listening to the views of others and responding to them. It is an excellent pre-writing or debate strategy.

Arrange students into four groups of equal size. Arrange students in Group 1 into a circle of chairs facing out, away from the circle. Arrange students in Group 2 into a circle of chairs around Group 1, facing the students in Group 1. Groups 3 and 4 gather around the perimeter of the circle, facing the circle.

Select an issue that students will be motivated to discuss/debate.

If you do not have a topic in mind for this discussion, The New York Times has compiled a list of timely, high-interest topics for debate and persuasive writing.

Now, provide students in the inner circle 10-15 minutes to discuss the topic. During that time, all other students focus their attention on the students in the inner circle. No one else is allowed to speak. Other students take notes about points those students bring up; notes are used in a follow-up classroom discussion and/or for writing an editorial opinion expressing a point of view on the issue at hand.

Assessment

At the end of the inner/outer circle activity, students use their notes to formulate a cogent editorial opinion about the topic of discussion.

Find more Debate Resources or click to return to this week's Lesson Planning article, It's Up for Debate!