Junior and senior high school students generally love to argue their point, though they rarely get an opportunity to refine their debate skills in class.
One fun way to do this is through "discussions" of literary works. Many stories lend themselves well to a "People's Court" type of debate. Following are some ideas to spice up literary discussions in your classroom.
TIPS TO MAKE THE ACTIVITY RUN MORE SMOOTHLY
Make sure that key points of the story that will later constitute key points in one character's accusation or another's defense are understood by the students in advance.
Formulate your ground rules. A very basic "working" understanding of the legal system will help. Perhaps a parent who is an attorney could visit the class to provide information or to act as the "judge" in the actual "debate." Otherwise, students could research the legal system in advance of the assignment. A video and/or handouts could also be utilized.
Assign parts in advance. Stronger students should play the parts of the literary characters, the judge, and the attorneys. Some students will play literary characters who were witnesses. Weaker students will form the jury. NOTE: Assign parts according to interest as well. If a student is strongly "for" one character, he/she may not do a good job of representing the opponent!
Arrange the desks in the room in a "court-room" pattern [or use your school's auditorium]. Have the judge seated in the front of the room in a prominent-looking desk [teacher's desk?]. Set up two small tables for the prosecution and the defense. Rope off an area for the jury. Another class may want to sit in as an audience.
Be prepared to act as facilitator. Youths frequently associate an attack on their ideas/beliefs as a personal attack. Some students become aggressive when debating, others get hurt feelings. Keep the debate "friendly" and the comments and contributions on track, ie: on the issue at hand.
Pick a story with a lot of potential, but without a clear "victor." Two good examples are the short stories "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Revolt of Mother." Dame Van Winkle and "Mother" are both guilty of certain misconduct, but are also both victims of their spouses' neglect. Their debates in "divorce court" become quite interesting.
USEFUL TOOLS FOR TEACHING ABOUT THE JUDICIARY PROCESS
About the U.S. Courts
Courts Online alphabetically, by state
Court TV Online
Legal Information Institute about divorce in particular
Law.net
U.S. House of Representatives Ed. Resources
One fun way to do this is through "discussions" of literary works. Many stories lend themselves well to a "People's Court" type of debate. Following are some ideas to spice up literary discussions in your classroom.
Make sure that key points of the story that will later constitute key points in one character's accusation or another's defense are understood by the students in advance.
Formulate your ground rules. A very basic "working" understanding of the legal system will help. Perhaps a parent who is an attorney could visit the class to provide information or to act as the "judge" in the actual "debate." Otherwise, students could research the legal system in advance of the assignment. A video and/or handouts could also be utilized.
Assign parts in advance. Stronger students should play the parts of the literary characters, the judge, and the attorneys. Some students will play literary characters who were witnesses. Weaker students will form the jury. NOTE: Assign parts according to interest as well. If a student is strongly "for" one character, he/she may not do a good job of representing the opponent!
Arrange the desks in the room in a "court-room" pattern [or use your school's auditorium]. Have the judge seated in the front of the room in a prominent-looking desk [teacher's desk?]. Set up two small tables for the prosecution and the defense. Rope off an area for the jury. Another class may want to sit in as an audience.
Be prepared to act as facilitator. Youths frequently associate an attack on their ideas/beliefs as a personal attack. Some students become aggressive when debating, others get hurt feelings. Keep the debate "friendly" and the comments and contributions on track, ie: on the issue at hand.
Pick a story with a lot of potential, but without a clear "victor." Two good examples are the short stories "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Revolt of Mother." Dame Van Winkle and "Mother" are both guilty of certain misconduct, but are also both victims of their spouses' neglect. Their debates in "divorce court" become quite interesting.
About the U.S. Courts
Courts Online alphabetically, by state
Court TV Online
Legal Information Institute about divorce in particular
Law.net
U.S. House of Representatives Ed. Resources
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