Experiments with active and cooperative learning techniques designed to develop critical thinking and writing skills in large introductory level sociology courses. Finds debate and essay writing effectively modify students' opinions on social issues and help students develop these skills. Notes ethical issues involved in teaching critical…

Presents justifications for computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in debate. Suggests programs that could be written. Discusses one CAI application: the use of CAI drills to train negative team members and to instruct in cross-examination skills. Includes the "Listing of CAI Drill for 1st Negative Debater." (PD)

Discusses techniques and provides background information to help teachers use debate in U.S. history courses. By debating controversial issues, students learn to do in-depth research. The necessity for anticipating evidence and arguments generates great incentives for study. (RM)

Suggests using debate in a composition class to teach decision-making skills, values clarification, and careful articulation of personal thoughts and opinions. (MKM)

Suggests that debate training might help correct written and oral communication deficiencies of college students. Discusses a course in debates in public policy with regard to evaluating student presentations before and after the course. Findings indicated that students improved significantly in organization, idea development, poise, and assurance…

Debate is proposed as the best pedagogical alternative, of several that are suggested, to teach theoretical and relevant sociology to undergraduate college students. (ND)

Uses the judicial model of reasoning employed by the Supreme Court as an exemplar in teaching critical skills in the basic argumentation and debate course. Describes the model and course highlights. (PD)

The use of classroom debates in ESL classes combines student interest and meaningful dialogue with library research, documentation and written reports. Students select debate propositions, research them, organize teams and conduct structured classroom debates. (CHK)

Discusses problems with using debate as a way of stimulating spontaneous speech in the ESL classroom. Presents six steps to aid in eliciting "controlled spontaneity," where the debate topic is known beforehand and students can prepare. The listeners, after asking the debaters questions, choose a winner. (PJM)

Parliamentary procedure might best be taught in a context specific format; it would be better understood by students if not taught as a "stand alone" subject. Since the basic concepts of argumentation theory--propositions, stasis, and presumption and burden of proof--are reinforced by the rules of parliamentary procedure, instructors can…

In mock interviews with Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Plato, and George Santayana, the value of the arts in education is discussed. The author suggests this mock interview technique as a method for teaching other topics. (KC)

A two-hat debate technique is described in which one author wore a straw hat and spoke in favor of the American system, then donned a beret and argued for the French party system. The technique has been used to examine political issues, government policies, institutions of different nations, etc. (MLW)

The purpose of the three papers that make up this document is to explore and redefine the role of debate judges. The first paper, by Leslie Phillips, begins with the assertion that the debate judge is first and foremost an educator, notes that judging is one of the forces that shape and direct competitive forensics, and goes on to consider…

Constitutional law is a good way to introduce students to fundamental debates over means and ends, over what means work and at what costs, and over what ends are not merely desirable, but may be legitimately achieved even through the application of collective force. It also offers an exciting way to teach logic. (MLW)

Described are six language arts games for elementary school students in the areas of grammar, mythology, debate, spelling (silent "e"), poetry, and classification (word lists). (CJ)