Stage Your Own Scientific Debate!

Sure, your teen can debate his way out of a paper bag. He can explain why chores are unethical, or why a later curfew is a fundamental freedom. But formal debate, the kind favored in courtrooms, governmental bodies, and high school debate competitions, isn't about standing behind your beliefs. In fact, the art of debate lies in the fact that a master debater should be able to skillfully defend any argument, no matter what he himself believes.

Not sure how your teen fits into the equation? In high school, students are often given writing assignments where they must defend a statement or argument. Same goes for the SAT essay section. But seeing both sides of an issue, and being able to talk eloquently about them, isn't just an academic essential: it's also a way to make your teen a more thoughtful and well-informed citizen. Ready to get started? Here's how to stage your own formal debate!
 

• Paper
• Pencil
• Research materials, i.e. Internet access, library books, or articles

What You Do:

Step 1
Consider a controversial topic in science together. Your teen will likely have an opinion about the topic, but encourage him to see the other side of the argument, too. A good topic that is relevant to many biology students is dissection. The National Science Teachers Association supports the rights of teachers to use dissection of animals as part of classroom instruction. However, many students and animal rights activists adamantly disagree with this view. Consider the issues concerning dissection in the classroom: