Activity – THE DEBATE

Learners will debate on a topic of your choice after watching one of the videos in the Wise Bodies series. The following are some suggestions for debate topics:

• The government should provide healthcare for all its people.

• HIV is still an epidemic to be concerned about.

• Education about sexually transmitted infections should start in elementary school.

Divide the class into two or more groups and assign each group a side of the debate. The “pro” group will argue for the statement and the “con” group will argue against it. Explain to your learners that you do not need to personally agree with the statement in order to argue for it in a debate.

Have your learners research their topic. A class discussion about facts might be helpful depending on the complexity of the topic, and further internet research should be encouraged. Each group should work independently to write down points that will support their argument. Learners may be guided by personal opinions, and they should be backed up by facts whenever possible.

Once learners have researched their topic, have them develop a list of points that support their argument. After that, ask them to think about what the other side might argue and address those points.

When preparation is complete, hold a group discussion or a formal debate. For formal debates, one learner from the “pro” side will share points, followed by a learner from the “con” side. Each side should have set times to present their arguments, as well as set times to argue against the other side. Any learners that are not actively involved in the debate (if you have several groups, for instance), should function as the jury and declare a winner at the end.