Debate / Fallacy Guidelines/Curriculum, please?

[StephanieZ]

We're using the You Decide constitutional law curriculum this year as a supplement to US Govt & US History. We LOVE it.

 

However, it uses some debate forms, in which the kids debate eachother taking opposing positions on how to interpret laws, etc. They need some coaching on appropriate academic debate form: not using personal nonsense ("I am right because I am cool!"), staying on point/thesis, sticking to the relevant facts, avioding logical fallacies, etc.

 

I've coached them today a good bit, and I am sure we'll see improvement on these points over the year, but I'd love to jump start it with a couple hours of direct instruction on appropriate debate format/form/etc.

 

Does anyone have any good, but brief, resources for this kind of thing?

 

THANKS!

[MtnTeaching]

:lurk5: Interested in this as well.

[Angie in VA]

I doubt this is in-depth enough, but for shipping ($5.95) you can get this book. It is by a Christian author.

 

Jeub's Guide to Speech & Debate 4th Edition

 

Check out the contents. Again, it may not be what you need at all, but a friend told me about the sale and I thought of it when I read your post.

[Tullia]

A friend of mine used An Introduction to Argumentation & Debate by Christy Shipe for the debate club she sponsored.

 

ETA: I remember that there are chapters on logic, research, and constructing cases/arguments as well as debate conventions. I believe the author is Christian.

Edited October 1, 2011 by Martha in NM

[Photo Ninja]

Fallacy Detective is an easy to understand introduction to fallacies.