Comp/Lit 10: 1/26/2011

Introduction to Debate & The Great Debaters

• Welcome to the second semester!
• We started today with a bit of grammar.  Our topics were regular and irregular verbs.  The students completed pages 141-144 odd #'s only in their grammar workbooks.
• We briefly discussed the book Freakonomics because I am highly recommending that my students read it for the first outside reading log.  If the students choose to read Freakonomics, they will be able to participate in a socratic seminar discussion in lieu of the traditional outside reading log assignment.  Here is a link to the book and a link to the movie trailer.
• I passed out three items: the new course calendar, notes & questions to go with The Great Debaters, and the Introduction to Debate Packet.
• I explained the first part of the homework assignment: complete 10 of the potential debate topics (packet pages 1-2)
• I then passed out the Article Evaluation #1: Discussion Web Assignment.  The students need to read the attached article and complete the discussion web which involves developing a "yes" or "no" question that the article can answer, then determine the evidence that falls under the "yes" side and the evidence that falls under the "no" side.  In the end, they will make a conclusion about the question.
• We then spent the rest of the period watching the movie The Great Debaters.  We watched approximately the first 31 minutes of the movie. At the end of the period, we reviewed the terms: proposal, affirmative and negative.  We also began the discussion questions (we will finish this part next time).
• Homework: Read Article & Complete Article Evaluation #1: Discussion Web; Complete At least 10 of the Possible Debate Topics (Intro to Debate packet page 1-2); Decide on topic and partner by Monday February 7; Get Freakonomics (Optional) or Outside Reading Book by Thursday February 3