Debating III

Debating III

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about formal debate with affirmative and negative sides.
This resource is for debating in teams of three. Your teacher will provide you with instructions for your team.
The box below contains some topics for debate.
That ...
cartoons are a good influence on children's behaviour.
it would be better to be Einstein than Superman.
wind is the power of the future.
animals are more civilised than people.
small is beautiful.
humans are selfish beings.
fairytales are frightening.
Aotearoa New Zealand  is the best place in the world to live.
zoos should be abolished.
outer space should be left to itself.
New Zealand should be renamed Aotearoa.
casinos should be banned.
humankind will be the next dinosaur.
fashion is a tyrant.
beauty is more useful than brains.
rules are made to be broken.
our news media leads rather than reflects public opinion.
violence is a legitimate method of attaining political ends.
contemporary music is socially harmful.
writers have done more for people than scientists.
Captain Cook should have turned back.
Aotearoa New Zealand should join with Australia and have a common monetary unit.
a life sentence should mean imprisonment for life.
all New Zealanders should be required to carry ID papers at all times.
the Government should invest more money to produce top athletes.
we have an unhealthy obsession  with sports.
we are too mean to be green.
cloning is a good idea.
Shakespeare is better than Disney.
it is better to live in the country.
the ownership of private motor vehicles should be restricted.
being vegan is the way to go.
knowledge is more useful than gold.
recycling is not helping the climate crisis.
edible lawns should be subsidised. solar panels should be required on every house.
Task administration: 
  • This task assesses a formal debate in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are argued by opposing speakers.
  • Oral Language Assessment Guides D, E, and F are all suitable for this task.
  • Student instructions to be provided by the teacher.
  • For topics on school and teenage life, see resources Debating I and Debating II.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Keywords: 
Description of task: 
This task assesses a formal debate. A list of general topics is provided. For topics on school and teenage life, see resources Debating I and Debating II. ARB scoring guides D, E and F are suitable for this task.
Answers/responses: 
The following Oral Language Assessment Guides – Speaking can be used with this resource.
Click for more information about the Oral Language Assessment Guides – Speaking.