Workshop 9: Debate (discussion)
- Small group debates on controversial and intriguing subjects
- For this activity, positions are assigned. Students are given a few minutes to work with their groups to assemble their arguments. Each side is given a few minutes to argue their points, and then they are allowed to rebuttal.
This activity is always a success. Because positions are assigned, students may have to argue something that they do not actually believe. This is often the best outcome for some pretty advanced learning. Students learn to consider opposing opinions, and they often learn more about the subject at hand and the complexity of the question. They need to be respectful of their classmates and present their arguments in clear and concise ways. They organize their thoughts, make themselves heard, prepare responses, and learn to appreciate different opinions.
Example
- Divide the students into group of about 10, and then further divide each group into sub-groups of 5
- Assign each sub-group with their stance
- The sub-groups have about 5 minutes to prepare their argument (take notes) and decide who will represent then group
- Then each sub-group representing the same argument will argue their point to the opposing sub-group for 3 minutes (this way, no one has to present in front of the whole class – there are a number of people talking at the same time, but only in front of their small group of 10 – it’s more fun and less stressful this way)
- After 3 minutes, the opposing group gets to present their point
- Then there is a rebuttal period
- Afterwards, the class all comes together to discuss the debate
Some suggested topics
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917
- Students must debate whether it is art or not
- This is always a very popular subject!
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917/1964; collection SFMOMA, purchase through a gift of Phyllis C. Wattis; © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris / Estate of Marcel Duchamp; photo: Ben Blackwell
Richard Serra, Tilted Arc, 1981
- Students debate whether this site-specific artwork should have been removed or not
- For a three-minute video on this topic, where Serra and others are arguing for or against the removal of the artwork see: sfmoma link.
Richard Serra, Tilted Arc, 1981. COR-TEN steel. 37m long, 3.7m tall, 6.4cm thick. Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, New York. Photo: Elizabeth Sasser. Courtesy Richard Serra.
Phidias, Marble statues from the Parthenon, 448 – 432 BCE, Ancient Greece
- Students debate whether the Parthenon Marbles should remain in England or be returned to Greece
- For a 6-minute debate on this topic visit: YouTube link.
- This topic gets very heated!
