Debate Royale: Exploring Politics and Social Issues
Debate Royale: Exploring Politics and Social Issues is an engaging and dynamic class for teenagers to learn critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills through thoughtful discussions on current events and controversial topics.
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
This Ongoing class designed for teenagers to develop critical thinking skills and learn how to engage in constructive conversations about current political and social issues. The class will cover topics such as politics, social issues, and current events, and students will learn research skills, public speaking skills, and civic engagement. The class will be structured around interactive debates, discussions, and activities, and the teaching style will be engaging and interactive. Learners will have ample opportunities to interact with each other and the instructor, and no prior experience or knowledge is required. The instructor will remain neutral and guide students to review both sides of an argument in a safe and respectful space. What will be taught? The art of debate: How to construct arguments, counter-arguments, and rebuttals Research skills: How to find credible sources and data to support arguments Public speaking skills: How to deliver speeches and presentations with confidence and clarity Civic engagement: How to use political processes to create change in communities What topics will you cover? Politics: Elections, government policies, political ideologies Social issues: Racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, economic inequality Current events: Breaking news, global issues, local politics How is your class structured? The class will be structured around interactive debates, discussions, and activities. Each week, students will be assigned a topic to research and prepare an argument for or against. During class, they will have the opportunity to engage in debates and group discussions, as well as receive feedback on their arguments and speaking skills. How will you teach? Our teaching style is interactive and engaging. We believe in providing a safe and respectful space for all learners to share their opinions and ideas. We will use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, games, slides, video clips, and discussions to keep learners engaged and motivated. How much will learners get to interact with you and each other (mention specifics like: lecture, games, slides, video clips, discussion)? Learners will have ample opportunities to interact with each other and the instructor. Each class will include group discussions and debates, as well as individual and group activities. We will also provide feedback and guidance to learners to help them improve their skills. Any required experience or knowledge learners need? No previous experience or knowledge is required for this class. We welcome learners of all levels and backgrounds, and will provide guidance and support to help them succeed. All that's required is an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a passion for exploring the world of politics and social issues.
Learning Goals
The learning goals of the class is to help teenagers develop critical thinking skills, research skills, public speaking skills, and civic engagement. By participating in interactive debates, discussions, and activities, students will learn how to construct arguments, counter-arguments, and rebuttals, find credible sources and data to support their arguments, deliver speeches and presentations with confidence and clarity, and use political processes to create change in their communities. The class aims to cover a range of political and social issues, including elections, government policies, political ideologies, racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, economic inequality, breaking news, global issues, and local politics. Learners will have ample opportunities to interact with each other and the instructor through group discussions, debates, individual and group activities, and feedback and guidance to help them improve their skills. No previous experience or knowledge is required for this class, but an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a passion for exploring the world of politics and social issues are essential.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some of the topics that will be discussed in this class may be controversial or sensitive in nature, including issues related to racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and economic inequality. While our goal is to create a safe and respectful space for all learners, it is possible that some of the content may be upsetting or uncomfortable for some students. We encourage parents or guardians to discuss these topics with their children and offer support and guidance as needed.
Media Content:
We may use various forms of media content to enhance our teaching, such as video clips, news articles, or images. We will ensure that all media content is age-appropriate and relevant to the topic at hand. Any media content used in this class will be rated appropriately for a teenage audience.
Third-Party Tools:
We will not be using any third-party tools that require students to create an account or share personal information.
Safety Precautions:
While there are no physical safety precautions required for this class, we ask that students respect the opinions and beliefs of their classmates and engage in discussions in a respectful and constructive manner. We will not tolerate any form of hate speech, bullying, or harassment.
Overall, we strive to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students, and we encourage parents or guardians to reach out to us if they have any concerns or questions.
Supply List
Students will be given free debate handouts in PDF format to help them organize their information when preparing for debates.
Sources
The New York Times' Upfront Magazine: https://upfront.scholastic.com/
This magazine is specifically designed for teenagers and covers a variety of political and social issues.
ProCon.org: https://www.procon.org/
This website provides arguments for and against various controversial issues, along with additional resources for further research.
The Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/
This nonpartisan think tank conducts research on a variety of political and social issues and provides data and analysis.
TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/
TED Talks cover a wide range of topics and can be a great resource for speeches and presentations.
iCivics: https://www.icivics.org/
This website offers educational games and resources on civics and government.
Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/
This website provides free educational videos and resources on a variety of subjects, including government and politics.
Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/
This website provides information on candidates, ballot measures, and election results at the federal, state, and local levels.
The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/us/topics/politics-81
This website provides analysis and commentary on current political issues from experts in the field.
Joined March, 2023
Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Bachelor's Degree in History from Florida International University
As a social studies teacher, I have a Bachelor's degree in History and Education, as well as a teaching certificate in the State of Florida. Additionally, I have several years of experience teaching social studies at various grade levels. I stay current on the latest teaching methods and curriculum standards by attending professional development workshops and conferences. My expertise in social studies includes topics such as history, geography, government, economics, and culture.Reviews
Live Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-18 learners per class
