Decision Making, Critical Thinking & Framing Arguments for Pre-Teens (Ongoing)

The class will combine 3 elements: teaching instruction focused on the topic/theme, student examples (from the previous week’s topic), and class discussion. 

Each week students will find examples of the class topic/theme found in the media, online, in a commercial or advertisement.  Students will be encouraged to bring these to class for discussion. 

In class, we will solve problems related to the topic/theme together as a group.

The ongoing format means learners can develop relationships with an intellectual peer group, through regular contact, discussion, and participation. 

Class Lesson Topics
•	Essentials in a good argument 
•	10 logic fallacies - becoming a fallacy detective.
•	Building great arguments - debate preparation.
•	Deceptive arguments in advertising.

Additional Details on Teaching Methodology and Practice 
My teaching method uses a combination of several elements, with attention to the class's age group, in order to make the learning process as strong as possible. I include a Student Syllabus and PowerPoint presentation, often use a text (that I summarize - usually the 3 main points), Case Studies, and personal stories to make either a good point or to make the wrong choice clear. I use an interactive Socratic question teaching approach, summarize/quiz about the main points of the class content 2-3 times during a class, randomly call on students to answer a question (rather than just have kids raise hands to keep everyone engaged), and include a student presentation project with a written component - that coincides with the topic theory (for the multi-day sessions). I ask all students to take during class and typically hand out a note-taking sheet.