Spar Lit Jr. Boot Camp 2: Understanding Books W. Debate--A Long Way From Chicago

Great readers unite!

I am so very proud to adapt my own 7-week Spar Lit Jr 2:  Understanding Literature Through Debate--A Long Way From Chicago into an 8- session 2-week class with exactly the same lessons and content as the long term 7-week version of the class. One extra lesson, focusing on the historical background of the book,  will be added to these sessions from the long term version.  Otherwise, the same lessons, same enjoyment of the class except we get to finish the book faster!

Spar Lit Jr:  Understanding Literature Through Speech and Debate (A Wrinkle in Time)
Spar Lit Jr. 2: Understanding Literature Through Debate --A Long Way From Chicago. 
Spar Lit Jr. 3: Understanding Literature Through Debate--The Westing Game
Spar Lit Jr. 4: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Spar Lit Jr. 5: Understanding Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer Through Debate
Spar Lit Jr. 6: Understanding Harriet the Spy Through Speech and Debate

are all my own self-created classes.  All of these classes have now been adapted from long-term multi-week classes into multi-session 2-week Spar Lit Jr. Boot Camp versions.

are all my own self-created classes.  All three have now been adapted  from long-term multi-week classes into multi-session 2-week Spar Lit Jr. Boot Camp versions.

Our 8-session 2-week A Long Way From Chicago class will focus on blending the acknowledged technique of Spar debating with understanding literature through debate and discussion. Spar means “SPontaneous ARgumentation” a quicktime technique that is used to prepare students for formal debate.  Our class will use  Spar debating the key points of literature to explore the Newbery Honor Book A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck. This book was also a National Book Award Finalist. 

The result?  Students will learn to take a position on key issues involving intriguing and provocative literary questions, while gaining a nuanced and thorough understanding both sides of every issue. All students will gain an enhanced exploration of literature while expanding debate techniques. 

This class has been purposely limited to six students to maximize the participation of every learner.  

Spar is quick debate! With debaters given the Pro or Con position, a short SPAR debate can illuminate ideas and provide for more nuanced critical thinking. 

Each class will run as follows:

5 minutes of general introduction

20 minutes of interactive  discussion on the chapter or pages set for the class

20 minutes of ongoing SPAR pro/con debate involving key literary questions from the weekly reading

15 minutes of recap of the SPAR discussions and the points raised by the students.

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How does SPAR debating work?

10 MINUTE MINI DEBATES!

Students face off in pairs to debate a Pro/Con question involving the specific reading from literature for the day.

COIN FLIP TO DETERMINE PRO/CON

2 minutes

Both students have 1 to 2 minutes to brainstorm ideas for their position (evidence/arguments)

1 minute
Pro student gives a 1 minute opening statement to make their case (Con student listens quietly and takes notes)

1 minute
Con student gives a 1 minute opening statement to make their case (Pro student listens quietly and take notes)

30 seconds
Both students think!

3 minutes
Mini crossfire discussion where both students can ask each other questions about opposing statements.

30 seconds
Both students think again to prepare their closing statements

1 minute
Con student gives a 1 minute closing statement (Pro student listens quietly)

1 minute
Pro student gives a 1 minute closing statement (Con student listens quietly

***
Our sessions will run as follows:

Week 1:
Day 1:  The Background to Our Story: The Great Depression 
Day 2: Shotgun Chatham's Last Night Above Ground
Day 3:  The Mouse in the Milk
Day 4:   A One-Woman Crime Wave

Week 2
Day 5: The Day of Judgment
Day 6: The Phantom Brakeman
Day 7: Things With Wings
Day 8:  Centennial Summer and The Troop Train

No previous experience with speech and debate or Spar debating required, However,  this class also provides an excellent outlet for speech and debate students interested in enhancing their ability to communicate their ideas with clarity and style that will be useful in classrooms and in ongoing discussions everywhere.

Note: My own Spar Lit Jr. courses (Spar Lit Jr 1: A Wrinkle in Time, Spar Lit Jr 2: A Long Way From Chicago, Spar Lit Jr. 3: The Westing Game) can be taken in any order.