Spar Mystery Boot Camp: Understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles With Debate
In this 2-week multi-day class (exact same content my own 6-week Spar Mystery!: Understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles with Debate) we will use discussion and debate skills to expand our critical thinking solving this classic mystery. #academic
Cindy Frank
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(654)
Star Educator
What's included
6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Students will be required to read the portions of the text we will be considering for the upcoming class. We will be reading three chapters per session. In addition, there are optional assignments, crafted to enhance critical thinking skills, after each class. If students choose to complete the optional assignments they will receive immediate written feedback.Assessment
Families and learners will receive written assessments throughout the class.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Advanced Level
Dear Detectives, The Game's Afoot! I am so very proud to adapt my own Spar Mystery!: Understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles into a 6 session 2-week class with exactly the same lessons and content as the long term 6-week version of the class. Same lessons, same enjoyment of the class except we get to finish the book faster! Now is the time to use your essential skills of critical thinking and deduction with one of the finest detective mysteries ever written, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant The Hound of the Baskervilles! Richly atmospheric and densely plotted, this has often been called the finest detective story ever written. It is also the perfect book to employ both the technique of Spar debating and to maximize critical thinking to learn to think like Sherlock Holmes himself. Each class in Spar Mystery will feature an introduction with games and mind puzzles based on the work of Maria Konnikova's Mastermind to give students the opportunity to further sharpen their critical thinking skills. Optional writing opportunities will be provided as well to give learners the opportunity both to enhance oral speaking abilities and explore creative writing. Spar Mystery follows the same format as my own Spar Lit Sr: Understanding Essays Through Speech and Debate. Our 6-session class will focus on blending the acknowledged technique of Spar debating with understanding The Hound of the Baskervilles 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 to explore dive deep into one of the finest mysteries in history, No previous experience in speech or debate is necessary for full participation in this class. The result? Students will learn to take a position on key issues involving intriguing 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. Spar Debate questions will focus on the literary aspect of each weekly reading from the book and the Spar debates are evidence-based from the essays themselves. The 30 minute discussion at the beginning of each session, guided by me, will allow all students to engage in productive discussion. Guidance will be given as to the parameters of Spar debating which are evidence-based not guided by emotional responses. This class has been purposely limited to six students to maximize the participation of every learner. Moreover, optional homework assignments have been created to support the learning in each and every class. Learners who choose to complete the optional assignments will receive immediate feedback. 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 ongoing class will run as follows: 5 minutes of general introduction 30 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 **** How does Spar debating work? 10 MINUTE MINI DEBATES! Students face off to debate a Pro/Con question involving the specific reading from literature for the day. COIN FLIP TO DETERMINE PRO/CON Students have 1 minute to brainstorm ideas for their position (evidence/arguments) 1 minute Pro students give a 1 minute opening statements to make their case (Con students listen quietly and takes notes) 1 minute Con students give a 1 minute opening statement to make their case (Pro students listen quietly and take notes) 30 seconds Everyone thinks! 2 to 3 minutes Grand Crossfire discussion where all students can ask each other questions about opposing statements. 30 seconds All students think again to prepare their closing statements 30 seconds Con students give a 30 second closing statement (Pro students listen quietly) 30 seconds Pro students give a 30 second closing statement (Con students listens quietly Class Plan Week 1 Class #1 The History of the Mystery Class #2 Chapters 1-3 Class #3 Chapters 4-6 Week 2 Class #4 Chapters 7-9 Clas #5 Chapters 10-12 Class #6 Chapters 13-15
Learning Goals
*To gain confidence in speaking and organization
*Understand all the basic ideas of debate and rhetoric
*Gain deeper understanding of mystery literature through debate
* To communicate effectively through speaking, thinking adroitly and responding fluently
* Improve memory retention and organizational skills
* Gain confidence and poise in oral presentation
* Expand vocabulary and word usage
*To gain deeper understanding of the nuances of literature and the mystery novel
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 2 WeeksLesson 1:
The Game's Afoot!: The History of the Mystery and The Hound of the Baskervilles
History of mysteries, background of Conan Doyle and what makes for an English Country House Murder Mystery. Games/puzzles/brain teasers throughout. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Discussion chapters 1 2 3
Discussion chapters 1 2 3 and Spar Debate sparked by:"It may be said that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people who without possessing any genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."—Holmes
Spar Question:
Would you prefer to be “luminous” or a “conductor of light?”
Position 1: Luminous, aka a genius. Explain.
Position 2: Conductor of light, aka a helpful person of good sense Explain. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Discussion chapters 4 5 6
Discussion chapters 4 5 6 and Spar Debate sparked by:"But we hold several threads in our hands, and the odds are that one or other of them guides us to the truth. We may waste time in following the wrong one, but sooner or later we must come upon the right.”
Spar Statement; Even if we make the wrong choices, nothing that we ever do is wasted time.
Position 1: Agree with the above statement.
Position 2: Disagree with the above statement. It’s possible to waste time frivolously. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Discussion chapters 7 8 9
Discussion chapters 7 8 9 and Spar Debate sparked by:“My unhappy brother is starving on the moor. We cannot let him perish at our very gates.”
Spar Statement: It is essential that we support those that we love even if they have done great wrongs.
Position 1: Agree with the above statement.
Position 2: Disagree with the above statement. There are times when people do things that are both extremely wrong and dangerous. We need to step away and let them take responsibility for their own actions. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is of course a murder mystery, and while the descriptions are not of a graphic nature, there is mention of knives, firearms, and physical battles as well as attacks by vicious dogs that are essential to the themes of the story. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me.
Supply List
Learners will need a copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles, available via download from Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2852/2852-h/2852-h.htm or for purchase via Amazon or through Thriftbooks.com.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined July, 2020
5.0
654reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from The University of Michigan, 1982 Honors in The History of Art, Does not Expire
Longtime teacher of literature for both middle and high school students, I am also a mystery aficionado who has taught a high school class in genre literature, featuring numerous mystery novels including The Hound of the Baskervilles. I am also the founder and former coach of an award-winning Speech and Debate team that competed at local, state and national levels, long-time speech judge for local, regional, national speech events for NCFL and National Speech and Debate Association, former teacher of high school debate and rhetoric, art history, literature, and AP Language and Composition.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$165
for 6 classes3x per week, 2 weeks
55 min
Completed by 15 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
3-6 learners per class
