Spar Lit Jr. Boot Camp 3: Comprender los libros a través del debate: el juego de Westing

Great readers unite!

I am so very proud to adapt my own 8-week Spar Lit Jr 3: Understanding Literature Through Debate-The Westing Game into a 8-session 2-week class with exactly the same lessons and content as the long term 8-week version of the class.  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
Spar Lit Jr. 7: Understanding A Single Shard Through Speech and Debate
Spar Lit Jr. 8: Understanding The Phantom Tollbooth 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 The Westing Game class will focus on blending the acknowledged technique of Spar debating with understanding literature through debate and discussion.Now is the time to use the key skills of  speech and debate in the classroom and the world with Ellen Raskin's acclaimed The Westing Game! The Newbery-Award winning The Westing Game was ranked number one among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal in 2012.[

An extremely funny, puzzle-mystery book, The Westing Game tells the story of the sixteen surprise heirs of millionaire paper magnet Samuel Westing who are all invited to live at Sunset Towers apartments  on the Chicago shoreline. The heirs are divided into pairs and presented with sets of baffling clues.  The pair that solves the mystery will inherit Westing's entire $200 million fortune and control of his company.

Both first time students and learners who have taken Spar Lit Jr. A Wrinkle in Time and/or Spar Lit Jr. A Long Way From Chicago  are welcome in this class. No previous experience with Spar debate is necessary. 

Our classes 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 The Westing Game, 

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.  
In addition, optional homework assignments created to build critical thinking and enhance writing ability,  have been prepared for this class. If learners choose to complete the homework they will receive immediate written response. 

Our 8-session class will run as follows:

Week 1:
Class 1: The History of the Mystery and introduction to The Westing Game
Class 2: Chapters 1 through 5
Class 3: Chapters 6 through 10
Class 4: Chapters 11 through 15
Week 2:
Class 5: Chapters 16 through 20
Class 6: Chapters 21 through 25
Class 7: Chapters 26 through 30
Class 8: Celebration Class, Recap of the Big Ideas in the  Book, Puzzles and Games

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

10 minutes of recap of the Spar discussions and the points raised by the students.

****
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:

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.