Spar Lit Jr. 7：透過辯論理解 Linda Sue Park 的《A Single Shard》

Kindly note:
This is an ESL friendly class, CEFR  level — B1-B2 (intermediate).
Please feel free to write me via Outschool email with questions.
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"Intrigue, danger and a strong focus on doing what is right turn a simple story into a compelling read...A timeless jewel," says Kirkus Reviews in their starred review of Linda Sue Park's Newbery-winning, cherished masterpiece of old Korea, A Single Shard.  Learning the skills of speech and debate, while understanding great books, continues with Spar Lit Jr. 7: Understanding Linda Sue Park's A Single Shard  Through Debate!

Praised by The New York Times as being "deeply moving, and set in 12th century Korea, A Single Shard tells the compelling story of Tree-Ear, an orphan who lives under a bridge with the disabled Crane-Man who has cared for him since he was two years old.  First learning of the work of the potters by roaming the rubbish dumps, Tree-Ear begins comes fascinated with the potters in his village and especially so with the work of an old potter named Min who boldly works out of doors. When Tree-Ear creeps to Min's yard to examine some of the old potters work he accidentally drops the piece, shattering it. Tree-Ear then volunteers to work for Min to repay the damage, becoming immersed in the work and learning the skills and technique of the greatest potters of the age. Soon Tree-Ear determines that he will help Min achieve his life-long goal of a royal commission, undertaking a perilous journey in the process. 

A Single Shard is a book that challenges the reader's critical thinking skills and offers the opportunity for keen-eyed observation and in depth thinking. 

Each class in A Single Shard will feature an introduction with lessons in both observation and art history to give students the opportunity to further sharpen their critical thinking skills. Optional writing assignments will be provided after each class as well to give learners the opportunity both to enhance oral speaking abilities and explore creative writing.

A Single Shard is the 7th in my own series of  Spar Lit Jr. Outschool classes, following my own Spar Lit Jr:  Understanding Literature Through Speech and Debate (A Wrinkle in Time) and Spar Lit Jr. 2: Understanding Literature Through Debate --A Long Way From Chicago and Spar Lit Jr. 3: Understanding The Westing Game Debate and Spar Lit Jr. 4: Understanding From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Through Debate, and Spar Lit Jr. 5: Understanding Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer Through Debate and Spar Lit Jr. 6: Understanding Harriet the Spy Through Speech and Debate. These classes, merging literary discussion and debate, can be taken in any order. 

Both first-time students and learners who have taken any of my previous  Spar Lit Jr. classes ( A Wrinkle in Time, A Long Way from Chicago, The Westing Game, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Chasing Vermeer, Harriet the Spy)  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 bestselling A Single Shard.

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.  

Moreover, optional writing assignments will be provided after each class as well to give learners the opportunity both to enhance oral speaking abilities and explore creative writing and further enhance their critical thinking skills. These assignments range from creative writing to assertion essay writing, mapmaking to design and puzzles. The teacher will provide a personalized response to all finished work. 

Our 6-session class will run as follows:
Week 1: Chapters 1 and 2
Week 2: Chapters 3 and 4
Week 3: Chapters 5 and 6
Week 4: Chapters 7 and 8
Week 5: Chapters 9 and 10
Week 6:  Chapters 11 and 12 and 13

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

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


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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 (position 1 or position 2)

2 minutes

Both students have 1 minute 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!

2 to 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

30 second
Con student gives a 30 second closing statement (Pro student listens quietly)

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

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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.