So I top off each unit with a critical thinking and speaking activity that calls for students to draw on the knowledge they've acquired and to resolve an issue. More specifically, I have students imitate real-life venues for expression, such as talk shows and Senate hearings. I've also developed strategies for assessing their skills at persuasive presentation, and have discovered several useful resources for making these simulations even more lively. I capitalize on students' fascination with the best-known of these programs by having them stage mock versions of these shows. Students may want to watch clips from shows such as Meet the Press or others to get a feel for the different formats.
Students review in detail the problem or issue they'll be discussing on their show.
I guide the kids away from framing issues in terms of pros and cons, and instead focus their perceptions on the balance between costs and benefits. In our increasingly complex world, issues are seldom clearly defined as pros versus cons. Students think about the topic overnight but don't prepare scripts. My goal is to capture the spontaneity of live television debates and give kids practice in thinking on their feet. My students learn how to present a reasoned point of view.