Engage & Persuade: Debater's Showcase Project
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Engage & Persuade: Debater's Showcase Project

Grade 8English20 days
The 'Engage & Persuade: Debater's Showcase Project' is a 20-day educational experience designed for 8th graders in English class, aiming to develop persuasive writing and presentation skills. Students explore the essential components of strong arguments by crafting a compelling written piece supported by clear reasons and evidence, which is then transformed into a multimedia display. Through the process, learners are guided to refine their oral presentation skills and receive feedback from peers and teachers, culminating in a public showcase of their argumentative displays. This project not only adheres to Common Core Standards but also fosters critical thinking and effective communication through a combination of textual, visual, and oral elements.
Argumentative WritingDebate SkillsMultimedia DisplaysPersuasionOral PresentationCritical Thinking
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we effectively create a compelling and educational display that showcases the key components of a strong argumentative piece, utilizes evidence effectively, and engages and persuades an audience?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the key components of a strong argumentative piece?
  • How can evidence be used effectively to support an argument?
  • What strategies can be used to engage and persuade an audience?
  • How does the structure of a debate aid in presenting and defending an argument?
  • In what ways can visual displays enhance the communication of an argument?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to write arguments supporting claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • Students will develop coherent writing appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience.
  • Students will engage in planning, revising, and presenting a creative display to effectively communicate an argument.
  • Students will learn to integrate multimedia elements to strengthen claims and capture audience interest through visual displays.
  • Students will practice oral presentation skills, focusing on emphasizing key points and using evidence effectively.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1
Primary
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.Reason: This project focuses on creating a compelling argumentative display, directly requiring students to write arguments that support claims.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4
Primary
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.Reason: Part of the project is to produce a creative display that needs to be coherent and suitable for the intended audience, aligning with this standard.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.5
Secondary
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.Reason: The project involves designing and revising an educational display, which necessitates planning and editing, directly aligning with this standard.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.4
Primary
Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details.Reason: As students take on the role of debaters, they need to present arguments clearly and effectively, well-aligning with this speaking and listening standard.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.5
Primary
Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.Reason: Visual displays are a crucial part of the project, used to enhance communication, aligning well with this standard.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Public Debate Challenge

Kickstart the project by inviting a local debate champion or a college debate team to demonstrate a live debate on a relevant and engaging topic. This will showcase the art of structured argumentation, capturing student attention, and inspiring them to design their displays with compelling content and delivery.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Argument Architects

Students will build a strong argumentative foundation by learning to construct a well-supported argument.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a debatable topic that you are passionate about.
2. Research your topic to gather at least three strong reasons and supporting evidence for your position.
3. Organize your findings into a clear and structured outline.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn organized outline for an argumentative essay with clear reasons and evidence.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1 - Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Activity 2

Visual Persuasion Designer

Students will transform their written arguments into a visually appealing display, learning to communicate and engage effectively through multimedia.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Draft a storyboard or sketch that outlines your visual display's layout and design elements.
2. Select multimedia elements (images, charts, videos) that will support your argument and make your display engaging.
3. Design and create the visual display using digital tools or craft materials.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA multimedia display that visually communicates an argument and supports claims with chosen media elements.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.5 - Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations.
Activity 3

Debate and Display Workshop

Students will prepare to present their arguments orally and visually, refining their messages using peer and teacher feedback.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Practice your oral argument presentation in front of peers, focusing on clarity and emphasis on key points.
2. Receive and incorporate feedback on both your oral and visual presentations.
3. Revise and edit your display based on feedback to improve communication and persuasiveness.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA refined oral and visual presentation ready for public display or presentation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4, W.8.5, SL.8.4 - Produce coherent writing and presentations with clarity and effective use of reasoning, and develop and revise as needed.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Argumentative Display Evaluation Rubric

Category 1

Argument Development

Evaluates the student's ability to construct a well-supported and coherent argument that demonstrates a deep understanding of the topic.
Criterion 1

Claim and Reasoning

Assessment of the clarity and strength of the claim and supporting reasons.

Exemplary
4 Points

Claim is clearly articulated and supported by compelling, highly relevant, and specific reasons and evidence.

Proficient
3 Points

Claim is well-developed, with relevant reasons and evidence supporting it.

Developing
2 Points

Claim is present but lacks depth; reasons and evidence are somewhat relevant.

Beginning
1 Points

Claim is unclear or poorly supported by reasons and evidence.

Criterion 2

Organization

Measures the logical flow and coherence of the argument structure.

Exemplary
4 Points

Argument is logically organized and flows seamlessly from claim to conclusion with effective transitions.

Proficient
3 Points

Argument is organized with a clear structure and smooth transitions.

Developing
2 Points

Argument shows basic organization but may be confusing at times.

Beginning
1 Points

Argument lacks clear organization and logical flow.

Category 2

Visual and Multimedia Presentation

Assesses the effectiveness of the visual display in enhancing communication of the argument.
Criterion 1

Design and Creativity

Evaluation of the creativity and design of the visual display, including use of multimedia elements.

Exemplary
4 Points

Display is highly creative and aesthetically pleasing, using multimedia elements effectively to enhance argument and engage the audience.

Proficient
3 Points

Display is creative and well-designed, using multimedia elements to support the argument.

Developing
2 Points

Display includes some creative elements but needs improvement in design and use of multimedia.

Beginning
1 Points

Display lacks creativity and effective use of multimedia elements.

Criterion 2

Communication and Clarity

Assessment of how well the display communicates the argument and main points.

Exemplary
4 Points

Display communicates the argument and main points clearly and effectively, with a compelling narrative.

Proficient
3 Points

Display communicates the argument and main points clearly.

Developing
2 Points

Display communicates the argument but lacks clarity in some areas.

Beginning
1 Points

Display fails to clearly communicate the argument and main points.

Category 3

Oral Presentation

Evaluates oral communication skills, with a focus on clarity, engagement, and the effective use of evidence.
Criterion 1

Delivery and Clarity

Assessment of the student's ability to present the argument clearly and confidently.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presentation is delivered with confidence, clarity, and effective engagement with the audience.

Proficient
3 Points

Presentation is clear and well-delivered with good audience engagement.

Developing
2 Points

Presentation is understandable, but lacks confidence and consistent engagement.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation is unclear and lacks engagement with the audience.

Criterion 2

Use of Evidence

Evaluation of how effectively evidence is presented and emphasized in the oral presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Evidence is presented compellingly and strategically, enhancing the argument significantly.

Proficient
3 Points

Evidence is presented clearly and supports the argument well.

Developing
2 Points

Evidence is included but not always effectively integrated or emphasized.

Beginning
1 Points

Evidence is poorly presented or insufficient to support the argument.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on the experience of transforming your written argument into a visual display. How did the use of multimedia elements enhance or challenge your ability to communicate your argument?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how effective do you feel your final presentation was in engaging and persuading the audience?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which strategies did you find most useful in planning and revising your argument to make it compelling for your audience?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Peer feedback
Revising based on teacher feedback
Using multimedia elements
Practicing oral presentation
Organizing research into outlines
Question 4

Reflect on the feedback you received during the Debate and Display Workshop. How did it influence your final presentation?

Text
Optional
Question 5

What are some key differences you noticed between presenting a written argument and an oral one?

Text
Optional