Script: Defend Your Stance!

Introduction & Hook (10 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Take a look at our title slide today: 'Defend Your Stance!'.

Think about it for a moment: Have you ever had to convince someone of something you truly believed in? Maybe it was your parents about staying up later, a friend about the best video game, or even a classmate about the answer to a math problem.

What made your argument strong? Or, on the flip side, what made it weak?

Today, we're going to become masters of persuasion, but with a twist! Our mission is to work in groups to create a powerful presentation defending a stance on a chosen topic. But it's not just about what you believe; it's about why you believe it, backed up by solid facts and reasoning. And, you'll also prepare some thoughtful challenge questions for your peers. Sounds exciting, right?"

Explain Project & Expectations (20 minutes)

"To help us understand exactly what we're doing, I'm handing out two important documents: the Project Guide: Defend Your Stance and the Rubric: Defend Your Stance. Please take a moment to get those.

(Pause for distribution)

Let's walk through the Project Guide together. You'll see it outlines everything from group formation to the final presentation. As it states, your goal is to choose a topic, research it, and then develop a clear, defensible stance. Your presentation will be a Google Slide presentation, 7-10 slides long, and it MUST be built on explicit facts and reasoning. No 'I just feel this way' arguments, okay? We're aiming for solid, evidence-based claims.

Now, let's look at the Rubric. This is how your amazing work will be assessed. Notice the categories: 'Clarity of Stance,' 'Use of Evidence & Reasoning,' 'Presentation Structure & Design,' 'Challenge Questions,' and 'Collaboration.' Each part is important, so make sure you understand what a 'Proficient' or 'Exemplary' presentation looks like.

One unique part of this project is the 'Challenge Questions.' Each group will come up with three insightful questions to ask another group after their presentation. These aren't 'gotcha' questions; they're meant to encourage deeper thinking, critical analysis, and to help everyone consider different perspectives. We'll talk more about how to craft these, and you'll use the Challenge Question Worksheet for them.

Any initial questions about the project or how you'll be graded?"

(Address student questions)

Group Formation & Topic Brainstorm (15 minutes)

"Alright, it's time to form your groups! Please get into groups of three. If you're struggling to find a group, raise your hand, and I'll help facilitate.

(Circulate to ensure groups are formed smoothly and are balanced)

Now that you're in your groups, your first task is to brainstorm some potential topics. Think about issues you care about, things you've seen in the news, school policies, or even cultural debates. The key is to pick something you can form a clear stance on and find facts to support. For example, 'Should school start later in the morning?' or 'Is social media more harmful than beneficial for teenagers?' or 'Are video games a form of art?'

Once your group has decided on one topic and a preliminary stance, please raise your hand for my approval. I want to make sure your topic is appropriate and has enough scope for a 7-10 slide presentation."

(Circulate, listen to topic ideas, and approve them. Guide groups if topics are too broad, too narrow, or not suitable for factual defense.)

Begin Research & Outline Development (40 minutes)

"Excellent work on getting your topics approved! Now, for the bulk of our time today, your group will begin the preliminary research and outline development for your presentation.

Here's what I want you to focus on:

• Preliminary Research: Start searching for facts, statistics, expert opinions, and examples that support your chosen stance. Remember to use credible sources! Your school library databases, reputable news organizations, and academic sites are great places to start. Avoid Wikipedia as a primary source, but you can use it to find other sources.
• Outline Your Presentation: Begin to map out what will go on each of your 7-10 slides. What will be your introduction? What are your 3-5 main arguments, and what facts will support each? How will you conclude and reinforce your stance? A good outline is like a blueprint for a strong building.
• Assign Roles: Within your group, decide who will focus on what. Maybe one person is a primary researcher, another focuses on slide design, and a third works on drafting content. Everyone should contribute to developing those challenge questions.

This is your foundational work. You won't finish the entire presentation today, but by the end of this class, I expect to see a solid topic, a clear stance, some initial research, and a working outline. I'll be circulating to help you, so don't hesitate to ask questions."

(Circulate, observe group work, provide guidance, and answer questions. Encourage groups to use their Project Guide: Defend Your Stance as a reference.)

Wrap-up & Next Steps (5 minutes)

"Alright class, bring it back together for a moment. Time is almost up for today, but your work isn't! Over the next few days, you'll continue to refine your research, build out your Google Slides, and finalize your challenge questions.

Make sure to keep your Project Guide: Defend Your Stance and Rubric: Defend Your Stance handy as you work.

Before you go, can one person from each group quickly share one new idea they discovered today or one challenge they anticipate in developing their presentation?

(Use the Cool Down: Defend Your Stance! if time allows for individual reflection.)

Great job everyone! I'm looking forward to seeing your incredibly persuasive presentations!"

Project Guide: Defend Your Stance!

Project Goal: To collaboratively research a topic, develop a clear stance, and persuade your audience through a well-structured Google Slides presentation backed by facts and reasoning. You will also develop thoughtful challenge questions for other groups.

Group Size: 3 students per group

Due Date: [Insert Due Date Here]

Part 1: Your Google Slides Presentation (7-10 Slides)

Your group will create a Google Slides presentation (7-10 slides) that effectively argues and defends a chosen stance on a topic.

Requirements:

1. Topic Selection & Stance (1 slide - Title):

   • Choose a debatable topic that allows for a clear "for" or "against" position (e.g., "Should social media be banned for teens?", "Are standardized tests effective?").
   • Clearly state your group's chosen topic and your specific stance (your argument).
   • Your teacher must approve your topic and stance.

2. Introduction (1 slide):

   • Hook your audience and introduce your topic.
   • Briefly state your group's stance and preview the main arguments you will present.

3. Main Arguments & Evidence (4-6 slides):

   • Dedicate 1-2 slides per major argument supporting your stance.
   • For each argument, provide explicit facts, statistics, expert quotes, examples, or logical reasoning to back it up.
   • Each piece of evidence should be properly cited (e.g., "According to [Source Name], [Fact/Statistic]").
   • Explain how your evidence supports your argument.

4. Addressing Counterarguments (1 slide):

   • Acknowledge one or two common counterarguments or opposing viewpoints.
   • Briefly explain why your stance is stronger or more valid, using evidence and reasoning.

5. Conclusion (1 slide):

   • Summarize your main points and restate your stance in a new, impactful way.
   • Leave your audience with a final thought or call to action related to your topic.

Presentation Best Practices:

• Visuals: Use engaging images, charts, and graphs to enhance understanding, but ensure they are relevant and not distracting.
• Text: Keep text concise and easy to read. Use bullet points rather than long paragraphs.
• Design: Maintain a consistent and professional slide design.
• Flow: Ensure a logical progression of ideas from one slide to the next.
• Practice: Practice your presentation to ensure smooth transitions and clear delivery.

Part 2: Challenge Questions (3 Questions)

In addition to your presentation, your group will develop 3 challenge questions to ask another presenting group. These questions should be written on the Challenge Question Worksheet.

Requirements:

• Thought-Provoking: Questions should encourage critical thinking, deeper analysis, or exploration of nuances related to another group's topic or stance.
• Respectful: Questions should be challenging, but always respectful and constructive. The goal is to facilitate discussion, not to criticize or embarrass.
• Clear & Concise: Formulate questions that are easy to understand and to the point.
• Variety: Aim for different types of questions (e.g., asking for clarification, considering an alternative perspective, exploring implications).

Example (if a group is arguing for later school start times):

• "How might later school start times impact after-school sports and extracurricular activities?"
• "What potential financial burdens could later start times place on school districts for transportation, and how might these be addressed?"
• "Beyond academic performance, what other benefits or drawbacks of later start times did your group consider?"

Collaboration

• Equal Participation: Ensure all group members contribute equally to research, slide creation, and question development.
• Communication: Maintain open and effective communication within your group.
• Conflict Resolution: Work together to resolve any disagreements constructively.

Good luck, and get ready to defend your stance! Your ability to research, argue, and critically question will be key.

Rubric: Defend Your Stance

Project: Group Presentation & Challenge Questions
Group Members: [Student Names]
Date: [Date]

Teacher Comments:

Challenge Question Worksheet

Group Members: [Student Names]

Instructions: For this project, your group needs to develop 3 insightful challenge questions that you could ask another presenting group after their presentation. These questions should encourage deeper thinking, critical analysis, and respectful discussion. They are NOT meant to trick or embarrass other groups.

Think about:

• What aspects of a topic might be overlooked?
• What are the potential broader implications of a stance?
• Are there alternative solutions or perspectives?
• Could there be any unintended consequences?

Question 1

Presenting Group's Topic/Stance (if known):

Your Challenge Question:

Why is this a good question? (Explain your reasoning):

Question 2

Presenting Group's Topic/Stance (if known):

Your Challenge Question:

Why is this a good question? (Explain your reasoning):

Question 3

Presenting Group's Topic/Stance (if known):

Your Challenge Question:

Why is this a good question? (Explain your reasoning):

Cool Down: Defend Your Stance!

Instructions: Take a few minutes to reflect on today's lesson and your group's initial work. Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. What is one specific fact or piece of information you learned or considered today during your group's discussion or initial research?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one challenge your group might face in developing your presentation, and how do you plan to address it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why is it important to support your opinions with facts and reasoning in real-life situations?