Grade 6 · Reading · Lesson 37

Host a debate about a text\u2019s message

A literary debate takes a text\u2019s central message or theme and transforms it into a proposition \u2014 a statement that can be argued for or against. Unlike a discussion, which is exploratory and open, a debate has clear sides, structured turns, and a requirement to persuade. Hosting a debate about a text deepens comprehension because it forces you to read closely enough to find evidence for both positions.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify the central message or theme of a text and form a debatable proposition from it
2Prepare arguments for both sides of a debate using evidence from the text
3Apply structured debate format: opening statement, rebuttals, and closing summary
4Listen critically to the opposing team and respond using specific textual evidence

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