The structured academic controversy lesson plan is one of the best discussion strategies for critical thinking group activities in middle and high school classrooms because it relies on teamwork and respectful communication among students while developing close reading, writing, speaking, and active listening skills. A Structured Academic Controversy gives students a break from ways of teaching that rely on the teacher as the sole source of information and students passively listening and absorbing knowledge. While, yes, straightforward, this approach doesn’t really promote critical thinking, nor does it encourage students to engage in respectful and productive conversations with their peers who hold different views. Also, its boring.
Structured Academic Controversies (SACs) have been gaining popularity, and with good reason. They are a teaching strategy that involves engaging students in a safe, highly structured deliberation about a controversial issue (the more controversial the better, I say!). The goal of Structured Academic Controversies is not to determine a winner or loser, such as in a traditional debate, but to encourage critical thinking and civil discourse.
Which….. let’s be frank. We could all use a little more of these days.
In this post, we will explore the benefits of Structured Academic Controversies and how you can effectively implement them in your classroom!postfor
How Do Structured Academic Controversy Lesson Plans Work?
To begin your Structured Controversy lesson plan, you (the teacher) would choose a high interest topic that has, for whatever reason, become a point of contention in public discourse. If you want to create your own, a really great place to start would be the ProCon website, which is what I have used for so many of my own SACs, or the Reading Like a Historian site from the people at Stanford. Students would form groups of four and then divide into two pairs. Each pair would then be assigned an advocacy position and either receive supporting documentation or researches the topic (for the SACs I have created for students, all the supporting documentation is gathered and structured for them. I feel that adding “research” to this is a whole other step, and I want to be confident in their reading comprehension skills before moving on. It really just depends what your focus is. If you have the time to dedicate to it, you could even have student pairs from different groups with the same positions can compare ideas after becoming familiar with their positions.
- STEP ONE: The student pairs(I call the “A Team and B Team) highlight the main arguments for their position, usually there are about 3-4 main arguments for each side, and then prepare a short presentation. Each student pair presents their position to the other pair in their group.
- STEP TWO:During the presentations, the students listen and take thorough notes but are not permitted to ask questions, disagree, or debate! Yes, I know. This is hard. I take a whole slide on the presentation to talk about this, its titled “listen to understand”… and while it seems so benign, so understated, and so obvious…. this is actually the most challenging part, and the most valuable skill they can walk away with. Its the thing we don’t really do: listen to each other.
- STEP THREE: After the the first team is finished presenting their main arguments, the other pair presents their position. After those presentations, students discuss their respective positions and provide more supporting evidence.
- STEP FOUR: Using their notes as a guide, students then switch advocacy positions and prepare and give a new presentation.
- STEP FIVE: Finally, students drop their advocacy role and generate a consensus report addressing the original question posed.
What Are the Benefits of a Structured Academic Controversy Lesson Plan?
SACs can help students develop a range of invaluable skills, including researching issues(when appropriate), organizing information, preparing and advocating for a position, being able to rationalize one’s position, learning to debate, evaluating strengths and weaknesses on both sides of an issue, seeing issues from other perspectives, reconceptualizing one’s position, synthesizing information, and reaching consensus.
By engaging in an academic controversy, students learn to think critically, explore diverse perspectives, and develop the skills necessary to navigate complex issues and challenges. They learn and develop the skills necessary to preserve and promote democracy.
One of the many benefits of using a Structured Academic Controversy lesson plan is that they can be used in a variety of subjects and topics. For example, structured academic controversies can be used in history classes to discuss controversial historical events or in science classes to debate ethical issues related to scientific research.
Structured academic controversies can also be adapted for different age groups and skill levels. Additionally, structured academic controversies provide the following benefits:
- Promotes critical thinking: Structured academic controversies are one of the best exercises for critical thinking because they require students to deep-read and evaluate evidence from different perspectives. They give students no choice but to go beyond the ho-hum “what do you think about…” and require them to engage with what the actual arguments are on either side of a given issue before they are given free reign to voice their opinions.
- Fosters collaboration: Structured academic controversies are interactive discussion strategies designed specifically around promoting collaboration and teamwork, prioritizing active listening, and finding common ground. One of my favorite steps in the process is when they have to point out which argument on the other team’s side they thought was the most convincing, and then, how they would advise their “opponent” to strengthen their argument…. so many levels of synthesis and empathy happening here.
- Encourages respectful communication: Structured academic controversies emphasize the importance of respectful communication and help students develop the ability to listen to and consider alternative viewpoints as a prerequisite to finalizing their own.
- Increases engagement: Structured academic controversies are one of the best discussion strategies for students because they are highly interactive and engaging, making it easier for students to stay focused and interested in the topic at hand.
- Builds confidence: Structured academic controversies are one of the discussion strategies for students known for building student confidence in the classroom because they provide opportunities for students to practice public speaking and advocacy skills, helping to build confidence and self-esteem.
Furthermore, structured academic controversies foster civil discourse by encouraging students to engage in respectful and productive dialogue with those who hold different views… because they have to. The was the “structured academic controversy” lesson plan is structured, its almost like a role play. A game. They have to take on the role of someone who believes xyz… almost like its play. This kind of skill-building is particularly important in today’s society, where political polarization and social media often encourage echo chambers and divisive communication.
Additionally, structured academic controversies are an engaging way to learn course content and can help increase student interest in the subject. When students are invested in the outcome of the debate, they are more likely to be engaged in the learning process.
Finally, structured academic controversies align with several national standards, including Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies.
How Can Teachers Implement Structured Academic Controversy Lesson Plans?
When implementing structured academic controversies, you really want to make sure you provide clear guidelines and expectations for the diacussion, including rules for respectful dialogue. It is also critical to choose a controversial issue that is relevant to the course content and age-appropriate. Meaning… it has to be something the kids ACTUALLY care about. It might not be something you or I find even remotely interesting. Honestly, the older I get, this becomes challenging for me… but you have to remember, this is about teaching kids how to engage in controversy, not getting to talk about something you yourself find interesting. This will ensure that students are engaged in the topic and that the debate is productive, and not just a giant free for all.
In addition to providing clear guidelines, we as teachers should model respectful dialogue and active listening in every interaction. Modeling this helps students understand what respectful dialogue looks, and what active listening actually looks like and provides them with a “template” to follow in their own discussions.
Teachers should use rubrics to assess student performance, which will ensure that the debate is productive and that students are engaged in the learning process. Finally, teachers should encourage student reflection after the debate. Reflection allows students to critically analyze their arguments and those of their peers, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the topic and increased critical thinking skills.
Structured Academic Controversies are a super effective teaching strategy for encouraging critical thinking and civil discourse in the classroom. Personally, what I love most about the Structured Academic Controversy format is that, in contrast to many student topics for debate, it isn’t about what answer students get to, it is 100% about the process. It is a discussion strategy for teachers that provides us the opportunity to teach, model, and reinforce what it means to “listen to understand”, and gently guides teenagers to holding space for grey areas, for becoming comfortable with non-closure, and developing the habit of thought that will have them intuitively seek to understand points of view different than their own without being threatened by them.
Included in my structured academic controversies bundle are:
- Should historic statues be taken down?
- Is cancel culture democratic?
- Should prisons be privatized?
- Space Colonization
- Student Loan Debt Elimination
- Defund the Police
- Universal Basic Incomestructured academic controversies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Structured Academic Controversies:
Q: What is the difference between a regular debate lesson plan and a Structured Academic Controversy lesson plan?
A: Structured Academic Controversy lesson plans are more structured and organized than regular debates: they involve specific rules for presenting arguments and responding to the arguments of other groups. Structured academic controversies also focus on exploring complex issues in the interest of understanding them rather than simply arguing for or against a topic. In other words, the goal is to gain a deeper understanding for yourself, not to get other people to hear you.
Q: What types of topics are suitable for Structured Academic Controversies?
A: Structured academic controversies can be used to explore a wide range of topics, including historical events, ethical issues, scientific research, political debates, and social issues. The key is to choose a topic that is complex and controversial, with multiple perspectives and evidence.
Q: How do Structured Academic Controversies promote critical thinking and analysis skills?
A: SACs require students to research and analyze different perspectives and evidence related to a controversial topic. They must also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments and attempt to reach a consensus or compromise. This process promotes critical thinking and analysis skills.
Q: How do Structured Academic Controversies promote respectful and civil discourse?
A: The structure of Structured academic controversies requires students to listen to and consider the arguments of other groups. They must also respond to the arguments of other groups in a respectful and thoughtful manner. This promotes civil discourse and encourages students to consider different perspectives.
Q: Can Structured Academic Controversies be used for different age groups and skill levels?
A: Yes, SACs can be adapted for different age groups and skill levels. For younger students, simpler topics and rules may be used, while older or more advanced students may tackle more complex topics and rules.
