The Middle School Debater [Spiral-bound]

Josephine Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0962825247 | ISBN-13: 978-0962825248

"The Middle School Debater" is written for social studies teachers who wish to use debate in their classes. It is for the teacher who desires to involve the students in the historical moment; it is not written for debate teachers. Students this age (6th to 9th grade) must be "doing". They cannot sit still long enough for a lecture to have any meaning for them. But they certainly do learn in cooperative experiences.

Debating is a "hands-on" experience. Students use reading skills, analysis, research, note-taking, and speech (to name a few). The debating process in this book is simplified but still guides the teacher through basic argumentation.

There are two types of debates, those that argue policy and those that argue values. This book will be concerned with only one: the proposition of policy, which maintains that a new course of action should be adopted.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Teaching students how to debate is the latest contribution to "hands on" learning from author Josephine Davidson. By involving the students in this active process, students learn to:
* research issues & events
* take specific notes
* focus on critical ideas
* analyze and organize information
* speak to an audience
* use logic

This book is quick and to the point, with complete instructions for language arts and social studies teachers who wish to introduce formal debate to their classes. It is for teachers who desire to involve the students in the historical moment; it is not written for experienced debate teachers. The book includes debating techniques, worksheets, practice exercises, and a debate card format, as well as judging sheets and debate team protocol.

Davidson, a Language Arts teacher for many years, draws from her own middle school debate teaching experiences to write this instructional book. -- Publisher Comments

About the Author

Josephine Davidson is a native of New York, but grew up in Northern California. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and holds a California Standard Life Teaching Credential. She taught 7th, 8th, and 9th grades for 23 years in California and Texas. Her favorite subjects to teach were Greek Mythology and Debating.

Since contracting polio in 1954, Josephine has used a wheelchair. She is married to chemical engineering consultant Peter Davidson. They have two grown children and five grandchildren. The Davidsons have lived in New York, California, Texas, Illinois, Washington State, and the Middle East.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 51 pages
• Publisher: Right Book Co (November 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962825247
• ISBN-13: 978-0962825248
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,804,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, February 6, 2007

By 

Jim McDaniel "JMac" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Middle School Debater (Spiral-bound)

I introduced debate to 7th graders a few years ago without really knowing anything about debate. This was one book that I'd put at the top of my list. It is practical and useful. I recently ordered a copy for another teacher.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Middle School Debater, October 18, 2008

By 

Kenneth C. Williams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Middle School Debater (Spiral-bound)

This book serves as a great enrichment activity for social studies class at middle schools. It provides teachers with a format to conduct a debate and provides students with background information on how to debate.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A total rip-off, April 16, 2008

By 

R. Rajeswari "Athreya san" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Middle School Debater (Spiral-bound)

This book(sorry its just a few pages out of a paper copier) bound spirally. Its a total rip-off for the price I have paid. The authenticity of the book should be checked and its reviewers because it has been downright misleading. I feel so pained and totally cheated that a good site like this should house such items and that too without any indication of its low quality and content.

This is the second time I have been cheated paying such high prices for the books when they wouldn't even be worth $3.00 a piece.

It seems to be a trend to pose some paper copied notes as a book by some trash selling 'publisher' and very misleading to an unwary buyer. Its out of faith in the Amazon site that I bought this book.