Customer Reviews

Speak Out!: Debate and Public Speaking in the Middle Grades

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
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Speak Out! Debate and Public Speaking in the Middle Grades serves as a debate bible for the overworked innovative teacher. The authors do an excellent job of creating a user friendly book for both middle school students and their teachers. Although I have taught middle school debate for over ten years, I found myself saying "ah-ha" at an alarming rate while reading. When I think of this book, two things stand out the most. The book provides a number of creative activities aimed at giving students the opportunity to practice all of the fundamentals of debate. Secondly, the authors do a masterful job of addressing two of the most difficult concepts to teach, argumentation and refutation. Most of the books on debate I have encountered require a PhD. to understand the meat and potatoes of debate, argumentation and refutation, but Speak Out!...scaffolds these concepts and provides ample opportunity for student mastery. As a battle tested teacher that has been in the trenches for a number of years, Speak Out! is a breath of fresh air in today's stormy educational climate. My only regret is I wish I purchased a copy sooner.

Speak Out! is the first text for middle school public speaking I've reveiwed that is worthy of purchasing a class set. It focuses mainly on debate and developing critical thinking skills, but there's a lot more. While its title accurately reflects it's geared toward public speaking, this could be used effectively in any middle school course where logical thinking execises are desired. As a teacher in my 20th year, I have never used a text in my public speaking classes because I've found them to be heavy in theory (middle schooler word for boring) while lacking in practicality. I'm glad to say the drought is over - I only wish this had come out years ago.

This book has enabled me to use a student-friendly text to teach not only public speaking, but also research skills and logical thinking. I use it in my public speaking course and my social studies class. The exercises can be adapted to any subject. A big plus is that it builds on the natural argumentative nature of middle schoolers. This is the only book I've found aimed towards the middle school student.

Speak Out! is a well written book that is easy to read for anyone, young or old, that wants to improve their critical thinking skills. Beginning debaters learn how to form good arguments and experienced debaters learn how to fine tune their points. It also helps the classroom teacher or debate coach teach logical and critical thinking skills in concrete, step-by-step ways. As a debate coach, this book helps me simplify basic debate techniques and advance returning debater's skills. As an art teacher, I teach my students how to find evidence within artworks to support their opinions...they have no idea they are being taught debate skills. Overall, this book benefits anyone who wants to improve their debate techniques or is working with people who are.

I am a middle school teacher and debate coach. This is our textbook. I highly recommend it for all students considering debate as well as for parents who want to understand how it works and/or be more involved. Even if you do not have a debate team, teachers should use this a way of teaching their curriculum. The processes in the book teach about research, critical thinking, public speaking, note taking, and more. Sample topics related to middle school and high school history as well as other areas provide a great starting point for teachers. Parents, use these as a way to get your pre-teen and teenager talking. Also check out all of Kate Shuster's and John Meany's other books.

This is a good resource for use in teaching middle schoolers debate skills through the Middle School Public Debate Program format. It does not give information on other formats such as Lincoln-Douglas, Legislative...

But well worth the money

Heavy on debate skills. I wasn't as impressed as other readers, but perhaps that's because I'm not a public school teacher. There was a speech or two that was helpful, but I was hoping for a more fun and engaging introduction to public speaking. It seemed to have a lot of what other texts have.