For example, when we analyzed the "graffiti walls" the next day, we noticed the majority of students created images with symbols of fire and used words like "fighting" and "arguing." Students believed a debate to be "heated" and this served as a perfect jumping off point for a class discussion on how to respectfully disagree with others, even when we truly believe we're right. We also discussed how an Opinion is "all about ME," where as Persuasion is "all about YOU."
The 5th grade writers will be using this experience to ground their Debate Group Project over the next few weeks, in which they will be lawyers debating a somewhat controversial topic in a Mock Courtroom in front of Judge Doyle and a jury of their peers.
Students believed a debate to be "heated" and this served as a perfect jumping off point for a class discussion on how to respectfully disagree with others, even when we truly believe we're right.