ABSTRACT
Parliamentary Debate is the best set-piece activity to allow critical oracy to flourish. It allows students to engage with many of the key issues invoked by their study of literature (Who was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?), history (What caused World War I?) or even science (Should genetic engineering be allowed?). They learn how to argue their points analytically and support them with suitable evidence (for example, using quotations from plays, primary source material or scientific facts). They also learn to defend their arguments in the face of alternative interpretations, thereby bringing to life the key debates in the disciplines they are studying. This chapter takes teachers through the steps needed to prepare for debates, including ideas on how to structure the activity, how to set up the classroom, what different roles class members can play, what the features of the format are and how to vary and adapt the activity.
