ABSTRACT
A key component of debating is making the speaker stand. Although some students can be resistant at first, with a little friendly cajoling, most students oblige. Students standing and using the formal words of claim and warrant help to elevate the tone in the room and keep the discussion from becoming too casual. Keeping the debates short and sweet helps students warm up to them. The more students can talk about these problems, the deeper they will understand the processes for solving similar problems. One of the favorite activities is teaching parents to debate with the claim and warrant routine when they are in a classroom for a parent night. In working with parents, they (like their children) quickly grow to understand and appreciate the debate structures. The debate structure often opens up a jovial conversation about encouraging reasoning, justification, problem solving, and estimation at home.
