

At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- Advisory
- Civics & Citizenship
- English & Language Arts
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Overview
About This Teaching Strategy
In this structured debate modeled after an event in forensic competitions, students frame their argument in one minute and then react quickly to their opponents’ ideas. This strategy helps students practice using evidence and examples to defend a position. Because students aren’t given much preparation time, SPAR is most effective when students already have background information about the topic. With practice, students become increasingly comfortable with and proficient in using this method to unearth the “pro” and “con” sides of controversial topics.
Lesson Plans
Steps for Implementation
Variations
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