boston debate league and boston public schools evidence-based argumentation: engaging science...
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Boston Debate League and Boston Public Schools
Evidence-Based Argumentation: Engaging Science Students in Boston
Public SchoolsRachel Chess, Science Teacher, Jeremiah E. Burke High School,
Brandon Finegold, Professional Development Coordinator, Boston Debate League, [email protected]
Ivyrose Hess, Science Teacher, Jeremiah E. Burke High School, [email protected]
Paul Madden, Professional Development Coordinator, Boston Debate League, [email protected]
Session Outcomes
Participants will…• Have the opportunity to engage with 3 signature
EBA activities that they could consider implementing in their classroom
• Consider how the Principles of EBA can be implemented in a classroom
• Consider the range of scientific texts that can be used via EBA
• Create claims for activities that are content specific
Session Agenda• Introduction• Experiencing EBA:
– Claim-Evidence Game – Choosing the Best Evidence Mini Debate– Counterargument Class Challenge
• EBA Overview – Skill Progression– Principles of EBA– Variations
• Breakout Discussion– Claim Creation– Question/Answer
• Wrap-Up
Activity 1: Claim-Evidence Game
1. In the left column, fill in the blank to create a claim.2. Pass your paper to the person to your right.3. The person on your left will pass you a paper. Write
a piece of evidence for their claim.
Activity 2: Choosing the Best
Evidence Mini Debate
1. Read the provided text, claim, and evidence2. In a group of three, assign each person a piece of evidence. 3. Each person will have one minute to stand and make a
speech describing why their evidence best proves the claim.a) To prepare- in the first column, write two reasons why your
evidence best proves the claim. Use these reasons to make your speech (If you need help, refer to the HINT CARDS.)
b) During your opponent’s speech, record their reasons in the second and third columns
4. As a group decide who won the debate
Activity 3: Counterargument
Class Challenge
1. Read the provided text2. Join a group at one of the posters containing a claim3. Write a warrant from the text to support your claim.4. Go to the opposing poster and read the claim and warrant.
Write a counterargument for this claim and warrant.5. Return to your poster and read the counterargument.
Write a response to this counterargument.
Evidence-Based Argumentation: An Instructional Framework
Five Skills
Basic Argument
Strong Argument
Evidence from Text
Counterarguments
Complex Arguments
Claim-Evidence Game
Fifteen Activities
Counterargument Class Challenge
Mini Debate
EBA OutcomesTeacher Feedback
Percentage of BPS Teachers surveyed who agreed or strongly agreed with the following:
Overall MathScience
ELA History ELL
Student Engagement 97% 96% 98% 94%
Student Understanding Class Content 99% 100% 98% 100%
Student Writing Skills 95% 92% 98% 94%
Student Oral Language Skills 99% 100% 98% 100%
School-wide Test Scores 88% 91% 86% 94%
Student Centered Classroom 96% 100% 91% 100%
From a survey taken of 200 BPS teachers who have received at least 40 hours of instruction between 2011 and 2012
Implementation in the Classroom
Writing Speaking and Listening
Reading
Discussion
• Individually or in small groups, discuss two topics for which you could use EBA in your classroom. Generate a claim for each of these topics.
(See the “Creating a claim” file in your folder for more information)• In what ways would you envision EBA working in
your classroom and/or school? How would you adapt or modify it?
• Questions and Answers
Wrap-Up: Objectives
Participants will…• Have the opportunity to engage with 3 signature
EBA activities that they could consider implementing in their classroom
• Consider how the Principles of EBA can be implemented in a classroom
• Consider the range of scientific texts that can be used via EBA
• Create claims for activities that are content specific
Wrap-Up: Contact Information
• Boston Debate League Website http://www.bostondebate.org
• Documents used todayhttp://www.bostondebate.org/nsta• To join our mailing list, please sign in or email