Brainstorming

As a class, ask students to brainstorm a list of current events which present a debatable matter either in terms of pro/con or even something that allows for multiple approaches to a shared challenge.  As an example, a pro/con issue may be whether social media has a positive or a negative effect on society. A debatable approach to a shared challenge may be whether it is better to lobby lawmakers to make changes to existing laws on a problematic issue, or whether individual action is more effective (for example, is it better to lobby against plastic straws, or better to create a nonprofit that sends people to the beaches to clean up plastic waste). 

Encourage students to come up with as many options as possible. If proposed topics are too broad, ask questions that challenge students to be as specific as possible. Write all proposed topics on the board for all students to see (or use a collaborative digital platform such as Nearpod to post responses to the SmartBoard).  For quieter classes, you could assign students to brainstorm in groups of 3-4 students before opening up the discussion to the whole class.

Pairing Up

Once the class has a solid working list of possible topics, ask students to form pairs (meaning two) that will explore one of the proposed topics at length.  Partners must either select opposing sides to argue (pro/con) or they must select different approaches to a shared challenge.  (This concept should be fairly clear to them since they will have seen various approaches to the Civil Rights Movement in the original source lesson).

Over the next several classes, have student pairs research their selected issue in depth and then determine which approach they will take, making sure that partners are taking different positions.

Assessment

Using their understanding of audience, purpose, and context, each pair must create a persuasive speech that challenges their classmates to accept their position or approach on the selected topic. In order to do well, partners must consider who they will be speaking to during this presentation (e.g., student activists, parents, lawmakers, etc.) and how they will tailor their speech to meet their audience and purpose.

On the day of the presentations, students will submit a full printed copy of their speeches as well as a rationale explaining their thought process when creating their speech.

Evaluation

Depending on instructional needs, students could be evaluated under any/all of the following criteria:

* Collaboration/Communication

* Research

* Rhetoric

* Reflection