Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #287615 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 188 pages

Customer Reviews

The perfect foundation for a debate team/class
Speak Out! Debate and Public Speaking in the Middle Grades serves as a debate bible for the overworked innovative teacher. The authors do an excellent job of creating a user friendly book for both middle school students and their teachers. Although I have taught middle school debate for over ten years, I found myself saying "ah-ha" at an alarming rate while reading. When I think of this book, two things stand out the most. The book provides a number of creative activities aimed at giving students the opportunity to practice all of the fundamentals of debate. Secondly, the authors do a masterful job of addressing two of the most difficult concepts to teach, argumentation and refutation. Most of the books on debate I have encountered require a PhD. to understand the meat and potatoes of debate, argumentation and refutation, but Speak Out!...scaffolds these concepts and provides ample opportunity for student mastery. As a battle tested teacher that has been in the trenches for a number of years, Speak Out! is a breath of fresh air in today's stormy educational climate. My only regret is I wish I purchased a copy sooner.

Public Speaking Teacher Finally Finds a Good Text
Speak Out! is the first text for middle school public speaking I've reveiwed that is worthy of purchasing a class set. It focuses mainly on debate and developing critical thinking skills, but there's a lot more. While its title accurately reflects it's geared toward public speaking, this could be used effectively in any middle school course where logical thinking execises are desired. As a teacher in my 20th year, I have never used a text in my public speaking classes because I've found them to be heavy in theory (middle schooler word for boring) while lacking in practicality. I'm glad to say the drought is over - I only wish this had come out years ago.

Incredibly Helpful
Speak Out! is a well written book that is easy to read for anyone, young or old, that wants to improve their critical thinking skills. Beginning debaters learn how to form good arguments and experienced debaters learn how to fine tune their points. It also helps the classroom teacher or debate coach teach logical and critical thinking skills in concrete, step-by-step ways. As a debate coach, this book helps me simplify basic debate techniques and advance returning debater's skills. As an art teacher, I teach my students how to find evidence within artworks to support their opinions...they have no idea they are being taught debate skills. Overall, this book benefits anyone who wants to improve their debate techniques or is working with people who are.