If They Can Argue Well, They Can Write Well: Using Classroom Debate to Help Students Think Critically, Research and Evaluate Internet Sources, and Write and Speak Argumentatively

Classroom debate is used as the platform for critical thinking and writing in this helpful teacher’s resource

Every student can become a great debater. The key concepts of argumentation, critical thinking, and meeting academic standards align in a single, engaging format in this book. Packed with practical, hands-on activities, this collection teaches students to argue effectively, research information, think critically, and write persuasively. Also included is in-depth discussion on online research and emphasizes the timely skill of evaluating the validity of various internet sources. This revised edition provides specific connections between book content and the Common Core State Standards, as well as a new section on debate skills.

Dr. Bill McBride is an international speaker, educator, former middle and high school teacher and reading specialist, and contributor to the development of a number of textbook series. He is the author of Building Literacy in Social Studies, Carrying a Load of Feathers, Entertaining an Elephant, and What’s Happening? He is an author-in-residence for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and also trains teachers in content area reading, teaching to gender differences, student engagement, Common Core literacy, using technology in the classroom, and vocabulary development. He lives in San Francisco.