Boy21

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Debate”

In this activity, students debate whether or not Coach ultimately had Finley’s best interests at heart.

At the beginning of the novel, Finley obeys Coach’s request to befriend Russ, based on the assumption that Coach has Finley’s best interests at heart. However, as the novel progresses, Finley slowly begins to question Coach’s motivation for asking Finley to support Russ. Ultimately, Finley wonders if Coach is focused more on his development as a basketball player or the desire to keep the Bellmont High School’s basketball team on a winning streak with Russ’s talents.

For this activity, you will argue for or against the following question: Does Coach have Finley’s best interests at heart? Is his motivation supportive or exploitative? 

• Working with your team, structure your argument so that each team member has at least one position or point to support.
• Select an order of presentation, with an opening statement, arguments and possible rebuttals, and finally a closing statement.
• Consider researching formal debate guidelines if this activity is new to your class.
• Hold the debate. Take notes on the opposing side’s points and views.

After both sides have a chance to offer their points, refer to your notes in class discussion about the debate. Was there a clear “winner”? If so, what points made the strongest impact? Reflect on the experience of the debate in your reading journal.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity will allow students to practice their debate skills. Students should focus on using textual details to support their points. Additionally, this activity links with the first prompt under Full Essay Assignments.

Differentiation Suggestion: For classes that might not be ready to participate in a debate, this activity can be restructured into a writing assignment in which students develop an argumentative essay and share with the class in a presentation.