Characterisation in debates

Learn how to use characterisation and descriptive language in debates 

Student debating and public speaking resource developed by The Arts Unit

Years 5 to 8 debating

Your students will:

• explore how characterisation can be used in debates

• characterise environments

• consider stakeholders relevant to a debate topic

• apply characterisation skills to a debating game.

English K-10 Syllabus

Stage 3

• EN3-1A: communicates effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes using increasingly challenging topics, ideas, issues and language forms and features.

• EN3-3A: uses an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and comprehend a wide range of texts in different media and technologies.

• EN3-7C: thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information and ideas and identifies connections between texts when responding to and composing texts.

Stage 4

• EN4-1A: responds to and composes texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure.

• EN4-4B: makes effective language choices to creatively shape meaning with accuracy, clarity and coherence.

• EN4-5C: thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information, ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts.

Collection of student work 

• Google Form: create a Google form with activities and/or questions. Students can also upload any files they create. Email this form to your students with the Creative Class link and all your student responses will be combined in a Google sheet.

• Google Classroom Assignment: create an assignment or a quiz in your Google Classroom with activities and/or questions. Students can also upload any files they create.

• MS Teams: create a quiz or assignment in your class team drive where students can submit responses and upload any files they create.

• Email: ask your students to email you any responses and files they create.

• Flipgrid: a website that allows teachers to create 'grids' to facilitate video discussions. Each grid is a message board where teachers can pose questions called 'topics'. Students can post video responses that appear in a tiled grid display.

• Jamboard: an interactive whiteboard which can be used for class feedback.

For further support on how to create these resources

• Get started with Google Forms

• Create a Google Classroom Assignment

• Assign quizzes to students  through Microsoft Teams 

• Create an assignment in Microsoft Teams

• Educators – getting started with Flipgrid

• Get started with Jamboard