How to Use Debate in Your Classroom for Content Learning, Skill Development, and AI Instructional Redesign

Eventually, the students will get very good at debating and learn how to engage the process and content on their own.

Introduction

In an era where AI can write almost perfect essays and students can access unlimited information with a tap, how do we create meaningful, engaging history education (or any education) that also develops critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed in an AI World? The answer is classroom debate.

By shifting from traditional essays to dynamic, structured debates, teachers can create an environment where:

• Students actively engage with historical content rather than passively consuming it

• Critical thinking becomes visible and assessable in real-time

• Multiple perspectives on complex historical issues come alive

• Modern parallels make history immediately relevant to students' lives

• Every student participates in a meaningful role tailored to their strengths

• Students can use AI to assist with their preparation but since AI cannot debate for them then it’s only useful for them to use AI to enhance their learning and preparation rather than offloading their work to AI.

As a sample, this post offers an emerging blueprint for implementing debate in your AP U.S. History classroom, including:

• Flexible debate structures that work for various class sizes

• Multiple student roles that engage different learning styles

• Connections to AP exam skills and content requirements

• Sample arguments with evidence-based reasoning

• Guidance on incorporating AI tools ethically and effectively

• Comprehensive assessment strategies

For teachers who wish to adapt this for classroom use, additional instruction and support beyond what is provided here would be needed. Throughout this post, I’ve identified critical places and materials that would need supported. Over the next month, I will be adding these supports for paid subscribers.

On Tuesday, March 18 at 8pm ET US, all paid subscribers will have the opportunity to participate in a session designed to help teachers develop approaches to debate for use in the traditional classroom.

As always, I welcome feedback from everyone, and I’m especially interested in feedback from those who are teaching every day.

AP U.S. History: Progressive Movement Town Hall Debate

Introduction & Rationale

Debate is a powerful tool for developing historical understanding, critical thinking, and communication skills. This town hall debate challenges students to analyze key issues from the Progressive Era and connect them to modern economic and political debates. By engaging in structured argumentation, students will deepen their understanding of government intervention, business regulation, and the broader impacts of reform movements.

This lesson allows students to explore multiple perspectives on historical events, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexity of policymaking. Additionally, debate encourages civic engagement by requiring students to articulate and defend positions with historical evidence and logical reasoning. The inclusion of generative AI in research provides an opportunity to integrate modern technology into historical inquiry, helping students refine their ability to verify and analyze information.

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Lesson

As noted, the idea of a “lesson” here is a bit general, but more details, *including a series of step-by-step lesson plans, will be provided for paid subscribers.*

Learning Objectives

1. Historical Content

• Analyze the impact of the Progressive Era on American society, politics, and economics.

• Compare historical government interventions (e.g., trust-busting, labor laws) to modern regulatory debates.

• Evaluate the successes and limitations of Progressive Era reforms.

2. Developing 5C Skills

• Critical Thinking: Assess historical evidence, construct logical arguments, and evaluate counterarguments.

• Communication: Develop persuasive speaking skills through structured debate.

• Collaboration: Work effectively in teams to research, strategize, and present arguments.

• Creativity: Formulate innovative solutions and parallels between historical and modern issues.

• Citizenship: Understand how historical decisions shaped present-day economic and political landscapes.

3. Using Generative AI

• Students may use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) to assist with research, drafting arguments, and generating counterarguments. Deep Research tools will be most effective for this purpose. *A basic video on how to do this will be provided for paid subscribers.*

• AI-generated content should be fact-checked and refined to ensure historical accuracy and clarity. . *A basic video on how to do this will be provided for paid subscribers.*

• AI is a tool to enhance research and brainstorming, not replace critical thinking and original argumentation.

• Ethical AI use will be discussed, emphasizing academic integrity and responsible technology use.

Connection to AP Exam Success

This debate framework builds critical skills for AP U.S. History exam success by:

• Developing students' ability to construct arguments with relevant historical evidence (AP Historical Thinking Skill 3)

• Enhancing understanding of historical causation and patterns of continuity and change (AP Reasoning Process 2)

• Strengthening compare and contrast analysis between historical and contemporary issues (AP Historical Thinking Skill 4)

• Providing practice in evaluating different perspectives on the same historical issue (AP Reasoning Process 4)

The Progressive Era content specifically connects to Period 7 (1890-1945) in the AP framework, including Key Concepts 7.1 on the challenges of industrialization and 7.3 on Progressive reforms.

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Debate Topics

These are some sample debate topics. Teachers can adjust the debate topics and I will issue a *guide for writing debate topic/resolutions for teachers* for paid subscribers.* The most important thing to keep in mind is that there should be strong arguments on both sides.

Labor Rights and Workers' Protections

• Resolved: The labor reforms of the Progressive Era significantly improved conditions for American workers.

• Modern Parallel Questions: Should the federal government implement stronger labor protections, such as a higher minimum wage or stronger unions, today?

Political Reforms and Democracy

• Resolved: The Progressive Era's political reforms, such as direct elections of senators and initiatives, strengthened American democracy.

• Modern Parallel Question: Should the U.S. adopt new democratic reforms like ranked-choice voting or term limits for Congress?

Social Reforms and Public Welfare

• Resolved: Progressive Era social reforms, such as child labor laws and women's suffrage, were essential for national progress.

• Modern Parallel Questions: Should the U.S. implement more progressive social policies, such as universal childcare or paid parental leave?

Media and Muckraking Journalism

• Resolved: Investigative journalism during the Progressive Era was essential for exposing corruption and improving governance.

• Modern Parallel Question: Should the U.S. government regulate social media to prevent misinformation and protect democracy?

Environmental Conservation and Regulation

• Resolved: Progressive Era conservation policies were necessary to protect America's natural resources.

• Modern Parallel Question: Should the federal government take stronger action against climate change through regulation and conservation efforts?

This lists provided are designed to help teachers see some sample debate topics, but once students have some experience, teachers could instruct students to design their own debate topics.

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General Structure & Student Roles in a Debate

The class will chose two debate topics and will debate a topic on each day. On Day 1, 21 students will be actively involved as participants in the debate (12 debaters) + related roles (9) and the other students will be audience members who are judges. One day 2, those involved in in related roles + the audience members will debate.

The exercise imagines a class of 24+ students, but if a class has more or fewer students teachers can adjust the total number of students in related roles + audience. Teachers may also want to consider having a back-up speaker on each team in case a student is absent on the day of the debate.

To break it down more specifically, this is how the student roles would evolve for each debate.

In this format, students are not all assessed on the same criteria/assignment, but teachers could focus on developing skills in different students over a series of debates. For example, Joey and Sally could focus on research for Debate I and speaking for Debate II so that by the end of the quarter or semester they have all had the opportunity to develop and demonstrate similar skills. Students could start with roles they are more comfortable in (research vs speaker) and then alternate roles in the next debate.

Team of 6 Pro

(2 students): Researchers
(1 student): Presenter/First speaker
(1 student): Rebuttal Speaker
(1 student): Closing speaker
(1 student): Team coordinator

Team of 6 Con

(2 students): Researchers
(1 student): Presenter/First speaker
(1 student): Rebuttal Speaker
(1 student): Closing speaker
(1 student): Team coordinator

Other 12+ students

(1 student): Lead moderator
(2 students): Moderators
(4 students): Journalists
(2 students): Question answerers
(3+ students): Judges

*Working rubrics for each of these roles will be provided for all paid subscribers.*

Additional Suggestions for Role Selection

Teachers may assign roles through several methods:

- Student preference (have students rank their top 3 preferred roles)

- Strategic assignment based on student strengths and growth areas

- Random assignment to expose students to different responsibilities

- Mixed approach: core debate speakers by selection, other roles by preference

For multi-debate sequences, implement a rotation system where students move through different role categories (e.g., from researcher to speaker, from moderator to debater) to develop diverse skills.

Debate Structure & Student Roles

1. Debate Participants (24 students, divided into two teams)

• Progressives (4 students): Support government regulation and anti-trust policies.

• Industrialists & Free Market Advocates (4 students): Defend free-market policies and oppose government intervention.

• Responsibilities:

  • Research key arguments and historical examples.

  • Develop opening statements, rebuttals, and closing arguments.

  • Engage in structured debate and respond to opposition challenges.

  • *How to do each of these will be unpacked in subsequent paid posts*

2. Moderators (3 students)

• Lead Moderator (1): Guides the debate, enforces rules, keeps time, and ensures balanced discussion.

• Questioning Moderators (2 students): Pose pre-prepared and follow-up questions to both teams, ensuring a deeper discussion.

• Responsibilities:

  • Develop unbiased questions that challenge both perspectives.

  • Manage speaking time to ensure equal participation.

  • Keep the discussion on track and intervene if needed.

3. Journalists (4 students)

• Observe the debate, take notes, and fact-check arguments.

• Present a brief summary of key points after the debate.

• Identify historical and modern inaccuracies in arguments.

• (Potentially) write brief articles to be published on a class news blog.

• *How to do each of these will be unpacked in subsequent paid posts*

4. Audience Members & Voters (Remaining students)

• Listen carefully to arguments from both sides.

• Submit questions to the moderators for potential inclusion.

• Use a provided rubric to evaluate debate participants and vote on the winning side.

• Write a debate ballot identifying the reason for decision.

• *How to do each of these will be unpacked in subsequent paid posts*

Debate Flow

Depending on the length of the class period, teachers could adjust the length of each of the parts of the debate.

1. Opening Statements (6 minutes)

   • Each side presents its argument (3 minutes each).

Rebuttal (6 minutes)
Each side presents rebuttal (3 minutes each).

2. Moderated Town Hall Discussion (6 minutes)

   • Lead Moderator asks pre-planned and follow-up questions.

   • Example Questions:

     • Progressives: Why was government intervention necessary during the Progressive Era?

     • Industrialists: How did business growth benefit the economy?

     • Both: What are the consequences of too much or too little regulation?

3. Audience Questions (6 minutes)

   • Students not speaking can ask questions.

4. Closing Statements (4 minutes)

   • Each side summarizes their stance.

5. Vote & Reflection (10 minutes)

   • Class votes based on the ballot

   • Class share some reason for decision

   • Note: If a teacher wants to avoid the competitive aspect of debating, it is not necessary for the students to render a decision.

This is just one sample format. *Additional format suggestions will be suggested for paid subscribers.* Once teachers gain experience with debating in class, they may experiment with their own formats.

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Sample Debate Ballot & Scoring Rubric

This is a sample ballot and scoring rubric that students (and teachers) could use to provide feedback on the debate and help make a decision.

Instructions:

Each student will evaluate the debate based on four key criteria. Circle a score for each category and total the points at the bottom.

Sample Speeches

Sample Pro Speech

Note: This is a simple AI-generated (Perplexity Deep Researcher) sample speech. As we release more materials, a full rubric with an AI-generate speech will be released.

Good morning. During the Progressive Era, unchecked corporate greed led to worker exploitation, environmental destruction, and unsafe consumer products. The government had no choice but to step in with laws like the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act. Today, we face similar challenges. Big tech companies manipulate markets, suppress competition, and collect private data without oversight. Just as Theodore Roosevelt fought monopolies in his time, we must ensure that businesses today serve the people, not just their profits. Government regulation is not about stifling innovation—it's about protecting society from the excesses of corporate power.

The Progressive Era emerged as a direct response to the corruption and greed of powerful Robber Barons who controlled entire industries during the Gilded Age1. When one corporation monopolized an industry like steel or oil, competition vanished, allowing these titans to exploit workers and consumers alike. In 1890, Congress finally acted by passing the Sherman Antitrust Act, making monopolistic business practices illegal and prohibiting trusts1.

Similarly, when muckraking journalists exposed the squalid conditions of food and drug industries, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, requiring accurate ingredient labeling and prohibiting adulterated products in interstate commerce2. This landmark legislation laid the foundation for the Food and Drug Administration, becoming America's first federal consumer protection agency2.

Today's digital landscape eerily mirrors that bygone era. A 16-month congressional investigation concluded that Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook hold "monopoly power" in key business segments and have abused their dominance5. As the report states, "These firms have too much power, and that power must be reined in and subject to appropriate oversight and enforcement. Our economy and democracy are at stake."5

Unfortunately, current antitrust legislation relies on standards not readily applicable to the digital economy4. Tech giants exploit this gap, accumulating tremendous market share over vital levers of commerce – search engines, app stores, and social media services5. Unlike traditional monopolies, these companies use data gathered in one business area to gain unfair advantages when expanding into related markets5.

Just as progressives of the early 20th century sought to use state power to regulate capitalism and improve living conditions without abolishing private property6, today's regulatory approach must be similarly balanced. Regulation isn't about destroying innovation but ensuring that technology serves society rather than exploiting it.

The lesson from history is clear: when unchecked corporate power threatens public welfare, government must act. Our digital future depends on it.

1. https://www.studentsofhistory.com/progressive-era-reforms

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pure-Food-and-Drug-Act

3. https://www.culawreview.org/current-events-2/decoding-big-tech-the-efficacy-of-the-sherman-antitrust-act

4. https://www.sciencespo.fr/public/chaire-numerique/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/regulating-big-tech-policy-brief-final.pdf

5. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/tech/congress-big-tech-antitrust-report/index.html

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Era

7. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w10984/w10984.pdf

8. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/sherman_antitrust_act

9. https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/04/big-tech-digital-trade-regulation/

10. https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/house-republicans-poised-to-clear-the-way-for-big-tech-financial-fraud

11. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=11&smtid=2

12. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/phs_history/foodanddrugs.html

13. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sherman-antiturst-act.asp

14. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/10/22/the-impact-of-tech-regulation-on-innovation-society-and-competition/

15. https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-calls-out-big-tech-greed-defends-americans-right-protect-themselves-harmful-ai/

16. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/rise-to-world-power/age-of-empire/a/the-progressive-era

17. https://library.weill.cornell.edu/about-us/snake%C2%A0oil%C2%A0-social%C2%A0media-drug-advertising-your-health/food-and-drug-administration-continued

18. https://www.prepagent.com/article/sherman-antitrust-act

19. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/04/29/americans-views-of-technology-companies-2/

20. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tech-layoffs-necessary-evil-corporate-greed-moureen-milgo

Sample Con Speech

Note: This is a simple AI-generated sample speech. As we release more materials, a full rubric with an AI-generate speech will be released.

History has shown that free markets drive innovation, job creation, and economic prosperity. During the Progressive Era, government intervention stifled businesses and slowed economic growth. The best solutions come from competition, not regulation. Take the tech industry today—companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple have revolutionized how we live and work. Heavy-handed regulations will only limit growth and drive companies overseas. The lesson from the Progressive Era is clear: when the government interferes too much, businesses and consumers suffer. Let innovation flourish without unnecessary restrictions.

The evidence supporting free markets is irrefutable. Research consistently shows that economic freedom directly fuels innovation - with studies demonstrating that a one-unit increase in the Economic Freedom Index correlates with a remarkable 27% increase in innovation1. This powerful relationship exists because when businesses operate with minimal restrictions, they focus on creating value rather than navigating bureaucracy.

While Progressive Era reformers targeted monopolies through antitrust laws like the Sherman Act and advocated for new government regulatory agencies3, these interventions often created inefficiencies and barriers to entry that favored established businesses over innovative newcomers. The expansion of government during this period laid the groundwork for bureaucratic structures that would ultimately slow economic dynamism.

Free market economics allows businesses to operate without excessive government interference, enabling them to respond quickly to consumer demands and create jobs that meet actual market needs2. Competition naturally incentivizes businesses to improve and innovate – a process that benefits society far more effectively than top-down regulation.

Today's thriving tech sector exemplifies the power of relatively free markets. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple have transformed modern life through innovations driven by competition and consumer choice, not regulatory mandates4. Each breakthrough has created entirely new industries and millions of high-quality jobs.

Deregulation consistently spurs economic growth by eliminating restrictions for new businesses to enter markets, encouraging competition, and enabling innovation5. When companies aren't forced to divert resources toward regulatory compliance, they can invest in research, development, and expansion – the true drivers of prosperity.

The path forward isn't through Progressive-style government intervention but through balanced frameworks that protect property rights while allowing market innovation to flourish1. History repeatedly demonstrates that prosperity comes from economic freedom, not government micromanagement.

Let's choose the proven path to innovation and growth: free markets, fair competition, and business environments unencumbered by unnecessary restrictions.

Citations:

1. https://home.fau.edu/cboudreaux/web/Institutional%20Quality%20and%20Innovation%20JEPP%20revision%20formats%20removed.pdf

2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/free-market-economics-its-impact-employment-nassim-sadik

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Era

4. https://www.peakframeworks.com/post/free-market-economy

5. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/deregulate.asp

6. https://www.wesmoss.com/news/why-real-innovation-comes-from-a-free-market-economy/

7. https://www.hoover.org/research/effect-economic-freedom-labor-market-efficiency-and-performance

8. https://www.portal.hsp.org/unit-plan-items/unit-plan-22

9. https://sais.jhu.edu/kissinger/programs-and-projects/kissinger-center-papers/how-private-tech-companies-are-reshaping-great-power-competition

10. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PB_Deregulation_Crandall.pdf

11. https://www.law.georgetown.edu/denny-center/blog/the-role-of-technology/

12. https://www.uschamber.com/economy/the-facts-on-free-enterprise

13. https://www.britannica.com/summary/The-Progressive-Era-Key-Facts

14. https://a16z.com/the-little-tech-agenda/

15. https://www.nber.org/digest/sep03/how-deregulation-spurs-growth

16. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt6wpz8j

17. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/freemarket.asp

18. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/rise-to-world-power/age-of-empire/a/the-progressive-era

19. https://www.tni.org/en/article/there-are-no-markets-anymore

20. https://www.carboncollective.co/sustainable-investing/deregulation

Sample Grading Criteria

Balancing Content and Skills

This debate framework serves dual pedagogical purposes:

1. **Content Mastery**: Students deeply engage with Progressive Era reforms, their impacts, and limitations

2. **Skill Development**: Students practice research, argumentation, and public speaking

The assessment should reflect both dimensions:

- Content knowledge (60%): Historical accuracy, use of evidence, contextual understanding

- Debate skills (40%): Organization, persuasiveness, rebuttals, adherence to format

Each debate role emphasizes different aspects of this balance:

- Researchers: Content emphasis (80/20)

- Speakers: Balanced emphasis (50/50)

- Moderators: Skills emphasis (30/70)

Sample Rubrics

General Implementation Timeline

Week 1:

- Day 1: Introduction to Progressive Era context (25 min)

- Day 2: Introduction to debate and the debate format

- Day 3: Assignment of roles and topics, initial research (full period)

- Day 4: Team planning and research (30 min)

Week 2:

- Day 1: First debate (Pro team A vs Con team B on Topic 1)

- Day 2: Second debate (Pro team C vs Con team D on Topic 2)

- Day 3: Debrief, written reflection, and connections to course content

This is obviously a general overview and more details would need to be provided about the format and how to debate.

While teachers may fear this will detract from class time learning “content,” once students learn how to debate and execute a debate in a particular format, this part of the planning process can be skipped (or briefly reviewed) the second time. We certainly don’t reteach how to write a paper/essay every time we ask students to write one, and we don’t have to reteach how to debate each time.

Some Basic Differentiation Ideas

Differentiation Strategies

For Advanced Students:

- Suggest more complex historical sources

- Require connection to historiographical debates about the Progressive Era

- Ask them to analyze the limitations of both progressive and market-oriented approaches

For Struggling Students:

- Provide structured research guides with key points

- Offer sentence starters for debate contributions

- Assign cooperative roles that match strengths (research vs. speaking)

For Larger Classes:

- Create additional roles (fact-checkers, historical consultants)

- Implement a rotating schedule of multiple debates

- Use small group formats with peer observation

For Shorter Class Periods:

- Divide the debate across multiple days

- Reduce speaking times (2 minutes instead of 3)

- Focus on one aspect of the Progressive Era per debate

Debating: Practice Makes Perfect

Implementing debate in your history classroom will likely present initial challenges, as most students have limited experience with structured argumentation. Early debates may feel clumsy, with students hesitating to speak up, struggling to organize their thoughts on the fly, or relying too heavily on prepared notes. Teachers too might find the first few sessions require more guidance and intervention than anticipated.

However, persistence pays remarkable dividends—with each subsequent debate, students develop greater confidence, sharper critical thinking, and more nuanced historical understanding. Over time, what once required extensive scaffolding becomes second nature, allowing classes to move from basic debate formats to more sophisticated discussions with less preparation time. As your classroom debate culture strengthens, you'll find students more readily transferring these skills to new historical topics, making connections across time periods, and even spontaneously adopting debate-style thinking in regular class discussions.

Finally, consider enlisting members of your school's debate team as peer mentors to accelerate this learning curve. These experienced debaters can serve as coaches during preparation phases, model effective speaking techniques, or even participate in a demonstration debate to set expectations. Their involvement not only strengthens your classroom debates but also creates valuable leadership opportunities and builds connections between academic departments. Some teachers have found success by inviting debate team members to conduct mini-workshops on specific skills like crafting rebuttals or organizing evidence—targeted interventions that dramatically improve the quality of classroom historical debates.