Before you start
In your group gather together suggestions for topics that individuals have strong opinions on. These could be things close to home – bed time, school uniform, chores, favourite or least favourite foods. They could also be part of the national political debate – the voting age, use of cars, smoking. Or you could choose things with an international impact – flying in aeroplanes, the death penalty, the right to move between countries.
Write each topic on a slip of paper and fold it up.
Flip Flopping
Choose one person to time keep and one person to speak. The speaker picks a topic at random from the slips of paper and starts speaking either for or against the issue. After some time (say 45 seconds) the time keeper makes a noise and the speaker should immediately flip to making the opposite argument. Repeat for as long as each person can go on, or until everyone has had a go.
Discussion Questions
- How did it feel to argue strongly on both sides of a debate?
- Did anyone change their mind about anything?
- What were the most persuasive arguments?
- What was the hardest viewpoint to argue?