Everyday Debate & Discussion

Description

Everyday Debate & Discussion is a classical rhetoric and critical thinking course from Classical Academic Press that teaches students how to think logically, discuss ideas respectfully, and communicate persuasively in everyday situations as well as formal settings.

Students learn and practice the skills of Socratic conversation, informal discussion, and structured debate while developing strong reasoning and rhetorical abilities.

Key Curriculum Features:

  • Training in inductive and deductive logic
  • Study of ethos, pathos, and style in persuasion
  • Practice with Socratic discussion, informal debate, and formal debate structures
  • Building copiousness through memorization and response to quotations
  • Emphasis on listening, evaluating arguments, and considering multiple perspectives
  • Real-world application of logic and rhetoric to daily life and academics

Program Components:

  • Student Edition: Reading instruction, review exercises, discussion prompts, and presentation activities
  • Teacher Edition: Detailed guidance, suggested answers, background information, and a mini-course on leading discussions and debates
  • Online resources with updated video links and additional support

Everyday Debate & Discussion stands out for its practical, classical approach that equips students to engage thoughtfully in conversations and debates. It is an excellent choice for classical homeschoolers and families who want to strengthen critical thinking, logic, and respectful communication skills.

Find all Everyday Debate & Discussion materials below!

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.