“Using
the Trial of John Peter Zenger
(1735)
to Teach About Freedom of Expression:
A Focus on Debate (5th grade)”
Learning
Goals and Questions:
1. Can students
prepare, represent, and argue
opposing points of view? Will
they be able to argue a point
of view that they might not
agree with?.
2.. Can students use debate
rhetoric and language to present
and contend points of view?
Day 1:
Setting the context: Group brainstorm
Why is freedom of the press
important?
1. What is the press?
2. What is freedom of the press?
3. Why is it important?
Day 2:
Students prepare for Zenger
debate by engaging in a "practice"
debate addressing the question:
Should students be required
to wear school uniforms?
1. Students
in partners prepare T-chart
of pros and cons
2. Using guided instruction,
students prepare debate outline:
a. Intro:
position
b. Main argument
c. Rebuttal
d. Conclusion
3. Write 4 paragraph
persuasive essay (students choose
side of issue they want to argue)
Day 3:
Read Zenger in History of US,
Book 3, pgs 13-16: Divide students
in half and assign partners
to collect information/arguments
on one side of the T-chart (Pro
or Con Zenger)
Day 4:
Opposing teams meet to fill
in opposing arguments on point
of view T-chart
Day 5:
Using debate language sentence
starter students prepare debate
outline (Teacher assigns students
to the side they will represent.)
a. Intro: position
b. Main argument
c. Rebuttal
d. Conclusion
Day 6:
Students prepare and practice
debate and teams of 4 students
(2-pro,2-con) conduct debate
in front of class. The rest
of class acts as critics and
gives feedback to debaters.
Day 7:
Students write 4 paragraph,
persuasive essay:
Background:
In the colonial era the British
colonies were ruled by a governor.
He was appointed by the King
of England. The colonists were
expected to respect and obey
the governor as a representative
of the King. When Governor Cosby
was appointed to govern Colonial
New York many conflicts arose
over how he was governing the
colony.
Writing Prompt:
Did Zenger have a right to publish
criticism of the Governor Cosby?
Do you think freedom of press
is important? Use the information
from the T-chart and the debate
outline to argue whether Zenger
have a right to publish criticism
of the Governor Cosby?
Your essay will have the following
structure:
Paragraph 1: Introduction:
historical background and your
position
Paragraph 2: Main argument
Paragraph 3: Rebuttal
Paragraph 4: Conclusion: restate
your position and explain
"Do you think freedom of
press is important now?"
