Does homework improve student achievement, or does it increase stress? Scholars use the included debate topics website to prepare for a class discussion or debate about whether homework is advantageous. After reading a brief background about the issue, they review the clearly labeled and color-coded pros and cons to arrive at their own conclusions. 

Concepts

homework, debate, controversial topics, group discussions, preparing for discussions

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

english language arts

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Provide learners with a self-reflection checklist to analyze their performance following a class debate or discussion 
• Before conducting independent research, have small groups brainstorm the pros and cons of completing homework 

Classroom Considerations

• Time requirements may vary

Pros

• Includes extensive footnotes
• Individuals participate in an online poll about whether homework is beneficial and see the percentage of people who agree with them 

Cons

• Students may need to consult additional resources to fully explore the topic

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.11-12.1 SL.9-10.1.a SL.11-12.1.a