Home | Advanced ESL English Discussion Topics
Here's one of the three reusable chapters in this book. There is an extensive resource section (show below) to help in reusing this lesson model many times.
3. Moral Debates
Students should think about various scenarios and evaluate their own moral decisions. In each case what would they do? More than any other lesson, this will prove what makes them who they are.
Objectives
1. Discuss morality and ethics.
2. Examine situations from fresh angles and consider many viewpoints.
Things to Do
1. Choose a problem from the Resources section.
2. Do some research on two relevant tales. From the stories, develop a straightforward reading exercise.
3. To evaluate understanding, select six words from the statement and description.
Lesson
Warm-up and Objective
Introduce students to values and ethics.
Introduce the primary lesson theme that was selected throughout the planning process.
Mention the lesson's end objective, which is for the students to examine moral and ethical options in a certain circumstance.
Exploration and Comprehension
Ask the students their opinions.
Go over the preparation keywords and brainstorm each one.
Introduce the dilemma to gain a grasp of what it entails.
Guided Student Practical
The students should now be receptive since they have a better comprehension of the challenge.
The situation must be considered by the class, and they must debate whether it is good or not.
This develops into an imaginative role-play.
To create a scenario that incorporates all the students' inputs, compile a list of terms given by the students.
Student Presentation and Evaluation
After discussing the situation with the class, request their opinions on the best course of action.
Additionally, urge students to portray the perspective of the individual who could choose incorrectly. Could they repeat it?
After having this one chance, will they decide to not do it again? These are important things to consider.
The judge's job is to hear arguments for and against a course of action and provide each side an equal chance to be heard.
Review and Assess
Compare the students' original ideas at the start of the course with a fair assessment of both sides of the debate to conclude the assignment.
It is fascinating to compare how students respond to and how much they are willing to accept different points of view.
Remember that this is intended to be enjoyable, so do not push any uneasy students.
Activity - Twenty Questions Game
Choose a single student from the group.
Select a word, then give it to the student. They should, of course, keep it a secret.
The questions posed by the other students can only have a "yes" or "no" response. They have twenty guesses to get it correct.
Restart the game with a different student if they correctly guess the word.
If they do not guess it right, tell them the word and have them try another word.
Morals Resources
The list of morals and discussion starters below is broken up into several sections. Discuss how you feel about them.
Damage
When a child throws a ball, it hits your car mirror and breaks it.
You accidentally lock the keys inside the car while on vacation.
Your new phone was damaged because you dropped it.
The person who caused the bumps and scratches to your car drove off.
Your computer is broken now. Fixing it is necessary.
Your teacher is curious as to who in the group damaged a chair.
Education
A competent friend mysteriously fails a test.
You believe you are unprepared for an upcoming test.
At school, a student is lying. You are familiar with her family.
During a test, you steal a quick look at someone else's work. You succeed in the test.
Frustration
A student is struggling with their home life.
You are too irritated by someone you know.
You live with a messy person.
You never can leave your car close to your home.
You go shopping, but when you get to the register, you do not have enough money.
While you prefer to live in the countryside, your family wants to live in the city.
Any noise in the house always makes your friend angry.
Honesty
A young person leaves a grocery store after not paying for a snack.
A friend asks for your opinion on something, but you are reluctant to express it.
Someone else's assignment has been plagiarized by an A-student.
A mistake you made results in someone getting hurt.
You hear a story from someone, but you find it dull.
Friends have asked you to attend a choir performance, but you detest singing.
You told a friend that you would spend time together with them, but something got in the way.
Your friend does something dishonest.
Medical
You call a friend who you are aware is ill, but you get no answer.
A bleeding child in the street required medical attention.
You have been bitten by something, but you are not sure what.
Memory
A friend loaned them money, but they did not pay it back.
Your friend asks you to make a purchase. You go shopping but do not remember to buy the items they told you to.
You have not remembered to buy someone a gift for Christmas. They are about to show up.
Money
A family member of your friend is addicted to gambling.
You notice a product in the store that has the incorrect price marked on it; it is lower than it ought to be.
You own something that only costs you $100, and someone offers you $1,000 for it.
When you order items online, you receive twice as many items for the same price.
You discover cash in a bank ATM.
Even if you win the lottery, family disputes will still occur.
Pressure
A friend's family adopts a dog. Your family is now interested.
An old friend apologizes after a disagreement.
While you are on the train, someone falls asleep on your shoulder.
A friend has asked you to organize an activity, but you detest being in charge.
Despite being exhausted, you must drive home.
You receive a drab coat as a gift from a relative.
You see a friend acting inappropriately.
Your family will not support your decision to change jobs, but you still want to do it.
Although you were invited to your friend's party, another mutual friend offered you a better invitation.
Secrets
A youngster you know confides in you about a perilous circumstance.
You sense something is wrong when a friend starts to distance themselves.
You are aware of a problem with your friend's prospective spouse even though they are getting married.
You have been told by a friend that they love you.
Lies are necessary to keep a friend safe.
One of your friends has a secret that the rest of your friends are unaware of.
You are aware that you are hiding a bad habit of yours.
Stealing
A friend stole money from the office.
Your employer is tampering with the financial records.
You come across a child's bag that has some pricey items.
You see a pickpocket robbing someone.
At the store, you see someone drop some cash out of their wallet, but they do not seem to notice.
Timing
The younger sibling is wasting too much time on the computer.
On the same evening, there are two major events you must attend.
You are preparing dinner for visitors, but it is awful.
With other friends, you are on vacation, but one of them wants to return home.
You realize you are wearing an odd pair of shoes when you are outside.
