Battle Bars -- The Edible Argument

You are going to argue about something very important today -- candy bars! *

  1. Divide yourselves into two groups, right down the middle
  2. One group gets Kit Kats – the other group Snickers -Don’t eat them yet!
  3. Imagine that there are only two brands of candy bars in the world. Your candy is the best value, and it is your group’s job to come up with as many "logical" reasons why your candy bars are the best value. (Don’t consider that the other group is working on doing the same project for another brand). Rather, just focus on the question, "Why is my candy bar the best value?"
  4. Work together to make a list of thetop 10 points for why your candy bars are the best. Use examples of price, advertising appeal, ease of consumption, appearance, dangers, nutrition facts, feel, smell, and taste to support your topic.
  5. After your group has come up with the lists, each group elects a representative to write your 10 reasons on the board. The result will be a split board with Kit Kat best-buy points on one side and Snickers best-buy points on the other side.
  6. Now vote on which of your side's three reasons best represent why your respective candy bars are the better value. The resulting split board will show three strong points for each side.
  7. Then, in teams of two or three, write a thesis statement which expresses the idea that your group’s candy bar is the best value.
  8. Then each team will craft two short paragraphs of three or more sentences (the paragraphs must be linked with transitional expressions) for each pointyou have chosen for your side.
  9. Nowassume the position of the other side and identify what you consider to be that side's strongest point about why you have the best value bar. (Kit Kat groups will write a paragraph supporting Snickers and vice versa).You can spend a few minutes in discussion with members of the opposing groups, so they can adequately explain and support their points. Kit Kat members will solicit information from Snickers members and vice versa.
  10. Your team will write one paragraph, linked to the first two, which demonstrates the opposing position.
  11. Then your team will construct one short paragraph to disprove the other side. Kit Kats will challenge Snickers' strongest point and vice versa. The result will be one challenge paragraph linked to the previous three paragraphs. You may share their completed paragraphs.