Is It Fair to Ban Fidget Spinners?

Main ideas and supporting evidence, opinion writing

The debate has a clear purpose: to present arguments for and against banning fidget spinners in school.

The debate begins with an anecdote that introduces the topic. The introduction is followed by a section arguing for fidget spinners in school and another section arguing against them. The text includes cause-and-effect and compare-and-contrast structures.

The language is mainly conversational but includes figures of speech and a rhetorical question.

No specific background knowledge required.

Have students preview the text features. Ask:

• What is the topic of the debate? (Prompt students to use the debate title and the heading on the chart as clues.)
• What do you think are the two sides of the issue?

Read the debate as a class or in small groups.

Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to mark the types of support the author presents to back up each side, including:

• Facts and statistics (F/S)
• Quotes from experts (Q)
• Stories or examples (EX)

As a class or in groups, have students discuss:

• Which evidence is most effective in supporting each side?
• Is one side stronger than the other? Why?
• What is your opinion? What evidence do you find the most convincing?
• For more-advanced students: Do you think the author has a preferred point of view on this issue? What is your evidence?

Have students complete the chart in the magazine.

Distribute the activity “Write an Opinion Essay.” The lower-level version guides students to write a three-paragraph essay on the debate topic. The higher-level version prompts them to bring in additional evidence and write six paragraphs, including a rebuttal of the other side. With either version, hand out our Opinion Writing Toolkit, which offers writing tips and transition words.