Debate Preparation

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 strengthen persuasive writing, critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and historical analysis by preparing for a structured debate about whether the accused in the Salem Witch Trials should have been pardoned earlier. Students complete prompts to craft a clear claim, support it with evidence, acknowledge an opposing viewpoint, and write a rebuttal.

Learning Goals

• Argument Writing (Grades 5-6) – Students develop a logical, well-supported position and organize ideas clearly.
• Evaluating Historical Justice – Learners analyze fairness, due process, and decision-making during the trials.
• Evidence-Based Reasoning – The activity emphasizes using historical details to justify claims.
• Understanding Multiple Viewpoints – Students consider opposing perspectives and craft reasoned responses.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper-elementary ELA and social studies standards.
• Structured Debate Support – Prompts scaffold claim formation, evidence selection, counterargument, and rebuttal.
• Promotes Critical Thinking – Encourages analysis of fairness, morality, and historical context.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Suitable for debate preparation, persuasive writing lessons, assessments, or small-group work.
• Low-Prep Printable – Ready for classroom or homeschool use with minimal preparation.

This Debate Preparation worksheet helps students engage thoughtfully with issues of historical justice in Salem. By forming evidence-based arguments, considering opposing views, and crafting rebuttals, learners strengthen reasoning, persuasive writing, and critical thinking skills while connecting historical events to broader themes of fairness and due process.

This worksheet is part of our Salem Witch Trials Worksheets collection.