Explore Culture and Symbolic Productions

Organizing classroom debates is a great way to spark critical thinking and creativity among students. To begin, choose a topic that captures their interest: the CCQ program’s Dokoma debates offer several suggestions, such as:

• “Christmas, Easter—do they still have a religious connection in Quebec today?”
• “Is it hypocritical for an alternative artist to go mainstream?”
• “Can a positive prejudice truly be harmful?”
• “Is advertising a form of manipulation?”

To run an effective debate, start by clearly stating the question and setting respectful communication rules. Next, invite each group to prepare their arguments: relevant data, examples, or anecdotes. Allocate equal speaking time so everyone can participate. Finally, promote critical analysis by encouraging feedback and asking students to restate opposing viewpoints. This approach fosters empathy, collaboration, and awareness of various cultural realities.

With Dokoma debates, you can project resources on your interactive whiteboard, enrich discussions, and even extend conversations at home. In Grade 10, these debates offer a deep dive into both local and global cultures, while developing the critical mindset needed to understand today’s symbolic productions.