Build Confidence10 min Medium None

Devil's Advocate

Students argue the opposite of what they actually believe.

Teaches students to separate their identity from their opinions — and to understand the other side.

Instructions

Give students a statement to respond to. Before they speak, they must flip their genuine opinion and argue the opposite — as convincingly as possible. Do this in pairs first, then share with the group. Debrief: did arguing the other side change anything about how you think about it?

Classroom timer

10:00

Best used when

Before any debate or discussion where students tend to just repeat their existing views.

Variation

Groups of three — one argues for, one against, one asks questions to both.

Time

10 min

Noise

Medium

Prep

None

Print

How did it go?

Quick evaluation — helps you find what works again.