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Is a Taco a Sandwich? Building Civil Discourse in the Classroom

Essential Questions:  

  • Is a taco a sandwich? 
  • How can we disagree with each other in a civil manner? 

Objectives: 

  • Students will learn about the Quintana v. Fort Wayne Plan Commission case 
  • Students will engage in civil discourse on a “low-stakes” topic 

Materials: 

Introduction:  

Is a taco a sandwich? A court recently addressed this question in a case involving what types of restaurants a commercial property owner could run on his land. The topic raises challenging questions around the relationship between our legal system and linguistics.  

Anticipate:  

Begin class by posing a hypothetical situation to students: An alien has landed on Earth and asks about a word he has heard frequently. He would like you to describe a sandwich. How would you do so for someone who has no idea what it is?  

Write the words your students give you on the board. 

Explore: 

Have students read Handout A: Quintana v. Fort Wayne Plan Commission Reading. Address any questions students may have about the case. 

Engage:  

Lead a student debate over the question: is a taco a sandwich? Have students split into two groups based off their opinion on the question. They should brainstorm briefly on how they will present their case to the other side in a debate. Before students debate, remind them that this is a chance for them to exercise civil discourse on a topic. Use the following to reiterate what civil discourse looks like. 

  • Students should be respectful of views they disagree with 
  • Focus on listening to understand, rather than just to respond to make your point 
  • Ask questions to make the other side feel heard 

Use the following to help guide the debate.  

  • What constitutes a sandwich? 
  • How much of a role should the common definition of a sandwich play in legal cases like this?  
  • Should judges rely on common definitions when considering cases like this? Or do they need to use a different standard? 

Once finished, have students switch sides and argue the side they initially disagreed with. 

Assess and Reflect 

When finished, have students answer the following questions. Have a few students share their responses. 

  • Did you initially think that a taco was a sandwich? 
  • Did your opinion change after debating and arguing in favor of the other side? Why or why not? 
  • What value did you find in engaging in civil discourse on this topic? 

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