Debating activity

WHAT IS A DEBATE:

This is what they say on idebate.org...

"I may be wrong and you may be right and, by an effort, we may get nearer the truth." Karl Popper

 Debate is a formal contest of argumentation between two teams or individuals. [...] Debate is, above all, a way for those who hold opposing views to discuss controversial issues without descending to insult, emotional appeals or personal bias. A key trademark of debate is that it rarely ends in agreement, but rather allows for a robust analysis of the question at hand. Perhaps this is what French philosopher Joseph Joubert meant when he said: “It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle a question without debating it.”

WHAT IS THE DEBATE PROCESS FOR THIS CLASS:

4 people usually debate on a topic (2 pairs). If there are 5 members in the team, one will act as MODERATOR. One team consists in proposers (people who are arguing to support the motion) and the other is made up of opposers (people arguing against the motion).

STRUCTURE

Introduction and initial attitude of the audience regarding the motion
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Proposer 1.1 argument (1 min minimum)
Opposer 2.1 argument (1 min minimum)
Cross fire / cross examination between the 2 speakers
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Proposer 1.2 argument (1 min minimum)
Opposer 2.2 argument (1 min minimum)
Cross fire / cross examination between the 2 speakers
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Proposer 1.1 summary (1 min minimum)
Opposer 2.1 summary (1 min minimum)
Cross fire / cross examination all 4 speakers
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Audience questions (mandatory)
Answers given by proposer 1.2 and opposer 2.2
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Vote from the audience

Length of debate: 10 minutes. Max 30 minutes including audience intervention

It accounts for 25% of the continuous assessment.

Skills involved:

Research and analysis
Speaking skills

Active listening skills (listen and take notes)

HOW TO WRITE THE DEBATE QUESTION OR MOTION

To write a debate question or MOTION, you will need to pick a topic that you feel that you can defend. Research the topic to see what others have said about it, and prepare a defense against any who speak against you, foreseeing any arguments that your opponents might raise, and dismantling them before they are ever presented as legitimate evidence.

The majority of debate motions, and most of those used in large international competitions, take the form of policy motions. A properly worded motion should be one that identifies or at least hints at a problem with the world at present (known as the "status quo") and introduces a clear proposal to solve this problem (known as a "policy").

e.g. This house would legalize drugs.

Status quo: it is currently illegal

Policy: legalization is a solution

THW = This house would...

THBT = This house believes that...

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RESEARCH METHOD FOR THE DEBATE

EXAMPLE OF TOPIC:  GLOBAL WARMING

KEYWORD SEARCH:  causes of global warming

CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGY: 

Expand:   What is global warming?  (look up and paraphrase facts)

Compare/Contrast:   How do today‘s climate patterns compare with past patterns to decide whether or not there really is global warming?

Critique:   What actions by society and/or nature have contributed to global warming?

Predict:   What will happen in the future if nothing is done to reverse global warming?  

Persuade:   What must the U. S. and world governments regulate and create incentives                  for action to help to reverse global warming? 

Evaluate:   How effective have the past actions taken by governments and/or business been in reducing global warming? 

It is not enough to develop 4 ideas for the debate. You also need to prepare for any potential questions from the audience. As such, you will have to collect facts and opinions from different sources in order to be prepared for the debate.

You will hand out or send me your sources to me before the debate (author, website or work title, date, pages if necessary). Debaters may select proper visual aids, either powerpoint, a poster, photos, objects, or videos.

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Advice to prepare for the debate:

http://www.acdu.org.au/archives/actein_site/basicskills.html#selector

http://www.paulnoll.com/Books/Clear-English/debate-advice.html

For more information and examples of debates:

http://www.youtube.com/user/FrenchDebatingAsso?ob=5

http://www.facebook.com/pages/French-Debating-Association/129091423814283