What is a Debate?What is a Debate?

How do I prepare for a debate?How do I prepare for a debate?

What is a Debate?What is a Debate?

A debate is a A debate is a discussiondiscussion in in which reasons are advanced which reasons are advanced forfor and and againstagainst some proposition or some proposition or proposal.proposal.

A debate is A debate is notnot an expression of an expression of one’s own opinion.one’s own opinion.

The Basics of a DebateThe Basics of a Debate

You are not expressing your You are not expressing your opinionopinion

You are assigned an affirmative You are assigned an affirmative or negative position on a or negative position on a question or propositionquestion or proposition

You must find important You must find important information regarding your topic information regarding your topic and organize your ideas into and organize your ideas into logical arguments that will logical arguments that will support or refute the statementsupport or refute the statement

The Basics of a DebateThe Basics of a Debate

Each debate will have two Each debate will have two teams, one for and one against teams, one for and one against team-each person must speak team-each person must speak in the debatein the debate

The debates are judged by the The debates are judged by the audience so the audience needs audience so the audience needs to be actively engagedto be actively engaged

The Debate StructureThe Debate Structure

Opening StatementsOpening Statements-affirmative and Negative -affirmative and Negative SpeechesSpeeches-one person, from each side, -one person, from each side, opens with opens with no more than 3 no more than 3 minutes of speakingminutes of speaking-each side must present a set of -each side must present a set of points that support/oppose the points that support/oppose the ideaidea

The Debate StructureThe Debate Structure

First RebuttalsFirst Rebuttals

-first, -first, affirmativeaffirmative rebuttal to the rebuttal to the points made by the points made by the negativenegative teamteam

-3 minutes to confer-3 minutes to confer

-5 minutes for group members -5 minutes for group members to speakto speak

-then, -then, negativenegative rebuttal to the rebuttal to the affirmativeaffirmative

The Debate StructureThe Debate Structure

Second RebuttalsSecond Rebuttals

-second -second affirmativeaffirmative rebuttal rebuttal

-same time limits as first rebuttal-same time limits as first rebuttal

-no new points are made here -no new points are made here only additional sources & info to only additional sources & info to support original argumentssupport original arguments

-second -second negativenegative rebuttal rebuttal

The Debate StructureThe Debate Structure

Closing StatementsClosing Statements-affirmative team goes first-affirmative team goes first-each team may confer for 3 -each team may confer for 3 minutes and each team selects minutes and each team selects one spokesman to make a one spokesman to make a closing statement (no more than closing statement (no more than 3 minutes)3 minutes)-no new points here-no new points here-must summarize and -must summarize and emphasize your strongest points emphasize your strongest points here here

Judging the DebateJudging the Debate

Audience judges and will need Audience judges and will need to take notes on how persuasive to take notes on how persuasive each side iseach side is

Write your decision and explain Write your decision and explain why you made that choice citing why you made that choice citing evidence made in argumentsevidence made in arguments

Include something the other side Include something the other side could have said to change your could have said to change your mindmind

Debate RulesDebate Rules

No put downsNo put downs Participants lose points for each Participants lose points for each

interruptioninterruption Participants lose points for Participants lose points for

whispering while another whispering while another speaker is talkingspeaker is talking

Debate TopicsDebate Topics

Topic 1Topic 1-Women’s Suffrage (women should -Women’s Suffrage (women should have the right to vote)have the right to vote)

Topic 2Topic 2-Child labor should be outlawed-Child labor should be outlawed

Prohibition should become law (alcohol Prohibition should become law (alcohol should be banned)should be banned)

Topic 3Topic 3- Prohibition should become law - Prohibition should become law (alcohol should be banned)(alcohol should be banned)