debate teaching

Welcometo this Class in the

Department of English CCN University of Science and

Technology

Teaching Debate Skills to Improve Critical Thinking and

Enhance Motivation

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Conducted By: Monir Hossen Lecturer Department of English CCN University of Science and Technology Email: monir.eng.cou@gmail.com Phone: 01733873084 Facebook: Monir Hossen Cou

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What is debate? Why debate? What skills are needed? How to design a syllabus that suits your

students?

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Main Points

A formal method of presenting arguments in support and against a given issue in which debaters present reasons and evidence to persuade an audience or a group of judges

Governed by some explicit rules

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What is Debate?

A game or mental gymnastics: participants sharpen their thinking and speaking skills, find best way to win

A lab: one team tests its arguments against the ones of another

A way of finding truth: winning arguments should be truest arguments

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Perspectives on Debate

Common terms Resolution: a simple statement that is subjected to critical

analysis. Affirmative team: supporting the resolution (‘pro’ side); speak

first Negative team: opposing the arguments offered by the

affirmative team and offering arguments against the resolution (‘con’ side)

Rebuttal: explaining why one team disagrees with the other team

Judge: neutral third party, decides which side is most persuasive

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What is Debate?

Resolution

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Sample format for a class

Affirmative team Negative team

Present arguments

Listen & take notesPrepare rebuttal

Present arguments Listen & take notesPrepare rebuttal

BreakPresent rebuttal Present rebuttal

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One Debate Structure Speech 1: first affirmative speaker introduces the topic and states the

affirmative team's first argument. Speech 2: first negative speaker states their first argument. Speech 3: second affirmative speaker states their second argument. Speech 4: second negative speaker states their second argument. Give a 5-10 minute break for each team to prepare their rebuttal speech. Speech 5: negative team states two rebuttals for the affirmative team's

two arguments and summarizes their own two reasons. Speech 6: affirmative team states two rebuttals for the negative team's

two arguments and summarizes their own two reasons.

Do your best to argue your side of the debate, rather than relying on your personal opinions

-> Sometimes argue something that is

against your personal views

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What is Debate?

“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress” 

Mahatma Gandhi

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Why Debate?

To provide meaningful listening, speaking, writing practice

To develop argumentation skills for persuasive speech and writing

To increase social skills and conflict resolution abilities

To enhance self-esteem and academic confidence To lead to competitive success in the future

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Why Debate?

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What Skills are Needed? Public speaking Critical thinking Note taking Organizing

Researching Writing Listening Teamwork and

people skills

Identify goals, length of the course Determine needed skills Compile input materials Select resolutions, suggested ideas for both

sides Brainstorm classroom activities Design test and assessment criteria

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Debate Syllabus

Support consists of evidence. There’re four kinds of evidence

Examples Common sense Expert opinions Statistics

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Giving Support for Your Reasons

Repeat the argument you’re going to refute

Refute – explain what is wrong with other team’s argument

Replace the argument with your argument

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Rebuttal/ Refutation

thinking about how you think

process of asking, answering questions and trying to understand how and why you come to the conclusions

in debate: plan what to say, anticipate other team’s response, think of an argument to counter other team’s arguments

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Critical Thinking

Compare viewpoints of other people to your own ones

Find ways to ask questions that apply to many perspectives

Understand why some statements are correct, others are not

Understand how problem solving works Establish criteria for making judgments Present arguments in a constructive way…

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Skills to Become a Better Critical Thinker

Select a topic Choose a side: affirmative >< negative Discuss in your team:

arguments, possible counter-arguments and find a way to refute them

Start the debate Listen to the other team’s arguments Take notes Prepare to refute their arguments

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Sample Practice

http://idebate.org

http://wiki.idebate.org

http://www.conservapedia.com/Debate_topics

ttp://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krieger-Debate.html

http://teachingdebate.typepad.com

http://www.educationworld.com/20

Online resources

Rybold, G (2006). Speaking, Listening and Understanding Debate. International Debate Education Association.

Ziegelmuellerm, G., Harris, S., & Bloomingdale, D. (1995). Advancing in Debates – Skills and Concepts. Clark Publishing Company.

Ruth Sunda, “Debate and Persuasive Writing” http://thepeoplespeak.org http://www.aracorporation.org/files/

ARA_debates_Handbook.pdf

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References

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Q&A

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Contact me: monir.eng.cou@gmail.com