Magic Color: pink Congressional Debate

Congress

How Congress Will be Graded Resolution 50 pts Final Draft Outline Participation 150 Grade

Congressional Debate: What is it? A mock legislative assembly competition where students debate over resolutions and bills. Then they vote to pass into law.

Congress Vocabulary Resolution: a piece of legislation Affirmative: You agree with the resolution Negative: You disagree with the resolution Aff/Neg Speeches: speeches given by a senator supporting or negating the resolution or bill Authorship Speech: A speech where the resolutions author presents his side. Parliamentary procedure: the formal process of conducting a meeting (ParliPro) Chair: leader who runs meetings; uses parlipro CX: period where the members of the class may ask a speaker questions

Resolution

Purpose of a Resolution Make the problem look really bad. Take it to extremes

Parts of a Resolution 1. State the current PROBLEM This is NOT the change you want. This is the problem that is so unbearable that you need to change it. 2. State the SCOPE of the problem Who does this affect? (Can’t only be students) 3. Explain the HARMS and IMPACTS Harms: How is the problem a nuisance or bother some? Impacts: How does it affect the lives or futures of the people mentioned in the scope 4. Recommend a change (reSOLUTION) What policy change would fix the problem?

Change the pointer option and underline and label a section of the resolution. After this slide work with student planners and look for policies or procedures you want to change.

Set it up for your audience Resolution: Life stinks! Harms and Impacts: Look at how bad our life is. Let’s make a change (Authorship’s speech) Look at how wonderful our world is now that we’ve made the change.

Arguing

Make a Killer Argument (CREW) Claim: Your position on the resolution Reason: the “why” you are for/against the resolution. Evidence: supports the argument Data (may not have this in a congress round) Example (Personal ones are best) Reasoning (Would the resolution really work?) Warrant: Show how it will affect your audience Why does the evidence prove your reason/claim? Translate the quote Show the connection

Reasons Warrant Claim Evidence

Example of a completed argument Claim: Hey mom, I need a smart phone. Reason: It would really make our house peaceful. Evidence: Did you know that you can access the internet using a smart phone? It can be used anywhere too. Warrant: If I had a smartphone I could work on my homework on my phone. Wouldn’t that be nice if I stopped fighting with (insert name of annoying sibling) about getting on the computer. You wouldn’t have to break up our fights all the time!

Creating the Warrant Here are some questions you can ask yourself about a particular bit of evidence. Answering them may help you explain how your evidence is related to your overall argument: O.k., I’ve just stated this point, but so what? Why is it interesting? Why should anyone care? I’ve just described what something is like or how I see it, but why is it like that? Why is this information important? Why does it matter? How is this idea related to my claim? What connections exist between them? Does it support my claim? If so, how does it do that? Can I give an example to illustrate this point? Retrieved from: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/evidence/

Resolution into a speech

Body The reason in 2-3 words A. Transition word: The reason in a complete sentence. 1. Acknowledgement (Rebuttal) “My opponents may say. . . however. . . “ 2. Evidence: Data, Example, Reasoning 3. Warrant: Show the connection between the evidence and the original claim. a. This is where you make them picture how it would look at NC and whether it would be good or bad for the audience.

Introduction AGD Background Thesis (Claim) Preview Give the audience a little bit of knowledge/background of the unfamiliar topic. Thesis (Claim) Preview

Conclusion Review your reasons. (Review) Restate the resolution with should or should not. Ask for the Aff/Neg vote.

Parliamentary Procedure (Parli Pro)

What is it? Process used to run meetings Robert’s Rules of Orders Henry Robert miltary captain who had complied a list of rules to govern a meeting. He was transferred from place to place when he finally became a general he decided to publish his procedures. He found everywhere ran a meeting differently. HE wanted it to be fair for everyone. (People were being ambushed because they didn’t know how to run the meeting.) There are many many different kinds of Robert’s rules of order. (Just like band-aids) So you have to make sure you use the same as everyone else.

Basic Rules There should be courtesy to all. Only one item can be handled at a time. The will of the Majority is carried out with respect for those who disagree. The voice and vote of all members is equal. All questions deserve full and free discussion.

Major Players Senators Chairman This is student who will try to get his own opinion and beliefs passed. Speeches Cross examinations Votes Must be impartial and fair must not express any personal opinion while in the chair. The Chair can give facts but not opinion.

The Process Chairman asks for a motion Senator makes a motion Other senators second the motion Motion is restate by chair Organized discussion by senators Motion is put to a vote

Main Motions

Individual Students Chooses and Reads a resolution Give Speech Give one NEG Speech and One AFF Speech Chairman asks for Motions from the students Previous Question: Stop the debate If this Passes we stop and vote on whether or not the resolution passes. If this doesn’t pass we continue Speeches until this does Rise to a question of privilege Student takes care of issues Point of Order Question is answered 3 min Cross Examination Chairman Student Author Individual Students Class Motions

Magic Color: pink SHIP ANSWERS

Have student SHIP the other 4 resolutions: Correct when done.