Fun Debate!

13 Rules for Being a Great Debator!

1. Communicate Effectively Know the type of debate that you are doing Know when it is your time to speak and what you should be saying Don’t get caught off guard

2. Keep Calm If you are struggling, remember to remain calm Do not get emotional or angry Focus on breathing and develop a good argument

3. Speak Clearly Your argument can be diminished if you mumble or slur words Speak slowly, clearly, and don’t rush

4. Explain your Logic Explain your facts step by step Explain how you can to the conclusions you did Help the audience come to the same conclusions as you

5. Be Respectful and Fair (No personal attacks) Don’t insult, judge, or talk over your opponent A bad example of debating would look like: “Why should we listen to you? You broke the system last year when you were in charge of the project. You’d probably just ruin this too.”

6. Act Confident (Even if you’re not) Make eye contact, don’t fidget Avoid language like “ummm” or “ahhh” Don’t talk too much with your hands

7. Use Arguments Based on Logic NO EMOTION or OPINION! ONLY FACTS! Also use statistics, evidence, and real life examples Helpful props can be a good idea

8. Use arguments that appeal to people PERSONALLY Draw on people’s hopes, fears, and use personal stories to make connections to yourself and others in the audience

9. Use Arguments Based on Authority Pick topics that you PERSONALLY have knowledge and authority on For example, I’m allowed to argue about something in Hamilton because I live here. I do not have the authority to argue about something in Japan

10. Do Your Research Be prepared and know your stuff! You need FACTS not just opinions

11. Look for Logical Fallacies Look for problems in your opponent’s debate and use that to devalue their argument Their conclusion might be correct, but their reasoning might be wrong

12. Look for Weaknesses in their Argument Look for where they have not thought their argument through Did they miss any crucial points Lack of evidence? Using limited examples to justify their argument?

13. Keep the Topic on Track Don’t get sidetracked When a debate gets off track, this can be a sign that your opponent does not have enough evidence Force them to stay on track! Call them out for changing the topic

Good Debate Topics for your Age  Cellular phones should be allowed in schools. Television makes people violent and lazy. Torture is justified when dealing with terrorists. Fast food should not be served in schools. Peer pressure is more useful than harmful. Human cloning should be permitted for progress of humanity. The United States should allow mercy killing in all states. People should become vegetarian to save the planet. Schools should allow online attendance. Violent video games make children violent.

Parents should not purchase toys that are based on fighting and violence for their children. Formula one racing should be banned because it wastes fuel. SUVs versus Economy cars. Plan for the future versus Live for the moment. Beauty pageants are good for girls. Smoking should be banned. Middle schools student must wear uniforms. Supreme Court dealings should be broadcasted on television. Celebrities are good role models. Today’s children are fashion victims. Success is more important than happiness. Physical education should be compulsory in school.

Pledge of Allegiance should not be mandatory. The U.S. should not send humans into space. Medical testing on animals is necessary for progress. The United States should ban the death penalty. Wal-Mart is a good employer. Teenagers should be tried differently than their adult counterparts. The Internet has become more harmful than useful. The United States use the metric system. Girls are better than boys at studying. Passive acceptance of a teacher’s knowledge and authority leads to disastrous consequences. All educational institutes should be co-ed. Organ donation should be obligatory for all American citizens. All criminals in America must have the right to vote. Wikipedia is a better resource than many libraries.   Perseverance and determination are more important than talent to achieve success. Great things are done only by individuals who can lead the masses.

Task Choose a partner and a topic of debate You will each take opposite positions You can play “Devil’s Advocate” if you wish Use one of the ideas listed or come up with your own

Structure Coin flip to determines who goes first 1. 30 Second Introductory Speech 2. 1 minute Debate Period to provide your evidence 3. 30 Second Rebuttal (This is where you can argue against what your opponent said and point out problems with their logic) 4. Audience then votes for the winner and gives reasons why