Debate answering the challenges of migration and multiculturalism, Slovenia, 20 – 28th November 2010 WHAT IS DEBATE

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DEFINITION A structured communication event about a specific topic of interest, which promotes presentation, and analysis of various points of view before an opportunity is given for decision. It is a process, does not have to be a formal event or a contest.

COMPONENTS 1.Structured communication event - two or more sides, - affirmative/negative, government/opposition, proposition/opposition number of the speakers: 1, 2, 3, 4 … time

COMPONENTS 2. About a topic 3. Presentation of various points of view 4. Analysis of points of view 5. Opportunity for decision

PROCESSES Debate intellectual processes Development: make a case. Clash: criticize and analyze opposing ideas. Extension: answer criticisms specifically. Perspective: compare and contrast positions, urge a decision, though no decision is final.

SKILLS RESEARCH ORGANISING NOTES MAKING AN ARGUMENT MAKING A CASE CRITICAL ANALYSES OF OPOSING VIEWPOINTS DECISING MAKING ORAL COMMUNICATION LISTENING, NOTE TAKING

RESEARCH Investigation of the topic Keywords list Holistic reading Evaluations of sources Organising notes

MAKING AN ARGUMENT ARE is an acronym that stands for Assertion, Reasoning, and Evidence——the three vital parts of making an argument. Assertion is the central claim of an argument. Reasoning is the warrant or reason that the statement is true. Evidence is some kind of support for the assertion and reasoning.

MAKING AN ARGUMENT Assertion: Cats are good companions. Reason: Cats provide psychological support and friendship to those they trust. Evidence: My aunt Geeba has lived with a cat for ten years and she considers the cat to be her best friend. Assertion: NATO should extend membership to the Baltic States. Reason: NATO provides stability through alliance building that will prevent any Eastern European nation from attacking any other. Evidence: The long-standing respect that all of the current NATO members have for one another suggests that the organization provides stability.

MAKING A CASE Teams should conceptualize and organize their research into the format of the case. The case is a cohesive set of arguments that justify the side of the topic that they have been assigned. More importantly, the case allows debaters to choose the ground that they would like to defend. The debate case allows debaters to focus on the arguments they think are important and how to interpret the topic to defend these arguments. The case is important because it sets up the framework for the rest of the debate. Making a debate case depends in large part on the kind of resolution being presented. Participants in a debate must focus their ideas on the central topic to be debated.

MAKING A CASE INTRODUCTION CONCLUSION BODY SIGNPOSTING MAJOR POINTS SUBORDINATE POINTS LIST OF REASONS CHAIN OF REASONING ARE- ASSERTION, REASONING, EVIDENCE

Critical Analysis of Opposing Viewpoints It is vital that each team be prepared to respond to the arguments made by the other side. The easiest way for students to do this is to brainstorm the best arguments on both sides and then during the research phase use holistic reading to keep track of these ideas. Students should make a list of all the arguments they would use if they were on the other side.

Decision Making in the Debate CALL FOR THE DECISION WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES WEIGHING THE ARGUMENTS EXPLAIN TO THE JUDGE WHY YOU WIN THE DEBATE

ORAL COMMUNICATION Overcoming the fear of public speaking Analysing the audience Becoming a powerfull speaker Increased self- esteem

ORAL COMMUNICATION DYNAMISM VARIATION EMPHASIS NATURALNESS -Voice (tone, volume, pitch) -Body (gestures, moving, face)

LISTENING AND NOTE TAKING -LISTENING IS A KEY TO GOOD DEBATING -DEBATE LISTENING AS AN ACTIVE LISTENING -NOTE TAKING IS A KEY TO GOOD DEBATING

TEAM WORK DEBATE IS A TEAM EFFORT WORKING TOGETHER HELPING EACH OTHER TO GROW DEBATE FRIENDS