What is a Debate? How do I prepare for a debate?

What is a Debate? A debate is a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal. A debate is a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal. A debate is not an expression of one’s own opinion. A debate is not an expression of one’s own opinion.

The Basics of a Debate You are not expressing your opinion You are not expressing your opinion You are assigned an affirmative or negative position on a question or proposition You are assigned an affirmative or negative position on a question or proposition You must find important information regarding your topic and organize your ideas into logical arguments that will support or refute the statement You must find important information regarding your topic and organize your ideas into logical arguments that will support or refute the statement

The Basics of a Debate Each debate will have two teams, one for and one against team-each person must speak in the debate Each debate will have two teams, one for and one against team-each person must speak in the debate The debates are judged by the audience so the audience needs to be actively engaged The debates are judged by the audience so the audience needs to be actively engaged

The Debate Structure Opening Statements Opening Statements -affirmative and Negative Speeches -one person, from each side, opens with no more than 3 minutes of speaking -each side must present a set of points that support/oppose the idea

The Debate Structure First Rebuttals First Rebuttals -first, affirmative rebuttal to the points made by the negative team -3 minutes to confer -5 minutes for group members to speak -then, negative rebuttal to the affirmative

The Debate Structure Second Rebuttals Second Rebuttals -second affirmative rebuttal -same time limits as first rebuttal -no new points are made here only additional sources & info to support original arguments -second negative rebuttal

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

Judging the Debate Audience judges and will need to take notes on how persuasive each side is Audience judges and will need to take notes on how persuasive each side is Write your decision and explain why you made that choice citing evidence made in arguments Write your decision and explain why you made that choice citing evidence made in arguments Include something the other side could have said to change your mind Include something the other side could have said to change your mind

Debate Rules No put downs No put downs Participants lose points for each interruption Participants lose points for each interruption Participants lose points for whispering while another speaker is talking Participants lose points for whispering while another speaker is talking

Debate Topics Topic 1 Topic 1 -Women’s Suffrage (women should have the right to vote) Topic 2 Topic 2 -Child labor should be outlawed Prohibition should become law (alcohol should be banned) Topic 3 Topic 3 - Prohibition should become law (alcohol should be banned)

Debate Topics Topic 1 Topic 1 -The US should drill for more oil in the US (Alaska and offshore) no matter the environmental costs Topic 2 Topic 2 -Immigration- The US should not deport illegal immigrants from Mexico Topic 3 Topic 3 -The US had to kill Usama bin Laden

Debate Topics Topic 1 Topic 1 -The US should not deport illegal immigrants from Mexico Topic 2 Topic 2 -As US citizens we should help end the genocide in Darfur Sudan Topic 3 Topic 3 -The US should immediately bring home the troops from Iraq