THE GREAT DEBATERS

Class Debate 

For your midterm exam for Controversies, Dilemmas: Perspectivism class, you will be debating a proposition in two groups. You were given a proposition topic, a position of either negative or affirmative, and a specific role within your group will be decided by your group as well. Each team member is responsible for a section of the debate, but you will be graded (and judged) as a group by the professor. Therefore, you must work collaboratively on the preparation of the debate as a whole. The debate should last somewhere between 30 to 45 minutes. 

You all decided on the topics of (Drug Use – Abortion in juxtaposition to Adoption)



You ought to engage in the following debate structure where there is a specific role for each member of the team:

1. Name a chair in each group.
2. Plan arguments with your team. Each member of the group should plan their arguments separately so they do not influence other team members.
3. Cross out any repetitive arguments and improve those that may need it.
4. Divide the arguments amongst the number of speakers, so that each team member has a particular topic to develop as part of the argument.
5. Find evidence to support your case – facts, opinions, quotes, references or objects.
6. Hints for refuting or rebutting arguments (finding holes in the other team’s arguments):
7. Try to guess beforehand what the other team might use.
8. Take note of the authorities quoted by the other team in support of their arguments – are they valid?
9. Don’t waste valuable time in challenging a minor point.
10. Challenge the opposing team to supply further evidence for their arguments, if needed.

Since I am fully aware that these two weeks are for midterms, my proposal is to start working on this assignment immediately and see if you have the chance to meet synchronically and bring your arguments to prepare within your team otherwise, use your whatsapp groups.

I will see you all on monday september 16th for this activity.

The following is a website with more information regarding “How to debate”.

STRUCTURE

Affirmative Opening statement/Moderator (2 min.)

Affirmative statement.

Rebuttal

Affirmative Closing statement (2 min.)



Negative Opening statement/Moderator (2 min.)

Rebuttal

Negative statement.

Negative Closing statement (2 min.)