The Debate

Mr. Fazzini

Public Speaking

What is a debate?(dictionary definition)

• 1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.

• 2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.

What a debate is NOT

•A noisy argument•A group of speeches without facts or backup

•A personal attack

What do we do in debates?

•In a formal debate, there are rules for people to discuss and decide on differences,

•There is a framework defining how they will interact.

What are the GOALS of debate?

•The major goal of the study of debate as a method or art is to develop one's ability to argue either position with equal ease.

•Let’s try it with a popular issue…

What sort of “debates” are we used to seeing?

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nNIEduEOw

•What is the PURPOSE of this sort of debate?

What we will be doing…

• We will be having a debating contest • I will be the judge. • Each side seeks to win by following

the rules, • Each side is either in favor ("for,

'Affirmative' "), or opposed to ("against, 'Negative' "), a statement (the Resolution)

How the debate will be structured (our timeline)

• Students will choose from a series of topics and I will assign the teams positions (how they feel about the issue)

• Teams discuss their topics and come up with statements

• Teams deliver their statements and offer main points

• Students discuss the opposition's argument and come up with rebuttals

• Rebuttals delivered • Closing statements made

How the debate will be structured

• There will be teams of 2 or 3 per side

• 1. The first speaker on the affirmative team presents arguments in support of the resolution (3-5 minutes)

• 2. The first speaker on the opposing team presents arguments opposing the resolution (3-5 minutes)

How it is structured part 2• 3. The second speaker on the affirmative

team presents further arguments in support of the resolution, identifies areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by the opposition speaker. (3-5 minutes)

• 4. The second speaker on the opposing team presents further arguments against the resolution, identifies further areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by the previous affirmative speaker. (3-5 minutes)

Continued…

• short recess for teams to prepare their rebuttals/closing statement. (5 minutes)

• 6. The opposing team begins with the rebuttal, attempting to defend the opposing arguments and to defeat the supporting arguments without adding any new information. (3 – 5 minutes)

• 7. Rebuttal of the affirmative team (3 – 5 minutes)

The Topic List• TOPICS• Capital Punishment—the death penalty• All day tech school• Torture of terrorist suspects• Juveniles tried as adults for violent crimes• Right to universal health care• Standardized tests as important criteria

for college.• Internet censorship• Music’s effect on society

The Teams—Per 2• Nafisa, Kassandra• Justin, Grant

– Resolved: “To make sure that all Americans have access to free healthcare, the government should have a universal health care program that is free to US citizens.”

• George, Beverly, Exodus--Affirmative• Abigail, Keifonna, Mark--Negative

– Government control of internet content– “Resolved: In an effort to protect Americans from immoral

content, the government should censor websites and block “immoral content.”

Teams Per 2

• Nicole, Monica, Holly--Negative• Phil, Sacoya, Dezra--Affirmative

– Resolved: “In an effort to decrease crime, juveniles under the age of 18 should be tried as adults for violent crimes.”

• Kabir, Molly, Tashime--Affirmative• Briana, Drew, Sean--Negative

– Resolved: “In an effort to keep the country safe, the United States should torture terrorists and suspected terrorists to get information.”

Resolved: “The Death penalty should be used for all capital crimes in the US and there should be a

greatly shortened appeals process”

TEAM 1--Negative•Gabe Iacovino•John Wolfe•Taylor D’Ginto•Jawaun Mayo

TEAM 7--Affirmative•Elijah Carter•Juliette McLean•Rachel Moulder

Resolved: “To make sure that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare, the government should have a universal health care program that

is free to all US citizens.”

TEAM 3--Negative•Shamiah Allen•Hanna Kqira•Jennie Orochoski•Jayde Terio-SbailoTEAM 2--Affirmative•Jihaad England•Janayiah Thompson•Brianna Wilson-Bey

Resolved: “To keep the country safe, the US should torture terrorists and suspected terrorists to get information”

TEAM 5--Affirmative•Tionne Blount•Nick Green•D’Angelo Sauceda•Gavin LearyTEAM 6--Negative•Ray Carter•Kyle Simpson•Jasmine Thomas

Resolved: “At the age of 14, all students across the US should take a standardized test to determine whether they

go to a traditional high school or a tech school.”

TEAM 8•Aaliyah Fisher-Jackson•Jay Magers•Queen Savage

TEAM 4•Maria Flores•Devon Malloy•Jessica Weston

Period 4Resolved: “In an effort to decrease crime, juveniles

under the age of 18 should be tried as adults for violent crimes.”

TEAM 1--Negative•Jazive•Sophia•Joe D.•FatoumataTEAM 2--Affirmative•Suli•Mariah•Alana•Efrain

Resolved: “The Death penalty should be used for all capital crimes in the US and there should be a greatly shortened appeals process”

TEAM 3--Negative•Jessica•Sergio•Dan L.•AlexisTEAM 4--Affirmative•Ben D.•Jason G.•Natalie M.

Resolved: “To make sure that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare, the government should have a universal health care

program that is free to all US citizens.”

TEAM 5--Negative•Hannah D.•Ryjuell •Jordan•ArmaniTEAM 6--Affirmative•Shawn•Desiree•Bailey

Resolved: “At the age of 14, all students across the US should take a standardized test to determine whether they go to a traditional high

school or a tech school.”

TEAM 7--Affirmative•Taylor•Ismail•Joe M.•BreanaTEAM 8--Negative•Alison•Greta•Hector

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VTQ-dBYSlQ