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Debate Practice Appointments for 2020
Practice Debates are on Friday, May 24, 2020
Final Debates are on Friday, May 31, 2020
All Students are required to attend their debate times on these dates!
Preparation Guidelines, Terminology, & Resources
Preparation Guidelines, Terminology, & Resources
1. It is expected that all students will participate equally in debate preparation.
1. It is expected that all students will participate equally in debate preparation.
2. You should use index cards to prepare your debate materials. It is expected that your index cards will either be handwritten/printed by hand in the writing of all team members or written as a Google doc, reflecting the participation of all team members, and then printed and cut and pasted onto index cards.
2. You should use index cards to prepare your debate materials. It is expected that your index cards will either be handwritten/printed by hand in the writing of all team members or written as a Google doc, reflecting the participation of all team members, and then printed and cut and pasted onto index cards.
3. I would strongly suggest that you title and color code your index cards in a manner to indicate the argument for your position that the information supports or the counterargument against your opponent’s position. You must also include source information via citations on each card.
3. I would strongly suggest that you title and color code your index cards in a manner to indicate the argument for your position that the information supports or the counterargument against your opponent’s position. You must also include source information via citations on each card.
4. Index cards and/or debate research materials will be turned in immediately after your debate.
4. Index cards and/or debate research materials will be turned in immediately after your debate.
Resolution: The topic/issue/question being debated. For example, “Resolved: the automobile has been more detrimental than beneficial for Americans.
Resolution: The topic/issue/question being debated. For example, “Resolved: the automobile has been more detrimental than beneficial for Americans.
Affirmative/Aff/Pro: The debate team arguing in favor of the resolution. In the above example, this team would argue that cars have had more harmful than favorable impacts for Americans.
Affirmative/Aff/Pro: The debate team arguing in favor of the resolution. In the above example, this team would argue that cars have had more harmful than favorable impacts for Americans.
Negative/Neg/Con: The debate team arguing against the resolution. In the above example, this team would argue that having cars has been more advantageous than destructive for Americans.
Negative/Neg/Con: The debate team arguing against the resolution. In the above example, this team would argue that having cars has been more advantageous than destructive for Americans.
Debate Resolutions
Debate Resolutions
Resolution One (1):
Resolution One (1):
Resolved: With the exception of dire emergency, it is just as important for doctors to understand the whole patient as it is to treat the immediate illness.
Resolution Two (2):
Resolution Two (2):
Resolved: No individual nor corporation may patent any cell line, be it human, plant, or animal, for the purpose of monetary reward. All cell lines, even those that have been modified, must remain in the public domain.
Resolution Three (3):
Resolution Three (3):
Resolved: In the case of the Great Migration, the push factors, such as Jim Crow laws, were the greatest influence on African American people’s decision to leave the South rather than the pull factors like greater economic opportunity.
Resolution Four (4):
Resolution Four (4):
Resolved: Given her unmatched contributions to medicine, the descendants of Henrietta Lacks should receive free medical care at any facility in the United States.
Resolution Five (5):
Resolution Five (5):
Resolved: The biomedical ethical errors in the treatment of Henrietta Lacks outweigh the benefits for humanity gained through the cultivation of her cells.
Debate Format
Debate Format
Affirmative Audiovisual: Video in favor of the resolution (55-65 seconds)
Affirmative Audiovisual: Video in favor of the resolution (55-65 seconds)
Negative Audiovisual: Video opposing the resolution (55-65 seconds)
Negative Audiovisual: Video opposing the resolution (55-65 seconds)
Affirmative Constructive Speech (Opening ):
Affirmative Constructive Speech (Opening ):
Main speech in favor of the resolution (2 minutes maximum). Brief introduction defining the issues/topic followed by your strongest evidence, most logical points, and most supportive expert testimony. This speech needs to be as persuasive as any argument you have ever made because it is the longest speech given in support of your position. This speech should be almost completely prepared in advance.
Negative Rebuttal Speech:
Negative Rebuttal Speech:
Speech that directly refutes the Affirmative Constructive Speech (1 minute preparation time/1 minute maximum speech). This speaker/speech should specifically address the weaknesses in the Affirmative Constructive Speech. A suggested approach is to focus on the two biggest fallacies/weaknesses in the logic/evidence presented by the Affirmative side to demonstrate the overarching weakness of your opponent’s argument. All team members may help prepare this speech in the brief time allowed, but a speaker who has not already spoken must deliver the speech (on a three person team).
Negative Constructive (Opening) Speech:
Negative Constructive (Opening) Speech:
Main speech opposing the resolution (2 minutes maximum). Brief introduction defining the issues/topic followed by your strongest evidence, most logical points, and most supportive expert testimony. This speech needs to be as persuasive as any argument you have ever made because it is the longest speech given in support of your position. This speech should be almost completely prepared in advance.
Affirmative Rebuttal Speech:
Affirmative Rebuttal Speech:
Speech that directly refutes the Negative Constructive Speech (1 minute preparation time/1 minute maximum speech). This speaker/speech should specifically address the weaknesses in the Negative Constructive Speech. A suggested approach is to focus on the two biggest fallacies/weaknesses in the logic/evidence presented by the Negative side to demonstrate the overarching weakness of your opponent’s argument. All team members may help prepare this speech in the brief time allowed, but a speaker who has not already spoken must deliver the speech (on a three person team).
Negative Final (Closing) Statement:
Negative Final (Closing) Statement:
Last Negative Speech (1 minute maximum). Reiterate the strongest arguments for your position (although you should cite new evidence) and include something (perhaps a food for thought) that will leave a lasting impression with the audience. A speaker who has not already spoken must deliver the speech (on a three person team). Most of this speech can be prepared in advance.
Affirmative Final (Closing) Statement:
Affirmative Final (Closing) Statement:
Last Affirmative Speech (1 minute maximum). Reiterate the strongest arguments for your position (although you should cite new evidence) and include something (perhaps a food for thought) that will leave a lasting impression with the audience. A speaker who has not already spoken must deliver the speech (on a three person team). Most of this speech can be prepared in advance.
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