AMERICAN SPACES DEBATE CLUB 2022

Teacher: Carlos A. López Oroz

SESSION 6 May 19th (7 participants)

During this session of ASDC, we learned about the British Parliamentary structure. All the roles and their responsibilities, and how the debate flows. This preparing for the activity that they would see during the joint session from Saturday.

We had a small debate activity with impromptu speeches on the spot. Motion was “THP a world where everyone is vegan”.

During the joint session on Saturday, coaches Gemma Guerrero and Cesar Rivas taught us more specifics about each role in debate. We also practice active listening with a small debate where speakers needed to replicate the opposite team’s speeches before providing your own.

SESSION 5 May 12th (5 participants)

During this session of ASDC, we practiced spontaneous thinking. With a warmup activity of “basta debate” where Mr. Manuel read a few different statements or motions like “Tacos are better than Tortas”, and students must come up with reasons why the statement were true in several categories: Economically, politically, culturally, wellbeing of individuals, principally. First person to write down all reasons would call “basta!” and started to count down for everyone to stop writing.

We were introduced to the Points of Information (POI’s), which are short intermissions, questions or a statement to clarify a certain point.

We had two activities. The first one called “flip flop” consisted in providing a small debate with quick motions. Students are divided in groups and have to debate on a certain side, proposition or opposition, but when teacher said “flip flop”, sides were turned and they had to continue debating on a different stand.

Second activity consisted on a quick debate using a ridiculous motion: “THBT pizza should not go with pineapple”. Group were divided into 2 groups, and prepared 3 minute arguments.

SESSION 4 May 3rd (7 participants)

During this session of ASDC, we saw acting as a major role in making your speech more compelling

We had two activities. The first one consisted in giving a motion for the team to debate, but then assign a certain role such as a king, royalty, sad, angry, happy, excited, passionate, etc… When it was their time to speak, they had to adopt this personality. The teacher would switch personalities amid the speech.

The second activity consisted in practicing REAL structure (reason, evidence, analysis and link), a little bit more. Teacher provided a second motion for the group to prepare 3 arguments each side using this structure.

This class was given on Tuesday 3rd counting as the one from Thursday 5^th, since it was holiday.

SESSION 3 APRIL 23rd (14 participants)

In this Easter break, we didn’t have a Debate Club session. But we did have a joint practice on April 23^rd, from 8:00 am to 10:30 am.

During this joint practice, we had coach Andy Rincón, who is part of the Asociación Mexicana de Debate, reviewed information seen in previous sessions. Basics of argumentations, how the debate works, and some tips for organizing your thoughts right.

There was a small practice where the participants were given 20 minutes to prepare four 5-minutes speeches and debate against each other. The motion was: “THBT professional football clubs should be force8d to field the majority of players from their local community”.

Only 2 participants from Hermosillo joined the meeting, but they did really good.

At the end of the session, I asked Sergio Luna and Andy Rincón to stay for a few more minutes because I wanted to make sure I judged the debate well. I received additional tips, not as a participant but as a judge and coach, and we reviewed the notes I made during the debate practice.

Attendance: 14 participants in total. 2 participants from Hermosillo.

SESSION 2 APRIL 8th (10 participants)

During this session of ASDC, we saw the basics of argumentation. We started with a small warming activity by telling something we did or happened to us that made us happy, something bad that happened to us, and finally, something we are looking forward to.

Then we moved on to an activity called “defend the undefendable” which consisted in first think about something you strongly believe in, such as: I strongly believe that love is the most powerful force in the world. Then, each participant was given 2 minutes to come up with an impromptu speech with 3 arguments against what you believe in.

After this activity, we reviewed all the theory regarding argumentation: different structures, different points, and finished it off with real examples used by our coach Manuel back in his international tournaments.

To conclude the session, participants brainstormed different topics that they would love to discuss during our sessions.

SESSION 1 APRIL 1ST (12 participants)

During this session of ASDC, the whole group introduced themselves. We divided the session in 3 parts: Introduction or Ice breaker, basics in world school of debate, and finally a small debate practice.

During the ice breaker activity, we stood up and imitated a certain movement and sound provided by one of our classmates. This was not just to have some fun but also to show we are willing to participate into any activity as ridiculous as it may seem. The whole class had some fun and we got to know each other.

During the introduction to debate, we explained the procedures in a debate, common vocabulary and roles.

Then we went straight to the debate practice with the motion: “This house would require all super heroes to reveal their identities”. The group was separated into 4 different teams, and we had 2 different debates going at the same time. Teacher Manuel was in one debate judging and teacher Carlos was in another.

At the end of the session, we had a short reflection of what they liked about the session, and the knowledge they take with them.

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