Debate is just like a discussion, with a few differences. One of the biggest differences is that it is structured - meaning there are rules on how many sides there are, who speaks at which time and how long each person speaks. This ensures fairness and makes the debate easy to follow.
In the previous class we had a big debate involving the entire class. We separated the class into 6/8 groups and made half of the groups support a topic and the other half oppose. Each speaker made brief comments supporting his/her position or opposing someone else’s. This class we will again divide the class into groups (6 groups) but instead of having the entire class engage in one debate, we will create 3 separate debates, involving 3 pairs of groups. We will also create more structure for the engagement between these groups. 4 people will speak from each group and they will each have something specific to say.
Each Group will choose 4 speakers to represent the group.
1. First, the Introduction speaker, who will introduce all the arguments of the team
2. Second, the Argumentation speaker, who will explain all their arguments
3. Third, the Rebuttal speaker, who will rebut all the arguments of the other team
4. Fourth, the Summary speaker, who will summarize the arguments and say why their team wins.
Argumentation means reasons to support your side. This person should state and explain two reasons why their side is right.
Rebuttal is when you show why an Argument is wrong, weak or not important in this debate.
Each speech should take about a minute or less. You don’t have to come to the front, but you have to stand up and speak. This activity can also be done with more than one Argumentation speaker (2 speakers, each with one argument).
Here are phrases you can use in each speaking position
1. 1st Speaker : “My team strongly supports ________. We have two/three arguments. They are _____.”
2. 2nd Speaker : “I have two/three arguments, which are ___________. The first one is ___________________. The second one is _________________”
3. 3rd Speaker : “The previous speaker said two/three things, which are _________. The first thing is wrong because _____________. The second is correct but if not important because ______________ .”
4. 4th Speaker : “Our team said two/three arguments, which were _______________. We win this debate because ______________.”