Classroom Debates and Disagreements

Why we debate in the classroom

Your professor allows and encourages debate for a few reasons:

• It develops critical thinking skills

• It develops communication skills

• It can encourage teamwork

• It's a form of active learning

• It exposes students to different perspectives

• All of these things contribute to building confidence

How to debate and disagree in the classroom

Don't

• • Use personal attacks, sarcasm, taunting tones, slurs, or misgendering.

  • Talk over others when they're trying to make a point.

  • Make assumptions about what the other person believes or why they believe it.

  • Fall for the trap of using logical fallacies like the "straw man" fallacy.

  • Get sidetracked or off-topic

Do

• • Be respectful of your audience, who is the person you're disagreeing with.  Treat others with respect and kindness, even if you disagree with them. If you're debating in an online discussion board, remember that this is a real person you're talking to.

  • Let others speak: Take the time to listen to what the other person is saying.

  • Be curious: Instead of focusing on why you think they're wrong, try to understand why they think they're right.

  • Back it up with evidence: If you're making a point, use sources. This could be in the form of statistics, examples, or quotes from experts. 

  • Stay on topic: Try to stay focused on the issue you're discussing. 

  • Be open-minded: Be open to changing your mind if you hear a compelling argument. That's called learning!