Classroom Debate Structure and Purpose

Purpose of a Classroom Debate

• Allows participants to analyze the similarities and differences between differing viewpoints

• Understand where opinions diverge and why. • Way to model the analytical and communicative

processes that students are learning whenever they examine course material through oral or written work.

• Challenge students to think critically about course material

• Provide a forum for them to develop the arts of expression that allow them to communicate their ideas.

The Purpose of the Frankenstein Debate

• To convince Mrs. Ferrari that your position on where the ultimate responsibility for the deaths of William, Justine, Henry, Elizabeth, and Victor’s father lies.

• How?– Evidence– Convincing structure (logic)– Quality of the debate/argument being delivered

Behavior Expectations During Debate

• Only the elected speaker may address the question or opposing team. Any comments made by “the gallery” will cause the team to lose points.

• The speaker may only address the question and may not attack, personally, the opposing team.

• Derogatory comments made from either the gallery or speaker will count as negative points, and will also result in a referral for specific students.

• Professional tone and vocabulary is required.• Any divergence from the topic, personal anecdotes or other

off-topic behavior/commentary will result in lost points.

Debate Structure• Introduction – who are you and what do you stand for?• Preview – What are the names of the points you are going to cover?• Rebuttal – unless you are the first speaker, you’d say “first lets take a look at

what we heard from the previous speaker” and disagree with their points.• Point One – “Now onto my points”

NameExplanation (the reasoning – why is your point true and why does it mean your overall position is right?Evidence (facts, analogies, examples, imagery or authority to support your reasoning)

• Point Two – Name, Explanation, Evidence• Point Three – Name, Explanation, Evidence• Reminder – remind the audience of the three points you have covered• Vote for Us