DEBATE

THE BASICS

NEGOTIATION OR

DEBATE?

Negotiation: A cooperative relationship in which both sides want to

reach and agreement.

Debate: Latin for “to battle.”

NEGOTIATION

TECHNIQUES

1. Be positive. Avoid words such as:

Cornered Crisis Excuse

Loser Nervous Unreasonable

Will not Guess Hopeless

Afraid Frustrating Fail

Bad luck Fault Demand

Blame Disaster Delay

Cannot Unaware Tired

Cheated Impossible Make do

USE 3-PART MESSAGES

Don’t use this Jedi mind trick for anything but good in the world,

please.

When you (X)

I feel (Y)

because (Z)

THEREFORE – and this is where you insert what you’re going to

ask from your audience.

BE PREPARED

KNOW what you’re going to be dealing with.

Anticipate the arguments you’ll face.

Don’t get blindsided.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

NEGOTIATION DOESN’T

WORK?

DEBATE

PROPOSITION

The statement or the point that is to be debated.

•School uniforms should be required in public schools.

•Females are more successful in athletics and academics than males

at CHS.

•Carolina is better than Clemson.

RESOLUTION

A formal statement of opinion presenting the proposition. The

debate is formally started when the speaker for the affirmative

(more to come on that shortly…) makes the resolution statement.

For example:

“Resolved. School uniforms should be required in public schools.”

“Resolved. Females are more successful in athletics and academics

than males at CHS.”

“Resolved: Carolina is better than Clemson.”

AFFIRMATIVE

YES, that is true!

This side tries to prove

that the statement is

true.

NEGATIVE

NO, that is false!

This side tries to prove

that the statement is

false.

EVIDENCE

Information that helps prove something.

HOW DO YOU KNOW????

Quotes from famous authors, scientists, and philosophers

Statistics from research articles and journals

First-hand experiences that clearly relate to the topic

PAINT THE PICTURE of what you want to

prove with strong imagery.

You are not just up there talking.

You are in a battle and your

WEAPONS are your WORDS.

CROSSFIRE

Questioning one another.

In crossfire, both debaters sit with their teams.

Teams may then respectfully ask for more proof of evidence

or ask clarifying questions that will help shape rebuttals.

A team member who attempts to dominate his own team or

who is rude to the opposing team will lose points.

Don’t forget what Mr. Robert Frost said:

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing

your temper or your self-confidence.”

Will you appear educated in your ability to LISTEN???

REBUTTAL

A speech that contradicts an earlier statement.

Your team will earn more points by contradicting statements from

the opposing team.

DEBATE FORMATFIRST ROUND: ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY

First Speaker, Affirmative = up to 3 minutes

First Speaker, Negative = up to 3 minutes

Crossfire = up to 2 minutes

****3 minutes to research and conference with team****

SECOND ROUND: REBUTTAL. ADDRESS ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY OTHER TEAM FORMALLY, FURTHER YOUR ARGUMENT.

Second Speaker, Affirmative = up to 3 minutes

Second Speaker, Negative = up to 3 minutes

Crossfire = up to 2 minutes

****3 minutes to research and conference with team****

THIRD ROUND: REBUTTAL and LAST CHANCE TO DRIVE HOME YOUR POINTS –LEAVE NO DOUBT

Final Focus: Affirmative: up to 1 ½ minutes

Final Focus: Negative : up to 1 ½ minutes

Remember civil discourse is KEY!!

You can lose a debate for speaking rudely even if you have the best information.

SCORING

You get points when you support your argument with strong

evidence.

You lose points when your opponent refutes your evidence.

You are also judged on your ability to handle yourself

appropriately respecting civil discourse.

Rude debaters lose points.

STRATEGY

• Work hard and don’t waste time.

• Anticipate what the other team will say.

• Build a sound case. Pick the three or four strongest reasons for

your side and support them with strong evidence.

• During the debate LISTEN! Find weaknesses in the other side.

Team members who are not speaking should be actively

researching facts brought up by the other side.

• The speaker should also take notes while the other side is talking.

• Speak clearly and logically.

DEBATE TOPICS

Please got to Edmodo RIGHT NOW and post topics you’d like

to debate.

RULES

You may not be happy with your team or your topic. Get over

it quickly as changes will not be made.

If you share information that could benefit one team over

another, you will be given an F for this assignment.

Civil discourse is expected throughout this assignment.

MEN ARE BETTER

DRIVERS THAN WOMEN

Affirmative (Left

side facing

podium)

Jax

Ryan

Will M.

Harrison

Alex

Negative (Right)

Katie

Elise

Breland

Belle

Erik

WOMEN ARE MORE

SUCCESSFUL IN ATHLETICS

AT CHS THAN MALES

Affirmative

Alyssa

Terri

Brandi

Shaleighya

Negative

Tommy

Thomas

Will T

Graham

Brandon

WORK SCHEDULE

December 2: Initial research

December 4: Complete research/Form arguments/Anticipate

the other side

December 6: PRACTICE speeches with teams, team members

provide feedback for improvement

December 10: DEBATE – Audience members (the other

debate topic groups) will judge. Special guests may also

judge.

DEBATE

NO eating – if you need a snack, you better step out in the

hall before the bell rings.

All phones are to be IN book bags when the bell rings. If I see

your phone, that’s points off for you and you hand it over.

iPads may be on for this work only. If you’re doing anything

else, it’s mine even if you have your speech on it.

You have a few minutes to review with your team. Remember

that you should do your best to maximize your speaking time

with PREPARED work – not by winging it. This would be a

good time for each speaker to practice his or her speech with

the group for content and time.

Who will be the researcher? Everyone on the team should

have paper and pen/pencil to take notes during the debate.

Topic____________

Affirmative/Negative

Levels of Performance

Criteria 1 2 3 4 SCORE

Organization and Clarity:

View points and

responses are outlined

both clearly and orderly.

Unclear in most

parts

Clear in some parts

but not over all

Most clear and

orderly in all parts

Completely clear and

orderly presentation

Use of Arguments:

reasons are given to

support viewpoint.

Few or no relevant

reasons given

Some relevant

reasons given

Most reasons

given: most

relevant

Most relevant reasons

given in support

Use of Examples and

Facts: examples and

facts are given to support

reasons.

Few or no relevant

supporting

examples/facts

Some relevant

examples/facts

given

Many

examples/facts

given: most

relevant

Many relevant

supporting examples

and facts given

Use of Rebuttal:

arguments made by the

other teams are

responded to and dealt

with effectively.

No effective counter-

arguments made

Few effective

counter-arguments

made

Some effective

counter-arguments

made

Many effective counter-

arguments made

Presentation Style: tone

of voice, use of gestures,

and level of enthusiasm

are convincing to

audience.

Few style features

were used; not

convincingly

Few style features

were used

convincingly

All style features

were used, most

convincingly

All style features were

used convincingly

Total Points:

How could this team improve their debate performance?

What were the strengths for this team?

Judge_______________________________________

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE BACK

OF A SCORESHEET. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES AND

PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF CAREFUL THOUGHT.

1. Do you believe your team or the opposing team won the

debate? Why?

2. What would you do differently now that you’ve completed

this assignment?

3. Who was most helpful in your group? Who was least

helpful?

4. On a scale of 1-100, what grade do you think you earned

for the research and preparation phase?

5. On a scale of 1-100, what grade do you think you earned

for the actual debate?

MEN ARE SMARTER

THAN WOMEN

2 literary quotes

2 famous quotes

2 scientific studies

2 quotes from people within this building