PREPARING FOR A PREPARING FOR A DEBATE DEBATE

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION

Debate is an excellent activity for language Debate is an excellent activity for language learning because it engages students in a learning because it engages students in a variety of cognitive and linguistic ways. The variety of cognitive and linguistic ways. The purpose of this workshop is to make you purpose of this workshop is to make you understand upon this point by providing a understand upon this point by providing a step-by-step guide that will give teachers step-by-step guide that will give teachers everything they need to know for everything they need to know for conducting debate in an English class. conducting debate in an English class.

Why debate ?Why debate ?

Why debate?Why debate?

It is fun

People stare at

you and we feel

important

GIVES OPORTUNITIES TO DEFEND IDEAS

IT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE SPEAKING

IN PUBLIC

age of reason

Shows intelligence of

mind

Testimonies Testimonies

Work cooperativelyWork cooperativelyHave the possibility to get new friendsHave the possibility to get new friends It is a systematic work, students must It is a systematic work, students must

be persistant.be persistant. Invest a lot of time Invest a lot of time Have the opportunity to express ideas Have the opportunity to express ideas Students can get good skills to develop Students can get good skills to develop

for forward professional careers for forward professional careers

So what is debating So what is debating

Debate is Debate is

   a formal discussion between people a formal discussion between people

who are expressing opposing views who are expressing opposing views with the aim of persuading an with the aim of persuading an audience to agree with them. audience to agree with them. Debates are a common ingredient in Debates are a common ingredient in many of the decision-making many of the decision-making structures of democracies. structures of democracies.

RationalRationalUses examplesUses examplesFocus on an issueFocus on an issueStructureStructure

MAIN FEATURES MAIN FEATURES

WHAT IS THE FORMAT WHAT IS THE FORMAT

The room layout and speech order for this The room layout and speech order for this

format of debateformat of debate::

Different kind of debates Different kind of debates

CourtroomsCourtrooms Public meetingsPublic meetingsAcademic conferencesAcademic conferencesParliaments and legislative Parliaments and legislative

chamberschambersModern schools’ debatingModern schools’ debating

Modern schools´debating Modern schools´debating

It is called ‘parliamentary’ style debating. It contains the It is called ‘parliamentary’ style debating. It contains the following essential elements:following essential elements: an agreed an agreed motionmotion for debate – a proposal or belief that for debate – a proposal or belief that

can either be endorsed or rejected;can either be endorsed or rejected; two sides to argue for endorsement or rejection;two sides to argue for endorsement or rejection; rules to ensure fairness, such as a prescribed number of rules to ensure fairness, such as a prescribed number of

speakers on each side; a fixed time allocation for each speakers on each side; a fixed time allocation for each speaker; and a fixed order of speaking;speaker; and a fixed order of speaking;

a neutral chairperson or speaker to enforce the rules;a neutral chairperson or speaker to enforce the rules; a notional ‘audience’ who must take the decision to a notional ‘audience’ who must take the decision to

endorse or reject the motion – in competitions this endorse or reject the motion – in competitions this notional audience is represented by judges who assess notional audience is represented by judges who assess how persuasive the teams have been.how persuasive the teams have been.

RULES OF THE DEBATE RULES OF THE DEBATE

Motion most of the time is given by PIAP. Motion most of the time is given by PIAP. Two teams: proposition and opposition. Two teams: proposition and opposition. Teams don´t choose the side of the motion they Teams don´t choose the side of the motion they

are asked to argue for.are asked to argue for. Four students by each team and they speak once Four students by each team and they speak once

during the debate . during the debate . There must be a chairperson. There must be a chairperson. Teams will present speeches alternatelyTeams will present speeches alternately Speeches must not exceed three minutes in Speeches must not exceed three minutes in

lengthlength

MORE RULES MORE RULES A timekeeper will time the speeches and make agreed A timekeeper will time the speeches and make agreed

signals to let speakers know when they have one minute signals to let speakers know when they have one minute left and when they have run out of speaking time.left and when they have run out of speaking time.

There will be a break of ten minutes between the third There will be a break of ten minutes between the third opposition speech and fourth proposition speech. opposition speech and fourth proposition speech.

Speakers will not respond to comments or questions Speakers will not respond to comments or questions from the audience immediately – their teams will have a from the audience immediately – their teams will have a chance to respond in the fourth speeches.chance to respond in the fourth speeches.

The final speeches on each side are called summary The final speeches on each side are called summary speeches, and must not contain new arguments.speeches, and must not contain new arguments.

Teams must behave in a courteous way at all times.Teams must behave in a courteous way at all times.

COMING UP WITH MOTIONS COMING UP WITH MOTIONS AND REASONS AND REASONS

  The first step when preparing for a The first step when preparing for a

debate is to come up with motions debate is to come up with motions and reasons for why your team is and reasons for why your team is right. This is something that can be right. This is something that can be done as a whole class in school, or done as a whole class in school, or just with the team.just with the team.

Brainstorming Brainstorming

First of all, get the pupils to quietly think of First of all, get the pupils to quietly think of as many reasons as they can, as many reasons as they can, independently. The pupils should be independently. The pupils should be encouraged to write down anything that encouraged to write down anything that comes to mind.comes to mind.

RESEARCH RESEARCH

When everybody has thought of, and written When everybody has thought of, and written down, all the reasons that they can think of the down, all the reasons that they can think of the pupils should be encouraged to read up about the pupils should be encouraged to read up about the topic, either in the school library or on the topic, either in the school library or on the internet.internet.

GROUPING REASONSGROUPING REASONSto make the motion stronger to make the motion stronger When all the reasons that the pupils can think of When all the reasons that the pupils can think of

are displayed where they can be easily seen are displayed where they can be easily seen (don’t worry at this stage if more than one person (don’t worry at this stage if more than one person has written the same reason – this is very likely to has written the same reason – this is very likely to happen and probably indicates that it is a good happen and probably indicates that it is a good reason) try to group together those arguments reason) try to group together those arguments that are similar.that are similar.

AFTER GROUPING REASONSAFTER GROUPING REASONS

When this process is complete you should When this process is complete you should have a few (perhaps two, three or four) have a few (perhaps two, three or four) broad groups of reasons to support your broad groups of reasons to support your team’s point of view, each containing a team’s point of view, each containing a few more specific, related reasons. At the few more specific, related reasons. At the moments, these reasons are just moments, these reasons are just assertions – that is, opinions without any assertions – that is, opinions without any explanation or proof. The next step of explanation or proof. The next step of preparation is to turn these reasons into preparation is to turn these reasons into arguments.arguments.

Games preparing for a Games preparing for a debate debate

ICEBREAKERS: ICEBREAKERS: ALLEY DEBATE ALLEY DEBATE THE WHY GAME. THE WHY GAME.