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Introduction to Debate

Introduction to Debate. Debate. A debate is a discussion between sides with different views. Persons speak for or against something before making a decision. Debates are a means of encouraging critical thinking , personal expression , and tolerance of others' opinions . .

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Introduction to Debate

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  1. Introduction to Debate

  2. Debate • A debate is a discussion between sides with different views. Persons speak for or against something before making a decision. • Debates are a means of encouraging critical thinking, personal expression, and tolerance of others' opinions.

  3. Opinions and Reasons • The students either agree or disagree with the resolution regardless of what they personally believe. An opinion can be introduced by an opinion indicator: • "I think/believe that smoking should be banned in public places..." • A reason explains why that opinion is held and can be introduced by a reason indicator: • "...because/since secondhand smoke is harmful for nonsmokers."

  4. Strong Reasons versus Weak Reasons • A strong reason has the following qualities: • logically supports the opinion. • Specific and states the idea clearly. • Convincing to a majority of people. • Examples of strong reasons versus weak reasons: • Smoking should be banned in public places because: • it is bad. • it gives people bad breath and makes their teeth yellow. • Second hand smoke is harmful for nonsmokers.

  5. How to Support Your Opinion • Support consists of evidence. The four kinds of evidence are: • Example: from your own experience or from what you heard or read. • Common Sense: things that you believe everybody knows. • Expert Opinion: the opinions of experts -- this comes from research. • Statistics: numbers -- this also comes from research.

  6. How to Support Your Opinion (cont’d) Smoking should be banned in all public places. • Example: For example / for instance / let me give an example Whenever I go to a restaurant and there are people smoking near me, I feel that I am breathing their smoke. This makes me a smoker even though I don't want to be. • Common Sense: Everyone knows / if...then / it's common knowledge that Secondhand smoke is very unhealthy for nonsmokers. • Statistics: Secondhand smoke causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalizations each year. • Expert Opinion: According to.../ to quote.../ the book _____ says... According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year."

  7. How to Weaken the Opposing Opinion Predicting the Other Team's Arguments Each team must brainstorms a list of strong reasons that their opponents could use. This will help your team to be able to weaken their argument!

  8. How to Weaken the Opposing Opinion Cont’d Build your answer STEP 1: "They say ..." State the argument that you are about to refute so that the judges can follow easily. "The other team said that smoking is harmful for nonsmokers." STEP 2: "But I disagree..." Or "That may be true, but..." "That may be true, but I think that if nonsmokers want to avoid cigarette smoke, they can walk away from it." STEP 3: "Because ..." "Because nonsmokers should look out for their own health." STEP 4: "Therefore..." "Therefore it is not the responsibility of smokers to protect nonsmokers.“

  9. RESEARCH • Research is vital and cannot be avoided if you want to make a winning speech. • If you have information don't keep it to yourself, USE IT. • Look for facts and examples more so than statistics. • Your information should back up your argument. • Do not overuse research or statistics!

  10. Sources of Information • Internet: Type any subject into the Internet and you are likely to get back 100 sites with useful information.i.e. Debatabase.comand Youdebate.com • Brainstorming: This involves a group of people getting together to discuss a motion and come up with ideas. • Experts: You can interview experts in the field to get their opinions on the issues you are to debate. • Library: Look around the sections which relate to your topic i.e. relevant books and journals

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