Piece Of Mind

DebateIV MedioBefore you debateYour need to be familiar with basic terminology:

Debate: is a game, from which two opposite teams give arguments to disagree one from the other.Resolution: is the topic to be discussed.Affirmative team: supports the resolution.Negative team: disagrees with the resolution.Rebuttal: is the explanation that each team has in order to support their ideas against the other team.Judges: they decide who wins the debate. ResolutionA resolution is an opinion, from which there can be valid disagreement.

How to give an opinion?I think that.. I believe that ..

How to give reason indicators?Because.Since.

Strong reasonsIt is important to have consistent ideas as a way to convince the judges why your opinion has fundament.

Strong reason qualities:

It logically supports the opinion.It is specific and states the idea clearly.It is convincing to a majority of people.Can you give examples of strong and weak reasons?Lets put this step into practiceWith your partner, think of at least one strong reason for each topic (for or against).1. Women should quit their job after they get married.REASON:

2. Love is more important than money.REASON:

3. It is better to be married than single.REASON:

4. Writing by hand is better than writing by computer.REASON:

BrainstormLets brainstorm controversial or noncontroversial issues that can be discussed.How to support your ideasThere are four kinds of evidence:

1. Example: from your personal experience, or from what you have heard or read.

Common sense: things you believe everybody knows.

Expert opinion: opinions from experts, this comes from research.

Statistics: numbers, this also comes from research.

ExamplesFor example / for instance / let me give an exampleWhenever I go to a restaurant or bar 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 thatSecondhand 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."Debate structure1.Create teams of 5 people: 2 agree, 2 disagree, 1 mediator.

2. Decide about the topic to be discussed

3. Look for reason why youve selected that resolution.

4. Identify personal point of view regarding the topic.

5. Agree and disagree with different opinions.

Debate structureSpeech 1: The first affirmative speaker introduces the topic and states the affirmative team's first argument.

Speech 2: The first negative speaker states their first argument.

Speech 3: The second affirmative speaker states their second argument.

Speech 4: The second negative speaker states their second argument.

Give a 5-10 minute break for each team to prepare their rebuttal speech.

Speech 5: The negative team states two rebuttals for the affirmative team's two arguments and summarizes their own two reasons.

Speech 6: The affirmative team states two rebuttals for the negative team's two arguments and summarizes their own two reasons.Debate structure1.Create teams of 5 people: 2 agree, 2 disagree, 1 mediator.

2. Decide about the topic to be discussed

3. Look for reason why youve selected that resolution.

4. Identify personal point of view regarding the topic.

5. Agree and disagree with different opinions.

The winner is the teams which convinces the judges with the best arguments.