DEBATE
Fall, 2007 English 2100T Joanne Grumet
1. The following topics have been chosen for debate:
The Drinking Age should be 18
Gays should be allowed to marry
Abortion should remain legal in the US.
2. Half the members of the group will be support the proposition, and half will oppose it. (Your personal views need not correspond with the position you will be defending). Each speaker will have 3-5 minutes during the debate in class to make one point and to defend that point with evidence. After everyone has made his or her point, you will make a counterargument against your opponent’s position. Your opponent will then have the opportunity to make a brief defense of his original position. One member on each side will introduce the group’s position and another will make a conclusion for the side.
3.In the Computer Lab this Wednesday , share resources with your entire team. Make sure to print out all the material you will need for your debate. You will need to hand into the teacher copies of the material you actually use in your debate.
4. Each side will spend the allotted time developing reasons, arguments and evidence which support its position. Keep a record of these ideas and information.
5. The two groups in each team will then discuss the issue being analyzed. As you discuss these issues, pay particular attention to the following points.
a. Listen carefully to the points being made by your opponent.
b. Comment directly on the points when the opposing member has finished.
c. Keep a record of the additional insights regarding the issue you are debating. These notes can be used for reference during your debate in front of the class and in your paper that you submit to the teacher.
6. In the final presentation, each team will have 30 minutes.
7. Each person will be graded according to the following.
a. Did the speaker speak loud enough?
b. Did the speaker speak clearly?
c. Did the speaker make a clear point?
d. Was the speaker able to make a rebuttal?
8. Students will hand in a paper based on their position in the debate, including a point made by their opponent and a counterargument.
Papers are due on November 5.