DEBATE Henriette Despaux (PAD Zona Ruta 5)

OPINIONSBUILDING THE PILLARS OF YOUR DEBATE

CASESUPPORTING YOUR OPINIONORGANIZING YOUR OPINIONREFUTING EXPLANATIONSORGANIZING YOUR REFUTATIONDEBATING AN OPINION

1. OPINIONS

• The OPINION in a Debate is called:

a PROPOSITION or RESOLUTION

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

TEAM TEAM

2. BUILDING THE PILLARS OF THE DEBATE CASE

EXPLAINING YOUR OPINION:EXPLAINING YOUR OPINION:

• Opinions are based on reasons which Opinions are based on reasons which must be explained. must be explained.

• Without explaining the reasons for an Without explaining the reasons for an opinion, COMMUNICATION breaks down.opinion, COMMUNICATION breaks down.

• Provide reasons that other people find Provide reasons that other people find reasonable and convincing.reasonable and convincing.

a) GIVING REASONS:

We often : make a comparison.

show a contrast.

show a Cause-and-effect relation

b) LET’S PRACTICE GIVING REASONS: - ‘Give me one reason why……- Opinions: Teenagers should not smoke

Only police should have guns!

Drinking too much alcohol is not healthy

2 IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR BUILDING A STRONG CASE IN DEBATE ARE:

• BRAINSTORMING: In groups brainstorm reasons for a resolution (opinion).

Write as many reasons as you can in 5 minutes.

• PRIORITIZING: Look at the other team’s reasons.

Do they have the same reasons?

Do similar reasons have the same priority in all groups?

3. SUPPORTING YOUR OPINION

• Once an opinion is given and the reasons for holding that opinion are clearly explained, those reasons need to be supported with evidence.

• EVIDENCE can be in the form of:

- an explanation.( If we don’t….., we will…..)

- an example (Let me give an example, for instance…)

- statistics (20% of all women…/ One out of 5 women….)

- expert opinion (According to Dr…/ A recent article in

….. stated that …..)

EXAMPLE:

• OPINION:

There should be no school uniforms.

• REASON:

Because school uniforms are not comfortable.

• SUPPORT:

They are often too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.

4. ORGANIZING YOUR OPINION

• The first speech in a debate is called:THE AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECHTHE AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH

It has 3 parts: It has 3 parts:

introductionintroduction

affirmative points (2 or 3)affirmative points (2 or 3)

conclusionconclusion

EXAMPLE:• INTRODUCTION:

‘Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today, we are debating the resolution, ‘SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED’. ‘SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED’. We, on the affirmative team, strongly support this resolution. We have 3 reasons: health, hospital costs, and pollution.health, hospital costs, and pollution.

• POINT 1:POINT 1:

Our first point is health.Our first point is health.

Cigarettes fill your lungs with poisonous chemicals, causing cancer Cigarettes fill your lungs with poisonous chemicals, causing cancer and lung disease. and lung disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, every cigarette you According to the American Cancer Society, every cigarette you smoke shortens your life by approximately 7 minutes.smoke shortens your life by approximately 7 minutes.

• POINT 2:POINT 2:

Our second point is hospital costs.Our second point is hospital costs.

Smokers cost the country a lot of money.This is because smokers get Smokers cost the country a lot of money.This is because smokers get cancer and other diseases more than non-smokers. Smokers miss cancer and other diseases more than non-smokers. Smokers miss more work, and spend more time in the hospital.more work, and spend more time in the hospital.

Also, according to the Ministry of Health, the average smoker requires Also, according to the Ministry of Health, the average smoker requires over $200,000 in hospital costs over the course of their lives.over $200,000 in hospital costs over the course of their lives.

• POINT 3POINT 3::

Our third point is pollution.Our third point is pollution.

Cigarettes make the air dirty. This is because when people smoke, Cigarettes make the air dirty. This is because when people smoke, they blow many poisonous gases into the air.they blow many poisonous gases into the air.

This is a big problem on train platforms, where many people ignore the This is a big problem on train platforms, where many people ignore the No Smoking signs and blow smoke in your face.No Smoking signs and blow smoke in your face.

• CONCLUSION:

We have talked about health, hospital costs and We have talked about health, hospital costs and pollution. We have shown clearly that cigarettes pollution. We have shown clearly that cigarettes should be banned. For these reasons, we beg to should be banned. For these reasons, we beg to propose.propose.

5. REFUTING EXPLANATIONS• Examples of stating a refutation: (page 67)1. Signpost: Their first point was…./They talked about..

They mentioned….

2. Rephrase: They said that…../The other team said…

3. Negation and why: This is not true. /The whole point about….. Is not relevant…./ that is not important.

4. Rationale: There is no connection between…./the difference is too small to be important.

6. ORGANIZING YOUR REFUTATION• INTRODUCTION:

Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today we are debating Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today we are debating the resolution. the resolution. ‘All people should be vegetarians’.‘All people should be vegetarians’. We, We, on the negative team, strongly oppose this resolution. First, on the negative team, strongly oppose this resolution. First, I will refute the affirmative side; then I will give our points.I will refute the affirmative side; then I will give our points.

• REFUTATION 1:REFUTATION 1:

Their first reason was Their first reason was healthhealth. They said that it is not healthy . They said that it is not healthy to eat meat since it is high in fat and difficult to digest. We to eat meat since it is high in fat and difficult to digest. We have 2 responses. First, it is not true that meat is difficult to have 2 responses. First, it is not true that meat is difficult to digest. Our bodies are made to digest both meat and digest. Our bodies are made to digest both meat and vegetables and second, it is not always true that meat is vegetables and second, it is not always true that meat is higher in fat than vegetables. Some fruits and vegetables, higher in fat than vegetables. Some fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and avocados, have a lot of fat.such as bananas and avocados, have a lot of fat.

• REFUTATION 2:

Their second reason wasTheir second reason was animal rights. animal rights.They said that They said that animals have a right not to suffer. We have 2 responses. animals have a right not to suffer. We have 2 responses. First, it is not true that animals have rights. Rights come First, it is not true that animals have rights. Rights come from our country’s Constitution, and it says nothing about from our country’s Constitution, and it says nothing about animals. Second, animal rights are not as important as animals. Second, animal rights are not as important as human rights, and if we stop fishing or raising animals, human rights, and if we stop fishing or raising animals, millions of people in the food industry will lose their jobs.millions of people in the food industry will lose their jobs.

• REFUTATION 3:REFUTATION 3:

Their third reason was Their third reason was the environmentthe environment. They said that . They said that fishing and raising animals harm nature. We have one fishing and raising animals harm nature. We have one response. It is not necessarily true. It is possible to raise response. It is not necessarily true. It is possible to raise animals and catch fish without harming the environment.animals and catch fish without harming the environment.

• TRANSITION:

I have refuted the affirmative’s points. Now, I will give ours. I have refuted the affirmative’s points. Now, I will give ours. We have three points: We have three points: health, the economy, and taste.health, the economy, and taste.

• NEGATIVE POINT 1:NEGATIVE POINT 1:

Our first point is health. We must eat meat and fish in order Our first point is health. We must eat meat and fish in order to stay healthy. Meat has a lot of protein, and fish has to stay healthy. Meat has a lot of protein, and fish has both protein and iodine. It is difficult to get these both protein and iodine. It is difficult to get these nutrients from vegetables.nutrients from vegetables.

• NEGATIVE POINT 2:NEGATIVE POINT 2:

Our second point is the economy. Millions of men and Our second point is the economy. Millions of men and women work in agriculture, fishing and the food industry. women work in agriculture, fishing and the food industry. If we stop eating meat, they will lose their jobs.If we stop eating meat, they will lose their jobs.

• CONCLUSION: We have talked about health, the economy and We have talked about health, the economy and

taste, and have shown that we should not all be taste, and have shown that we should not all be vegetarian. For these reason we beg to oppose.vegetarian. For these reason we beg to oppose.

7. DEBATING AN OPINION

• The last speeches in a debate are The last speeches in a debate are called the REBUTTALS. called the REBUTTALS.

• The purpose of a rebuttal is to The purpose of a rebuttal is to summarize the debate and explain why summarize the debate and explain why your side has won.your side has won.

EXAMPLE:• Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have been debating the Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have been debating the

resolution, ‘……..’. We have clearly shown that this is (or is not) true. resolution, ‘……..’. We have clearly shown that this is (or is not) true. Let’s look at the major points of this debate:Let’s look at the major points of this debate:

• Their only important points have been….Their only important points have been….

• They lose their point about ……. :They lose their point about ……. :

- because they never gave any reason or support.- because they never gave any reason or support.

- because it is not true/important since…..- because it is not true/important since…..

- because they never showed that it was more important than our point… - because they never showed that it was more important than our point…

• We win this point because…. We win this point because….

- they never talked about it.- they never talked about it.

- they never gave any reason why it’s not true or important. - they never gave any reason why it’s not true or important.

• We win this debate because …We win this debate because …

- their points have fallen, while our points still stand.- their points have fallen, while our points still stand.

- the most important point in this debate is …. Which we have won.- the most important point in this debate is …. Which we have won.

How to Judge a Debate?

• Relax and follow your feelings.• Compare the two teams in three areas:

- MATTER : refers to team’s logic and reasoning.

- MANNER : refers to team’s speaking style.- METHOD : refers to team’s organization.

• Flow the debate (take notes).• Fill in a judging form.