Blog (Free Choice) & Debate

During period 3, please do both of the following:

1. Post a blog entry on your blog concerning any topic you would like to write about.

2. Read and review the procedures for debating. We are going to try a little speech/performance activity next period and your understanding of how debate works is essential to your participation.

A. During period 4, we will gather in room a240 to debate various issues as posted on the sheet given to you during period 3. Look over this sheet and familiarize yourself with the issues.

B. Read and study debate procedure here:

A debate is a speaking contest between two or more speakers who have opposing views on a proposition.
1. Affirmative - (Pro) 2. Negative - (Con)

1. Affirmative:
A. Attack the way things are at present
B. Arguing that a specific change should occur
C. Proposes changes in the Status Quo. Must prove a problem exists and then must offer solutions

2. Negative:
A. Disprove or refute those attacks on the status quo (the way things are now or already established). You must prove that the status quo is correct.

Use Facts:
1. Facts: truthful evidence (LOGOS)
2. Case Studies: persuasive examples or anecdotes. (PATHOS)
3. Testimony: evidence and examples from outside sources; professionals, etc.(PATHOS)
4. Statistics: a type of "fact," although often not as truthful. Usually taken from a poll. Data is usually broken down into numbers. (LOGOS)
5. Quotes/narrative: anecdotes and stories (PATHOS)
6. Examples (PATHOS/ETHOS)

Use Reasoning (LOGOS)
1. Induction - specific facts or cases to general principles
2. Deduction - reason from general principles to specific cases
3. Cause to Effect - reasoning what began something to the present situation
4. Effect to Cause - reasoning from present situation back to its beginning
5. Analogy - using comparisons. Show truth through similarities.

Faulty Reasoning
1. Name calling - (using bad labels/slandering without evidence)
2. Card stacking - (One sided; talks only about one side of the argument) 3. Bandwagon technique - (Everyone's doing it...)
4. Glittering generality - (Using vague; or non-specific language)
5. Testimonial - (Using celebrities or people well known to push the issue)
6. Begging the question - (Speaker never proves their point)
7. Non sequitur - (Not organized or out of logical sequence)
8. Hasty generalization - (Not enough evidence to support opinion)
9. Propaganda - (Stating opinions as if they were fact)

Debate Sequence

1st Affirmative constructive speech
1st Negative constructive speech

Constructive speeches are designed to build a case for or against the subject. In your constructive speech, you want to clearly state your side and the reasons why you are for or against the subject. Do not refer to your opponent. This speech is about your stance and delivering your message to your audience only.

1 minute preparation

2). 1st Affirmative Cross-Examination
1st Negative Cross-Examination

Cross-Examination allows you to ask questions of the other speaker and get short answers to clarify their stance. Expose faulty reasoning or logic problems with your opponent's case. 1 minute preparation

3). 1st Affirmative Rebuttal & Conclusion
1st Negative Rebuttal & Conclusion
Rebuttals are short speeches which you try to comment on your opponents speech. Further strengthen your own case. Conclude or sum up your case clearly for your audience.