Transcript The debate
The debate An opportunity to show your brilliance, strut your stuff, and grind the opposition beneath your intellectual heels Outline • Each team will have 4-5 members • The class period will be completely set aside for the debate • You will be given two eight-minute periods to provide your argument – You may include audiovisual material • You will have an opportunity to challenge your opposition after the official presentation – You will have the opportunity to respond to the challenges as well Timing • The affirmative team will have the first 8-minute period to present its case • The negative will then be provided 8 minutes to make its opening case • 2 minute break • The affirmative team will then be given 8 minutes to conclude its arguments and to respond to negative comments • The negative will then have 8 minutes • 5-minute recess • Each team has 4 minutes to close, negative first • Teams take turns asking questions of the other, starting with the negative team – 1-minute responses • After 2 questions per team, audience may ask questions Opening remarks • Affirmative: – Define terms • “When we say video games lead to war, we mean . . .” – State what you will show • “We will demonstrate that not only are video games more harmful than any earlier violent media, but that they directly contribute to war fever. . .” – Identify major evidence, logical flow of argument • “We will introduce poll data, experiments linking video game playing to violent behavior and . . .” – Begin the presentation of evidence Opening remarks • Negative: – Define terms • Identify any discrepancies with affirmative – State what you will show • Flaws in affirmative claims • Evidence directly in opposition to basic statement – Begin presentation of evidence • Tie to beginning of affirmative presentation Affirmative response • Be certain to conclude your basic remarks before responding to negative statements • Follow logical flow outlined in your opening • Be selective about evidence—strongest and most compelling is most valuable – Most arresting for presentation style • Once through with your basic presentation, attack most critical and weakest negative points – Prepare your responses to most likely negative points in advance of debate – Disconfirming evidence – Take points to their illogical end – Watch out for ad hominem attacks, guilt by association, etc. • Learn propaganda ploys, watch for them Negative response • Follow your game plan first, then respond to the affirmative – Do your best to provide a structure for your criticism— don’t just engage in scattershot sniping • Those not speaking should be actively working out response while speaker goes through basic arguments • Make sure you understand the critique before you try to rebut it Negative closing • Bring all your points together into categories and restate – “We can see from the evidence presented earlier, that the affirmative has depended on false premises ( XXXX), incorrect logic (XXX), biased reading of the research record (XXXX) and wishful thinking (XXXX)” – “We note once again that . . .” (Give your strongest evidence) – “And so, when these points are taken together, it is clear that we must reject the statement (restate the original statement) because it does not . . .” – Recommended close: “Thank you, oh wise and wonderful sage of media theory for allowing we who are not worthy to present our case to your exalted personage.” Affirmative closing • Reiterate your initial statement about how you would prove the assertion • Remind your audience of the evidence you have presented that demonstrates that the assertion is true – Be brief—just note the major points • “And so, as we have shown, the evidence proves beyond a doubt that . . .” • Recommended Thank the Great One even more felicitously than your opposition. Questioning period • Ask your most devastating question first. Be sure to ask it in a way that favors your outcome or makes it difficult to answer. • Prepare your best responses to the most likely questions beforehand. – Simple, direct answer – Evidence – Answer in way that questions opposition position Support for a statement/position • The best evidence is empirical research evidence • The next best is logic (be sure that it is compelling) • The next best is statements by experts, etc. • Demonstrating a point in the debate itself can be effective, but is risky • Beyond that, personal experience, news stories, historical examples, etc. All of these are pretty weak. What I will look for • A consistent, logically coordinated position – Big holes or arguing against yourself hurt • Powerful evidence/support for the position • Demonstration of background research • Compelling presentation – Including audiovisual materials