Debate
Debate is a formal discussion or argument where participants present and defend their opinions on a given topic. It involves structured rules, logical reasoning, and persuasive communication. Debaters present their viewpoints, counter arguments, and engage in rebuttals to persuade the audience or judges.
| Lesson | Description | Goals | |
| Lesson 1 Intro to Debate | Students are introduced to the world of debate and structure for constructing arguments. During debate course students will build arguments for action through a series of activities | Learn why facts do not win debates and an introduction to argumentation and logic. Have first practice debate and adjudication. | |
| Lesson 2 Arguments | Arguments are at the core of debate. Statements, explanations, examples and conclusions are needed to make strong arguments. Learn the 4 parts of a strong argument using the SEEC structure, which is the heart of every debate point. | Learn the SEEC structure of an argument. Practice use of SEEC. | |
| Lesson 3 Rules of Debate | Debate has rules of conduct commonly referred to as Robert’s Rules of Order which allow participants an equal share in the management of collective proceedings. | Participants learn and practice debating using the formal debate procedure. | |
| Lesson 4 Proposition | Learn the role of the prime minister in presenting the problem, as well as: offering to solve the issue through a motion. Define the terms of the motion, present the mechanism, and provide an introduction for the arguments in the next round. | Learn to establish a burden of proof. Create a string of arguments along with additional practice. | |
| Lesson 5 Motions & Definitions | Explore the different types of motions and how they interact with our approach to defining their meaning. Emphasis will be placed on closed, semi closed and open motions. How to use motions strategically by the proposition to improve position during the debate. | Learn how to interpret a motion. Find and define the key words. | |
| Lesson 6 Debate Speech Structure | Learn the structure of a debate speech. Present the problem, introduce the motion, introduce the argument points, deliver the arguments and conclusion. | Learn the Rule of Debate Speech. Practice writing an intro to debate speech. | |
| Lesson 7 Opposition | Learn the position of the opposition. This lesson emphasises methods that allow students to target weaknesses in the proposition argument. Students will learn how to predict what the proposition will bring to the table. Practice seizing the advantage by being prepared. | Learn the role of opposition, how to set a clash and the basics of case reconstruction and refutation. | |
| Lesson 8 Refutation | Students will be challenged by one another in a series of drills where they will need to present a coherent opposition to their classmate’s propositions. The more virtuous or self-evident the other side of the debate, the harder the time the student will have standing in opposition. | Learn how to find the weak points of arguments and formulate a response. Practice refuting arguments. | |
| Lesson 9 Prime Minister | Learn how to set up a debate in the role of prime minister, the first speaker of the proposition.Learn how to present the problem, introduce the motion, define the terms and set up the debate for the other debaters on both sides. Practise the prime minister role. | Learn how to present the problem, introduce the motion, define the terms, set up the mechanism and introduce the points. | |
| Lesson 10 Debate Competition | Full lesson debate competition. | Practice debate in a competition format using the skills learned over the semester. | |
| Lesson 11 Mechanisms & Policy | Students will learn how to handle the more grounded category of debate: a debate where the proposition will both propose a policy and explain how it will be executed.Students will take debate from theory to reality when they learn how to construct a plan of action to address the issues they claim need to be solved in their argument. | Examine both conceptualising new mechanisms entirely and using effective research to propose a plan based on a mechanism which already exists. | |
| Lesson 12 Analysis | Learn “Analysis” debates where participants compare ideas which are not mechanism or policy related. “Analysis” debates focus on debating ideas, whether their merit on their own or as a comparison between ideas. | Learn how analysis debates work. Practice setting up an analysis debate. | |
| Lesson 13 Research | Introduces students to the concept of breaking down a proposition to its key researchable components, and gives them the necessary tools to become independent researchers. | Teaches research methods to help students use their time efficiently when investigating how to construct an argument. | |
| Lesson 14 Decorum & Ettiquette | Presenting an argument in a polite and respectful way helps the audience accept a point. Points can still be made strongly without being rude. .In this lesson, students will practice etiquette while receiving guidance on common mistakes made while presenting their argument to an audience. | Students receive a preselected historical speech so that they can master its presentation. Feedback from the group. | |
| Lesson 15 Questions | Asking questions from the other side is learning how to ask questions of the other side during debate. Learn how to set up a future point or bring back attention to a previous one.Practice asking questions during a speech. | Learn how to ask for a Point of Information. Learn about protected time. | |
| Lesson 16 Extensions | New arguments are not always needed. Arguments can be made better and the analysis goes deeper. Learn when it is advantageous to revisit a previously explained argument to more effectively make your point.The class will be challenged to construct arguments for use in a shorter simulation, where their teammate will have to emphasise its usefulness by extending the argument into future rounds. | Learn how to build a case that a previous speaker started on the same side as yourself, building upon existing arguments.Practice extending existing arguments and show why your arguments are the most important on your side of the bench. | |
| Lesson 17 Whip | In this lesson the students will train how to end a debate through a starkly different role. The whip cannot bring new arguments and instead needs to analyse and present previously made arguments and discuss their respective strengths.Learn how to utilise the position of summary speaker and how to contextualise the debate for your side from this position. | Learn how a whip speaker takes notes during a debate. Practice active listening and note taking in order to summarise other speakers from the role of the whip. | |
| Lesson 18 Making your points important | An argument is strongest when it is correct and important. Learn how to make a point more important using different points of importance learned in the lesson. | Learn the 9 ways to make an argument more important. Learn about the tradeoffs.Use these tools to make an argument more important. | |
| Lesson 19 Persuasive Speech | The use of expertise to present yourself as knowledgeable, the use of emotion to connect with the audience, and the use of logic to rationalise your position. | Students are introduced to the three main categories of persuasion. | |
| Lesson 20 Prioritisation & Concession | The most important points come first. Learn how to identify which points are most important. Learn which points should be moved to the back and which points should be conceded or left out of the debate. | Learn how to prioritise points. Practice prioritisation and concession. | |
| Lesson 21 Teamwork | Debate is won and lost due to teamwork. Learn to work between teammates to divide points, questions and other responsibilities. Prioritise of the debaters should be | Learn how to identify strengths between debaters. Practice an organised distribution of responsibility. | |
| Lesson 22 Debate Tactics & Improvisation | Debate is not only arguments but also involves strategies and tactics to improve the chances of winning an argument. Learn different tools to use during a debate. Important when a participant needs to improvise during unexpected situations. | Learn debate tactics. Practice debate tactics and improvisation. | |
| Lesson 23 Preparation: Final Debate | Review everything and prepare for debate competition. | Prepare for the final debate competition. | |
| Lesson 24 Debate Competition | Review everything we’ve learned and prepare for debate competition. | Practice debate. Conclude program. |