Debate Lesson 1

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Contents

What is a debate

Pre-fase: Before you formulate

• What is an argument
• Difference between facts and opinions
  
• Kinds of arguments
• Fallacies

Assignments

Lesson objectives

Know:

What a debate is.

The basics of formulating an argument.

Can:

Formulate arguments with the help of an example.

Write down in your own words what you think a debate is.

Till 2:20

Facts and opinions

What is argumentation =

Trying to convince someone that you're right

In hopes that someone will change their point of view

Divided in two parts 1) Point of view 2) Argument

Difference between a fact and an opinion =

Fact = Known or proved to be true

Opinion = A view or judgement formed about something, doesn't have to be a fact

Example

E.g. argumentation =

School can't start before 10 AM. Young adolescents have more concentration during the day than in the morning.

E.g. fact and opinion =

Fact = A yellow banana is ripe

Opinion = I don't like the color orange

Write down a fact and opinion in the following way:
Fact:
Opinion:

Go to Teams and make assignment 1 & 2.

Students get 5-7 minutes to complete this assignment. They can use the internet to finish assignment 2.

Formulating arguments

To formulate an argument there are 4 structures you can use.

• Single argument
• Underlying argument
• Independent argument
• Dependent argument
  

Formulating arguments

Single argument

Easiest one of them all. Only uses 1 argument to strengthen your point of view.

Formulating arguments

Underlying argument

An underlying argument makes use of connecting arguments to strengthen your point of view. They are used together and are linked.

Formulating arguments

Independent argument

With an independent argument you have two arguments who are independent from each other. They don't need each other to have a strong point of view.

Formulating arguments

Dependent argument

With a dependent argument you have two arguments who
are dependent upon each other. They need each other to have a
strong point of view.

Which argument structure is the most difficult?

Single argument

Underlying argument

Independent argument

Dependent argument

Go to Teams and make assignment 3, 4 & 5.

Students get 15-20 minutes to complete this assignment. They can use the internet to finish assignments.

Fallacies

Fallacy = faulty reason / a failure in reasoning which makes the argument invalid / a mistaken belief based on an unsound argument.

6 kinds of fallacies =

Circle reasoning

Generalization

Use of authority

Exaggeration

Hiding evidence

False dilemma

Explanation

Circle reasoning = Your point of view becomes your argument

E.g. = Yellow chairs are ugly, because this color is not suitable for chairs.

Generalization = Something that happens once becomes your evidence

E.g. = Smoking is not bad for you, because my grandpa lived till he was 98 and smoked two packs a day.

Appeal to authority = Use of in-justification of authority

E.g. = Dutch economy is only saveable if the government takes charge of all banks.

Explanation

Exaggeration = Only showing one side of the argument and making to prettier than it is

E.g. = Everybody must own a dog. It makes people happier and healthier.

 Ad Hominem = Being manipulated, people are afraid of going against your argument.

E.g. = Everybody knows this. You're smart enough to know this too. You should understand this.

False dilemma= Giving people only one choice to believe something.

E.g. = Scientists can't explain everything, so it must be the work of aliens.

Go to Teams and make assignment 6.

Students get 10 minutes to complete this assignment. They can't use the internet. 

Recap

Did we meet the lesson's objectives?

What do we understand so far?

Where do we need extra practice?