Mini debate

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Roadmap

• Setup of a debate
• Content
• Tasks
• Concluding the debate
• Groups and topics

Set up of debate

• Each team: 3-4 members
• Timekeeper
• Judge -> class votes

• Presentations: 2 minutes per team
• Rebuttal (counter argument): 2 minutes per team
• Summary and conclusion: 2 minutes per team

In more detail:

1. Affirmative team presents first
2. Negative team presents second
   
   
3. Affirmative team presents rebuttal first
4. Negative team presents rebuttal second
   
   
5. Negative team presents summary and conclusion first
6. Affirmative team presents summary and concusion second

Content

First presentation:

• Clearly state your positions and substantiate with arguments

Rebuttal:

• Refute (prove false) the arguments of your opponent, or give counter-arguments.

Summary and conclusion:

• State your most important points and conclude

Tasks

Timekeeper: obviously keeps track of time (2 minutes), but also gives sign when 30 seconds are left.

Judges: which team had the most convincing argument?

Concluding the debate

1. The timekeeper announces the winner
2. The winner thanks the opposition
3. The opposition congratulates the winner

Which team convinced you with their arguments?

Affirmative team

Negative team

Some basic rules

• Agree to disagree:
• Remember, your opponent may not personally agree with the statement they are supporting
• You may not interrupt a speaker
• Everyone in the team speaks (eg share a 2 min slot)

The nitty gritty

Junk Food Should Be Banned from School.

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Should Meat Consumption be Banned?

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Should a Dress Code Be Enforced in School?

• Affirmative: 
• Negative: 

The nitty gritty

People should have to take a parenting class before having a child.

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Encouraging teenagers to read their own books in class: will that help?

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Sometimes it’s OK to cheat on homework or a test.

• Affirmative: 
• Negative: 

The nitty gritty

Should we ban homework: does homework promote learning?

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Students should be allowed to grade teachers.

• Affirmative team: 
• Negative team: 

Smartphones should be banned from school altoghether.

• Affirmative: 
• Negative: 

What next?

Research and prepare for the debate!

Work together

Don't forget to research what your opposition will say

Preparation: 

Date for debate:

Questions?

• Do we need a basic example?
• Or a bad example?