Debate
Corey McCartney
Office: 425.408.7450
Classroom: 425.408.7570
Email: cmccartney@nsd.org
Website: www.nsd.org/cmccartney
2015 - 16
Room 230
Description
Logical thinking, organization, research literacy, and communication are all benefited by
Debate. To debate well is a powerful ability, requiring an awareness and application of
information, reasoning and delivery. You will develop these skills in Debate as we analyze
media of various forms for its intent and effectiveness. You will extend your ability to
argue and reason effectively by learning to construct a sound argument and listening to
evaluate others. In this semester-long course, you will perform three formal debates and
one individual speech event of your choice. For each you will select a topic, research
evidence, formulate an argument, construct a case, and deliver it in front of our class. If
not yet, you’ll come to find debating to be fun. Really! You’ll also enjoy your great
progress over the course of our semester. This is a senior-level English elective and you
will earn one semester of English 12 credit upon completion.
Texts: The Debater’s Guide, Ericson et al.
50 Essays, Samuel Cohen
Writing Analytically, Rosenwasser and Stephen
Films: The Great Debaters (2007) (PG-13)
12 Angry Men (1957) (NR)
The King’s Speech (2010) (selected scenes) (R for language)
Calendar
September
Debate: purpose and structure
Rhetoric
Claims
Evidence
Reasoning
Flowing
Topic selection
Research methods
Debate 1 topic selection
Debate 1 research
Case writing
October
Public speaking strategies
Film: The Great Debaters
Debate 1: Oxford format (partner debate)
Debate 1 debrief
November
Speech analysis: Presidential race speeches and debates
Debate 2 topic selection
Debate 2 research
Cross-examination
Debate 2: Public Forum (partner debate)
Debate 2 debrief
December
Film: 12 Angry Men
Symbolic logic
Debate 3 topic selection & research
Debate 3: Lincoln-Douglas (individual debate)
Debate 3 debrief
January
Film: The King’s Speech
Advanced speech delivery
Speech/Individual Events:
 Dramatic Interpretation
 Duo Interpretation
 Editorial Communication
 Humorous Interpretation
 Impromptu
 Extemporaneous
 Original Oratory
 Poetry
 Prose
 Storytelling
Necessary Materials

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


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Dedicated Debate notebook
Dedicated Debate organizer/folder
Pen, pencil, highlighter
Sticky notes/note cards
Timer/phone/watch
Planner/calendar
Technology in the Classroom
Turnitin.com
All debate cases will be submitted electronically. Please enroll at turnitin.com:
Website: http://www.turnitin.com
Course ID: Period 3: 10435317
Period 4: 10435325
Period 6: 10435336
Password: owls
Personal Electronics
Phones, tablets, etc. may be utilized as classroom resources, but only at appropriate times
and for appropriate purposes. It is a class objective that all students develop excellent
judgment for this. Repeated poor judgment will quickly result in the loss of this resource.
When not instructed to do so, please ask permission before using a device in class.
Assessment & Policies
The grade you earn in this class is an indicator designed to reflect your achievement in
reaching objectives that will be clearly specified. Your involved participation, pride in
work, open mindedness, and willingness to grow intellectually will create your success in
this class.
Classwork (e.g. debate feedback/ballots, note taking, in-class assignments): 30%
Quizzes/Puppies (i.e. concepts, terminology, logic): 10%
Performance (i.e. three debates with cases, one individual speech): 60%
Deadlines
If you fail to meet a deadline on an assignment, then it is likely due to one of two reasons:
(1) If you have been absent, then you will be given the number of days absent as the
number of days to make up all missed work for full credit. One exception to this is for inclass participation, which occurs in class only (e.g. seminar, debate, puppy). An absence
during an in-class participation assignment will result in an alternate assignment will be
assigned. (2) If you have not been absent, then 10% will be subtracted from the grade of
the late assignment for each class day that it is late. No assignment will lose more than
50%, no matter how late it is submitted.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking another’s work or idea and submitting it as one’s own.
Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in receiving no credit for that assignment
and contact with home. Collaboration and plagiarism are different things. If you are ever
unsure of what constitutes plagiarism, just ask.
Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
100–93%
92–90
89–87
86–83
82–80
79–77
76–73
72–70
69–67
66–60
59–0
4.0-3.8
3.7-3.4
3.3-3.1
3.0-2.8
2.7-2.4
2.3-2.1
2.0-1.8
1.7-1.4
1.3-1.1
1.0+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
(based on collegeboard.com)
Attendance & Tardiness
Arriving less than 10 minutes late is marked as tardy.
Arriving more than 10 minutes late is marked as absent.
Unexcused absences will receive a phone call home from the WHS attendance desk.
Attendance errors are easily resolved by the student collecting the appropriate form at
the attendance desk, getting the teacher’s signature, and returning it to the attendance
desk. Regarding school attendance policies, see WHS Handbook.
Classroom Principles
A vibrant classroom culture requires that each student takes full responsibility for
oneself through constant awareness and self-monitoring with only occasional helpful
feedback from peers and teacher. Some essential rules will be established at the
beginning of our class and additional rules will be dispensed and enforced as is necessary
to fully protect the emotional, intellectual, and physical wellbeing of all class members.
Rules are limitations, and progress will be hindered by having too many of them in our
class. It should be a shared goal of all class members, then, to always act responsibly and
keep additional rules unnecessary. This class involves public speaking and intellectual
risk-taking. Our classroom is a place to seek understanding and express a multitude of
controversial ideas. It is essential that it remain a safe, respectful environment for
speaking, listening and exploring.
Thank you for being a member of our class. I am excited to create a fun and rewarding
semester together. Let’s plan on sharing many good times in Debate!
Kind regards,
Corey McCartney
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please sign below if you have read and understand this syllabus.
Student Signature:
_________________________________________________________________ Date _________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:
_________________________________________________________________ Date _________________________
I give my permission for my child to view the film The Great Debaters (PG-13). If no, an
equivalent assignment will be provided:
Yes
No
_____________ (initial)
I give my permission for my child to view the film The King’s Speech (R). If no, an
equivalent assignment will be provided:
Yes
No
Return by _________________________________________________
______________ (initial)