Debate
Corey McCartney
Office: 425.408.7450
Classroom: 425.408.7570
Email: cmccartney@nsd.org
Website: www.nsd.org/cmccartney
2014 – 2015
Room 230
Description
Critical thinking, research literacy, communication and confidence are all enhanced
through Debate. To debate well is a powerful ability, requiring an awareness and
application of rhetoric, logic, research, and delivery. You will develop these skills in
Debate as we analyze literature and speech for its intent and effectiveness. You will
extend your ability to argue and reason effectively by emphasizing strategies of
argumentation in the context of an analytical essay and three formal debates. For
each debate you will select a topic, formulate an argument, research evidence,
construct a case, and deliver it to the class. Students of Debate enjoy great progress
over the course of our semester together. This is a senior-level English elective. You
will earn one semester’s English 12 credit upon completion.
Texts: The Debater’s Guide, Ericson et al.
Writing Analytically, Rosenwasser and Stephen
1984, George Orwell
Schedule
September
Introduction to debate: purpose, structure
Introduction to rhetoric
Overview of claims
Overview of evidence
Overview of reasoning
Film: 12 Angry Men
Topic selection process
Research methods & strategies
Topic selection and research for Debate 1
Case construction
October
Writing briefs
Strategies for delivery
Film: Public Speaking
Debate 1 (partner debate - Oxford format)
Debate 1 debrief
Film: The Great Debaters
Topic selection & research for Debate 2
November
Continued Debate 2 research
Introduction to cross-examination
Debate 2 (partner debate – Public Forum format)
Debate 2 debrief
December
Begin 1984, George Orwell
Topic selection & research for Debate 3
Debate 3 (individual debate - Lincoln-Douglas format)
January
Continued Debate 3
Debate 3 debrief
“We Like You So Much And Want To Know You Better”, Dave Eggers
Socratic Seminar, 1984 & “We Like You So Much…”
Introduction to symbolic logic
Course reflection
Necessary Materials




Dedicated Debate composition notebook
Pen, pencil, highlighter, sticky notes
Dedicated Debate organizer/folder
Planner/calendar
Technology in the Classroom
Turnitin.com
Significant coursework will be submitted electronically. Please enroll:
Website: http://www.turnitin.com
Course ID
Period 2: 8516623
|
Period 3: 8516633
Password: owls
Personal Electronics
Phones, tablets, audio players, 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 of this appropriateness. Repeated poor
judgment will quickly result in the loss of this resource. When not instructed to do
so, please ask permission before using any personal electronic 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. Earning a high grade in this class
should not be the object of your focus while participating in class. That would be like
gazing off at the prize on display while attempting to hit the bullseye in an archery
competition. You’d miss the target. Instead, I hope you come to view the task at hand
as most deserving of your full attention. Your involved participation, pride in work,
open mindedness, and willingness to grow intellectually will create your success in
this class.
The following percentages are approximations:
Classwork (e.g. debate feedback/ballots, note taking, in-class assignments): 20%
Homework (e.g. debate research, text annotation, take-home assignment): 20%
Test & Quiz (e.g. concepts, terminology quiz): 10%
Performance (e.g. three debate performances, three debate outlines): 50%
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 in-class 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
+
100%
+
90
50
75
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 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
The most vibrant classroom culture is one in which each student takes full
responsibility for oneself through constant awareness and self-monitoring, with
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 well
being 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 is a class
involves public speaking and intellectual risk-taking. Our classroom is 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.
I thank you for being a member of our class. I am excited to build a fun and
rewarding classroom community together as we share many good times in Debate!
Kind regards,
Corey McCartney
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Parent/Guardian Signature:
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