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DEBATING: A FEW POINTS
1. Debate is a method of interactive and representational argument.
2. In debating, one side often prevails over the other side by presenting a superior
"context" and/or framework of the issue
3. There are rules for people to discuss and decide on differences,
4. There is a framework defining how they will interact.
5. Formal debates between candidates for elected office: USA presidential debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMLXe1-EgQQ
6. Deliberative bodies such as parliaments, legislative assemblies, and meetings of all
sorts engage in debates
7. Audiences like logical consistency, factual accuracy and some emotional appeal
which are important elements of the art of persuasion,
STRATEGY: ADOPT THE MORAL HIGH GROUND
One such strategy is to adopt the Moral High Ground, consigning the other parties to
appear weak, even unethical. In this strategy, the party will try to illustrate the moral
benefits that their side of the debate brings to the table. i.e. more environmentally
aware, pro-human rights, better business, etc.
DEBATING SKILLS
The aim of doing debating exercises is that you can improve your skills in :
1. Leadership
2. interpersonal influence
3. team work
4. problem solving
5. presentation skills
This exercise requires research on the topic chosen so that you can present your position
first and then debate either in favour or against the issue at stake.
This is group work in that there has to be coordination in the activities going on at the
moment of debating to avoid overlapping of ideas, drying up or arguing for the sake of
arguing.
For this exercise, language skills like related lexical structures, appropriate grammatical
structures, body language and non-verbal communication are of the essence.
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YOUR JOB IS THREEFOLD,
1. you have to state your position supporting it with the research you have done
2. you will have to argue against other people’s position
3. you will have to finish your intervention rounding up the information in a more
personalised way
MODERATOR
The moderator
1. introduces the participants and says something about their background (books they
have written on the topic, articles, link to the topic);
2. why they are participating in the debate;
3. what they are going to say
The moderator
1. ensures that the debate runs smoothly
2. calms down people when they get irate
3. passes the baton from people to people by saying something that links both
people’s ideas
4. stops people when they are speaking too much
5. encourages people when they are not saying much
6. must continually move the debate forward
The moderator
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
rounds up the debate
summarises the points that have been made as they appear
gives a final choice for the participants to say a final sentence
closes the debate
gives a final summary of the main points
PARTICIPANTS
After the moderator’s introduction.
Each participant explains why he is there
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explains what his position is regarding this issue
Gives examples and quotations from various famous people to support his position
Listens attentively to others
Agrees or disagrees with other people’s points
Can get over enthusiastic about some points so that they moderator intervenes