PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
DEBATE ROTATION
Should the U.S. continue to send foreign aid to Egypt?
This issue has come to the forefront in Social Studies class this week! What is
your opinion? Can you do research to find evidence to support your opinion? Can you
find evidence to dispute your opinion? Would you be able to debate this topic and
persuade others to feel the way you do? If so, would you be able to listen respectfully
to your opponents and hear the reasons for their differing opinions?
During the next few weeks, you will be doing research on both sides of this issue.
You will express your opinions and showcase your knowledge of foreign aid to Egypt
through a formal debate presentation to be held on February 3, 2012.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Determine your RESOLVE (the statement that is debated). In this
case, sample resolves include:
The U.S. should continue to send foreign aid to Egypt.
or
The U.S. should not continue to send foreign aid to Egypt.
2. RESEARCH During this phase, you are trying to get as much
information as you can on BOTH sides. Even if you do not yet know
which side your team will debate, you need to understand the big
picture and as many issues as possible that can be used as arguments
for or against.
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PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
3. PLAN YOUR DEBATE
o Choose sides - Sometimes this is done by choice, often by a
coin toss!
o Continue research - Use encyclopedias, news sources,
personal interviews, and other tools to accumulate lots of
evidence to support your topic.
o Prepare your opening - When you know whether you are
debating the affirmative (pro) or the negative (con), you and
your teammates need to fine tune your arguments and
begin to prepare your first speech.
o DEBATE - There is a fixed order to speaking and questioning
during debates. Speak clearly, looking at your audience and
opponents. Do not simply read your prepared remarks.
Introduce your team, your argument, make your points, and
sum up. As you listen to speakers, take notes! You will use
these notes as you prepare your questions and new points
to argue.
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PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
IMPORTANT TERMS TO KNOW/ELEMENTS OF A DEBATE
Resolve
Definitions
Counter-plan
Conceding a point
EXPLANATION
A statement to be
argued in a debate.
The affirmative (pro)
side defines words
used in the resolve.
A new argument that
concedes (gives-in to)
some of the points
made.
Allowing the other side
to have a point, but
making a new one "on
top" of it.
Rebuttal
The final argument, in
which each team tries
to sum up for the
judges the reason their
team has proved
(affirmative) or
disproved (negative)
the resolve.
Courtesy and Respect These qualities are to
be shown at all times
during the debate
process.
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EXAMPLE
"Cats are better than dogs as
pets."
"Pets in this case means
animals to be kept in
apartments or houses."
"Cats may be better than
dogs in some situations, but
dogs can be trained as
helpful animals."
"Well, cats may be better in
size, but hauling all of the
kitty litter up to the
apartment is going to be a
pain. That's why a small dog
would be better."
PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
SAMPLE DEBATE INSTRUCTIONS
RESOLVE: __________________________________________________________
DEBATORS: _________________________________________________________
Affirmative vs. Negative
________________________________vs.________________________________
FORMAT OF THIS DEBATE: 10-minute debate
1. A coin toss will decide the choice of sides, followed by a 5-minute preparation
period before the debate begins. Remember, you need to consider arguments
and critiques for both sides of the proposal, even though you are arguing for only
one side.
2. First Affirmative Speech is to be no longer than one minute in length.
(Affirmative defines terms used in resolve.)
3. Questioning by Negative team will last for one minute.
4. First Negative Speech is to be no longer than one minute in length.
5. Questioning by Affirmative team will last for one minute.
6. Three minutes to prepare final argument: Rebuttal Speech.
7. Negative Rebuttal Speech 1 minute.
8. Affirmative Rebuttal Speech 1 minute (NOTE: In the rebuttal, the speaker may
not introduce new material that has not already been mentioned in the debate.)
9. Critique of Debate and Decision of Judges.
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PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
HELPFUL HINTS
 Your speeches should be organized and flow smoothly.
 Your team should show respect and courtesy at all times.
 Begin each speech by introducing yourself/teammates.
 Take notes during ALL speeches to prepare your speeches and questions.
 Support your arguments with convincing evidence or detail.
 Aim to cast doubt on the opposing argument: point out the flaws and
inconsistencies in opponents' arguments. Offer counter-plans.
 A successful debater must look at both sides of an argument!
Concede(give-in to) one point to better dispute another.
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PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
Use this sample as a guide when taking notes
during speeches and question/answer sessions:
AFFIRMATIVE NOTES
NEGATIVE NOTES
1. FIRST AFFIRMATIVE
2. NEGATIVE QUESTIONING
4. AFFIRMATIVE QUESTIONING
3. FIRST NEGATIVE
6. AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL
5. NEGATIVE REBUTTAL
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PBL: Foreign Aid to Egypt - OLYMPIANS 2012
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