Debate Introduction

PHSC 3500 Solar & Alternate Energy
Debate Introduction

Introduction

There are two major projects for the semester, one of which is our end of semester debates. These will account for 10% of the final grade, with a further 10% assigned to a final paper which is based on the debates. There will be class time devoted to preparing for the debates, including a discussion of the procedures, with the actual debates being held during the last classes of the semester. With approximately 38 students still active in the class I am expecting to have six debates in total, two each on the last three days of class.

What does it mean to be in a debate?

First of all, what does it not mean?

It does not mean a competition, at least not one to establish the truth of one side of the argument, or to prove the other side's argument as invalid ⁽¹⁾. All of our debates have no definite answer, and in all debates both the pro and con side have valid points of view.

It does not mean that you are going to beat your opponents into submission.

It does not mean that you are going to win the debate by suddenly surprising your opponents with a surprise statement.

It does not meant that you are going to argue the facts. They have already been established.

So, what does it mean?

A cooperation between both teams to bring out the arguments for and against the proposition, so that the audience can make up their own minds.

A presentation of the facts from different perspectives.

A prime example of the debate idea is the whiskey speech given by then-Rep. N.S. "Soggy" Sweat Jr. on April 4, 1952, while the prohibition issue was before the Legislature. In essence he debates himself, offering both sides of the argument, from the same "facts" but from two different points of view.

Debate Preparation

Before the debate takes place you need to accomplish the following tasks.

Meet with your teams members, and decide what your main point(s) of argument should be. Try to keep it a minimum.
Meet with your opposition, and

decide what there is that you agree on, what are the facts. There is no point in spending time discussing anything upon which you have broad agreement (such as definitions, data). Save your time for the issue(s) to be debated.
Agree on what you will debate. Keep it short, there is not enough time to introduce more than two debatable points, and one would be better
Share your information. Remember this is a cooperation, not a fight to the death. By the time the debate starts you should know not only what you are going to say, but also what the opposition is going to say. Anything that has not been shared is not admissible.

Make signs/posters/PowerPoint slides to help in your debate. Again, keep to a minimum.

Debate Tactics

Although you cannot 'win' a debate, you can attempt to sway the audience towards your point of view. There are three tactics you can use to help your case

logos - based on logic or reason. Scholarly arguments should be logos-driven.
pathos - based on emotion. Advertisements tend to be pathos-driven.
ethos - based on the character of the speaker. You have to be (or at least appear to be) believable, informed, honest, etc.

See also Logos, Ethos and Pathos by Mike Callaway, Department of English, Arizona State University

Some Internet Resources