CSE3PE: Professional
Environment
The Debate
The Debate
• A debate is “a polite verbal battle”
• It may be used by an individual to reach a
decision or by an individual or group seeking to
secure a decision from others
• Success or failure in life is largely determined by
an ability to make wise decisions for ourselves
and to secure the decisions we want from others
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History of the Debate
• The debate has been used as an instrument
for dealing with the problems of society since
Aristotle and Plato
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Forms of Debate
• Debating teams
• Parliament
• Formal meetings
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Benefits of Debating
• Provides preparation for effective participation in
a free society
• Offers preparation for leadership
• Offers opportunity for investigation and intensive
analysis of significant contemporary problems
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Benefits of Debating (cont.)
• develops proficiency in critical thinking
• develops knowledge and purposeful enquiry
• develops an ability to make prompt analytical responses
• develops critical listening
• develops proficiency in writing
• is an integrator of knowledge
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Debating – How?
Phrasing the debate proposition
A. Controversy
B. One central idea
C. Neutral terms
–
–
–
–
Significant contemporary problem
Equal conflicting evidence and reasoning
Single declarative sentence
Avoidance of ambiguity
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What’s wrong with these proposition
examples?
• There are inadequate parking facilities on campus
• Should our university abandon intervarsity sport?
• University entrance requirements should be stricter
• The federal income tax rate should be limited to a
maximum of 25% and labour unions should be subject
to antitrust laws
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Debating – How?
The Sides
– Affirmative presents the proposition, defines the terms
(must make the interpretation clear) and states the
issues
– Negative can either accept the definition or offer
superior ones, accept the statement of issues, revise the
issues or offer additional ones
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Debating – How?
Analysing the problem
• Defining the terms
• Identifying issues – claims with answers that
directly prove or disprove the opposition
• Identifying contentions – need several to
support an issue
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Debating – How?
Exploring the problem
• Sources of material
Questions to ask
– Who is concerned with the proposition?
– Who is interested in securing the adoption of the proposition?
– Who is interested in preventing the adoption of the
proposition?
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Debating – How?
Organise your material
1. Evidence
– facts, opinions and objects that are used to generate
proof.
2. Credible evidence
–
–
–
–
sufficient evidence
clear evidence
authenticate, confirm & substantiate
statistically sound evidence
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Debating – How?
Units
1,010,000
US Machine Tool Production Skyrockets
1,009,000
1,008,000
1,007,000
1,006,000
1,005,000
1,004,000
1,003,000
1,002,000
1,001,000
1,000,000
Last Year
This Year
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Debating – How?
US Machine Tool Production Levels Off
Units
3,900,000
2,900,000
1,900,000
900,000
Last Year
This Year
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Debating – How?
Obstacles to clear thinking
– unsupported assertion
– are sufficient examples given?
– ambiguity
– loaded language
Attacking and refutation
– are opposition’s arguments relevant?
– don’t say “this is illogical” or “ridiculous”
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Debating – How?
Manner (Presentation)
• How argument is presented is as important as what is said
• Aim is to appear comfortable, convinced that the case you are
presenting is the only possible view of a rational person and
that you are letting the audience share your knowledge
• Natural, sincere, persuasive
• Notes should fit in the palm of your hand - A SPEECH READ
OUT IS NOT A DEBATING SPEECH
• Don’t use “I think” when trying to prove a proposition
• Presumptuous to state publicly that your opinion is proof!
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Singles Debate
Assessment
•
Matter
•
Manner
•
Method
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References
Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It
Counts (2009)
http://www.insightassessment.com/pdf_
files/what&why2007.pdf
Freeley, A. (1986) Argumentation and
Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned
Decision Making, 6th Ed., Belmont,
California: Wadsworth.
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