Group Argumentative Techniques

Out-of-class Projecting

Individual Work: Prepare to interact a debate on a topically relevant issue.

a) Appoint a person in charge who will work out a rough step-by-step sketch and conduct the debate in class.

b) Make a thorough study of the related sources and key vocabulary (Texts A, B, C, D, supplementary texts and reference materials). Study carefully the following guidelines on debate techniques and the sample debate project for reference and helpful ideas.

Debate Techniques

Debates always have a rigid structure. There are two teams each consisting preferably of three members[8]. One team is affirmative (A), that is, it plays pro; the other one is negative (N), it plays counter.

Speaker	Time	Role
A1	5 min	· Introduces and defines the proposition. · Presents all the team’s arguments in an organized way[9].
N2	3 min	· N2 is to cross-examine A1, trying to undermine A1’s arguments.
N1	5 min	· Generally accepts the definition. · Should not redefine. · Presents all the team’s arguments in an organized way.
A2	3 min	· A2 is to cross-examine N1, trying to undermine N1’s arguments.
A3	4 min	· Refutes the arguments of the Negative team. · Gives a final contrast of the cases to reinforce and prove the Affirmative case.
N3	4 min	· Refutes the arguments of the Affirmative team. · Gives a final contrast of the cases to reinforce and prove the Negative case.

Each argument should be supported with evidence (facts, figures, but no quotations or personal experience); it usually consists of maximum 3 sentences: the very statement and 1 or 2 sentences providing evidence for it.

In order to be ready for cross-examination and final statements teams will be given 1 or 2 minutes.

The winner is the team, which has more arguments that have been refuted provided that it has at least tried to refute as many as possible arguments of their opponents.

Debate Sample Project

(Pro-authoritatively sided)

Introduction

Recent fads in child upbringing research and broad-scale nationwide adjustments in social and economic institutions providing support for family stability have brought about a major clash between the advocates of the authoritative approach towards child-rearing and the proponents of “the liberated child” concepts. As sociologists, psychiatrists and other scholars are warning that a return to a balanced social life cannot be achieved without a reliable family base, family advisers from both parties are simultaneously striving to overcome the effects of too much permissiveness at home and to retain faith in “the liberated child” philosophy.

Definitions

Authoritativeness – a theory in child upbringing promoted by a group of scholars, which is based on harsh assertive parental authority, strict order and ample application of punishment; in extreme forms may be shifting towards familial dictatorship and authoritarianism.

Permissiveness – a theory in bringing up children that became popular through the writings of Dr. Benjamin Spock, by which a child is encouraged to behave without restriction. The theory is critical of any form of punishment and regards persuasion and discussion the main methods in raising children.

Sample Story

A lot of parents now seem to be turning on their own children. My mother tells me that when she goes to a party there is always talk of the children – but something has changed. Once the parents used to boast. Now they commiserate and exchange examples of their own sons’ and daughters’ awfulness. There was the case of the father who shot and killed his “uncontrollable” son, was tried for the crime and set free.

There was a poll in woman’s magazine in which 10,000 mothers were asked whether they would again choose to have children. Seventy per cent said they would not. Newspapers play up stories of youth gangs and violence while the public clamors for a “tighter rein”.

Sometimes the children do not even seem quite human: it’s difficult to picture the toughest, coolest ones crying, hard to believe they were ever babies. Even the children we choose as our movie and television stars are appealing, almost, for their very sinisterness. In a new movie last week a man tried to stab a 5-year-old boy to death and when he raised his knife over the boy’s throat, the audience cheered. This movie had to do with demonic possession, and the devil was personified by a child.

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