Guidelines for Debates

Before you participate in any type of debate, it is important to read and review both sides of the debate issue. It is also important to remember that you are working in groups and to predetermine the role of each member of your team as soon as your team has been formed. Delegating a specific task of each team member will save you time and allow your team to work efficiently and effectively. Your team should research both sides of the debate issue in order to successfully prepare for the debate. Each team member is responsible in turning in a one-page outline to the instructor of the key points, arguments, and facts of the debate.

Terms

1. Argument: a position or statement of opinion to be supported.
2. Contention: as part of an argument, a contention is a statement to be proven.
3. Affirmative: the positive side (pro) of the debate that supports the resolution statement.
4. Negative: the side of the debate that is against the affirmative position (con).
5. Resolution: a specific statement of what is to be proven or refuted.
6. Refute: to disprove.
7. Rebuttal: questions to challenge points made by the opposition.
8. Summation: conclusion
9. Brief: pre-planned statements of the position prior to the rebuttal.
(Lindenberg, 2002).

Research

Each team is required to locate the following Web sites.
In order for students to be able to research and prepare for the abstinence debate, each team is required to locate the five Web site, print the various articles, summarize all the information gathered, and identify the key points to be presented in the debate.

a.) Log on and locate: Centers for Disease Control Web site:
www.cdc.gov, go to health topics A-Z , double click on the adolescent and
teens link to the "Reproductive Health in Teens" to the "Fact Sheet" link in
the upper right hand corner of the page, double- click on the Fact Sheet,
print the article and read it.

b.) Log on and locate: The Heritage Foundation: http://www.heritage.org , place a search on "abstinence." There are several articles on abstinence, select #1: BG533 (04/08/02): "The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth: The Heritage Foundation." Print the article and read it.

c.) Log on and locate: Plannedparenthood Web site:
www.plannedparenthood.org., place a search on "reducing teen pregnancy",
print article #1: "Reducing Teen Pregnancy" and article #3 " New Research
Identifies Effective Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs." Print both articles
and read both articles.

Strategies

1. Keep emotion out of the debate. A successful debate is based on
organization, facts, and articulate verbal skills.
2. Stay focused on the issues of the debate. If a team attempts to distract you,
reorganize your team and stay focused on the task at hand.
3. Use formal language and appropriate body language.
4. Select your facts and statements wisely. One person who had a bad experience is not an expert on the subject.
5. Your arguments and facts should be concise and consistent.
6. Know the opposing side of the debate as well as your side.
7. Save your best statements, facts, and information for the summation of the
debate.
(Lindenberg, 2002)

Grading:
Overall quality of the debate: 50%
Overall presentation of the debate (arguments): 25%
Individual outlines: 25%

Debate Procedures

Each team will be given 5 minutes to present their side of the debate. A coin toss will designate which team will go first. A 3-minute break will be given at the conclusion of the case presentations.

The Audience: Students who are not involved in the debate will still be graded on audience participation. Grading will be based on students asking questions and clarifications of the debate issue. Students are to submit 1-2 questions and clarifications on an index card to the teacher (who is also the debate moderator).

During the 3-minute break, audience members will submit their questions to the moderator (teacher) and the two teams will prepare their rebuttal statements. Each team will be allowed a 3-minute rebuttal. Each team will conclude with a 1-minute summation statement. At the conclusion of the debate, the moderator will ask each member of the audience to submit an anonymous vote. After the vote has been declared, students will be asked to reconvene in a large group for a question and answer period.