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Crystal Faye
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If so, what type of debate do you do?
Crystal Faye said:If so, what type of debate do you do?
Do you mean like Forensic debate in high school? My younger daughter was a top debater, I was a judge. (couldn't judge her debates though)Crystal Faye said:If so, what type of debate do you do?
Evo said:Do you mean like Forensic debate in high school? My younger daughter was a top debater, I was a judge. (couldn't judge her debates though)
This was part of the National Forensics League.
http://www.nflonline.org/AboutNFL/AboutNFL
mattmns said:Ahh debate, could there be a bigger waste of time?
Blasphemy!Jeff Reid said:I only debate on forums like this. Especially when someone posts anything postive about "It's a Small World", or goes off topic.
Wow, don't know where you went to school, but that's not how it is here in the US.Pythagorean said:I usually get annoyed at people debating just to debate. I can't think of the exception, but usually it means they're practicing their persuasion. They're usually a certain sort of political science or a philosophy major, and when they're just learning their major, it's like they're trained (without even having developed their own opinion) to start arguing and making it sound like they're right. The truth seems to be irrelevent.
In my communications class (core requirement), they used Hitler as an example of how to be persuasive. I don't know if this shocks you, or makes you roll your eyes that I'm shocked at it, but it's everything that I"m ethically against as a scientist-in-training, where we try to be informative rather than persuasive.
I'm not saying all political science and philosophy majors are like this, some have actually developed their opinions to a certain point before discussing them, at which point it becomes a 'discussion'.
'Discussion' to you may be no more than a high-quality debate, but as far as I've seen, most 'debates' are 'pseudo-discussions.'
Evo said:Wow, don't know where you went to school, but that's not how it is here in the US.
When you are on the debate team, you are given a topic and you and you're partner (you are always teamed with someone) must research both sides of the subject and be prepared to argue for or against it. On the debate day, the students are given a schedule and they know which hours they will debate and which team they will debate against. When they show up for the debate, they are then told if they are debating for or against the subject. You might be for the issue one hour, then against it the next.
The debates are judged on how well the student presented their argument, how they countered the opposing team's argument and their closing case. There are rather strict guidelines that need to be followed. It is very interesting to watch, especially when you have two good teams up against each other.
Debate is learning about how to do research, presenting a case, public speaking, etc...
Because debate is like two trial lawyers both trying to win their case, they may not believe in their client, but their job is to present the most compelling case using whatever evidence they have, and to present their case to the best of their ability. This is a very important quality for a public defender. Debate is training for these types of jobs. You need a sharp wit, ability to listen and comprehend, while changing your strategy to counter the opposition, think and change course on the fly, excellent memory, excellent oratory skills, and come across as sincere (not mechanical) to your audience.Pythagorean said:I'm in Alaska... which is kind of the US, but more like the US 20 years ago (politically).
What you described seems like a civilized version of what I said. They argue both sides of the argument. Why even take sides? what benefit does that provide if you're just doing it to persuade and convince? Why not actually seek the truth instead of argue the suggestions brought about by it? Why not discuss it? Why not explore it, experiment with it?
Evo said:Because debate is like two trial lawyers both trying to win their case, they may not believe in their client, but their job is to present the most compelling case using whatever evidence they have, and to present their case to the best of their ability. This is a very important quality for a public defender. Debate is training for these types of jobs. You need a sharp wit, ability to listen and comprehend, while changing your strategy to counter the opposition, think and change course on the fly, excellent memory, excellent oratory skills, and come across as sincere (not mechanical) to your audience.
It also teaches you that there is more than one side to an issue and that you can't discuss one side if you don't know the other side. It teaches you to have an open mind.
It's very tough, not many can do this well. It is NOT a discussion. In a court room, you don't play with the evidence and "explore it" with the opposing factor. It's not a love fest.
Presidential "debates" are nothing more than mud slinging contests.Pythagorean said:The presidential debate? Useless! Such a powerful position should be inspected by one's past actions, not their ability to persuade the public they're supposed to be serving.
There are several different types of debate formats, including policy debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, parliamentary debate, and public forum debate. Each format has its own rules, structure, and focus.
Policy debate focuses on a specific policy proposal, while Lincoln-Douglas debate focuses on moral and philosophical issues. Policy debate also typically involves teams of two, while Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one format.
Parliamentary debate is a more informal format that mimics the debates in the British Parliament. It involves two teams of two debaters each, and allows for more flexibility and spontaneity in arguments and rebuttals.
The judge's role is to evaluate the arguments presented by each team and decide which team has presented the stronger case. They must also consider the style and delivery of the debaters, as well as their ability to effectively refute their opponent's arguments.
To prepare for a debate, you should research the topic thoroughly, understand the rules and structure of the format you will be using, and practice constructing and delivering arguments. It is also important to be familiar with common debate strategies and fallacies.