Starter quiz
- When we research a topic, what are we doing?
- gathering information and evidence from various sources ✓
- making up information to support our arguments
- writing out an argument in full
- deciding what we think about topic
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- Why might it be considered essential to use evidence in your arguments during a debate?
- to make your argument longer
- to confuse the other speaker
- to support your claims and make them more convincing ✓
- to show off your knowledge without needing to debate
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- Is the answer true or false? The word objection is a synonym for the word rebuttal.
- 'true' ✓
- Which word beginning with 'm' refers to the topic or statement that is being argued in a debate?
- 'motion' ✓
- Is the answer true or false? The person who moderates and organises the debate is called the opposition?
- 'false' ✓
- Which of these is not part of the success criteria for creating an effective opening argument in a debate?
- address the motion clearly
- adhere to the 3 minute time limit
- use specific examples and evidence to support
- use appropriate formal vocabulary
- be chatty and use slang to engage your audience ✓
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Exit quiz
- What is one of the first steps in preparing for a debate?
- memorising the whole speech
- understanding your position (for or against the motion) ✓
- writing a long essay about the motion
- listening to the opposing team's arguments
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- What is an important reason to reflect on your debate performance after it's finished?
- to forget what happened
- to criticise others
- to improve for next time ✓
- to make fun of mistakes
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- Is the answer true or false? When writing and preparing debate notes, you should write out the whole script.
- 'false' ✓
- Which of the following is not an example of efficient note-taking?
- writing out full sentences ✓
- highlighting key facts
- using bullet points
- underlining key information
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- Which of these would not be part of a success criteria to judge a debate?
- speech and body language
- strong content
- spelling, punctuation and grammar ✓
- logical structure
- effective rebuttal
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- What does 'anticipate' mean in the context of debating?
- to ignore the other team's arguments
- to copy the other team's points
- to finish your argument quickly
- to expect something and prepare for it in advance ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Planning is an important part of the debating process.
- Being prepared will mean you can confidently deliver your arguments and rebuttals.
- Positive body language can help if you feel nervous.
- It’s important to reflect after a debate so you can understand what to improve next time.
Common misconception
I do not need to plan for a debate.
To participate effectively in debate you will need to have clear arguments and rebuttals, that are backed up with evidence. Planning will ensure you can do this confidently.
Keywords
Initial - at the beginning; first
Anticipate - to expect something to happen and prepare for it in advance
Efficient - in note-taking, this means quickly capturing key information in a clear and organised way without wasting time or writing too much
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