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Assignment 4: Debate (note: this assignment is subject to change)
To be held in section, 12/3-12/7
Format:
Two four-member teams will constitute each debate. The instructor will
select each team's participants. Debate questions will be distributed
one week in advance of the debate. Each team will know the question to
be debated, but their particular stance as well as presentation order
will be determined with a coin toss immediately preceding the debate.
Each debate will last a total of 34 minutes. Time limits will be strictly
observed. The structure of the debate is as follows:
Team one presents the affirmative position-5 minutes
The argument is introduced
Evidence is submitted to support the argument
Team two presents the negative position-5 minutes
The argument is introduced
Evidence is submitted to support the argument
No direct response is made to team one
Team one reintroduces the affirmative position-5 minutes
Secondary arguments are introduced
More evidence is submitted
The negative position's evidence and arguments are refuted
Team two reintroduces the negative position-5 minutes
Secondary arguments are introduced
More evidence is submitted
The affirmative position's evidence and arguments are refuted
Team one cross-examination- 5 minutes
Request clarification of terms and evidence
Team two cross-examination- 5 minutes
Request clarification of terms and evidence
Team one rebuttal-2 minutes
Team two rebuttal-2 minutes
Evaluation Criteria:
Each team will receive a group grade.
Grades will be distributed according to the following criteria:
Have both teams provided clear coherent arguments?
Have both teams met the burden of proof? In other words, is adequate evidence
provided?
Were presentations clear and persuasive?
-Are the speakers easy to understand?
-Do the speakers make eye contact with the audience?
-Is the team's delivery both dynamic and effective?
Organization
-Are the presentations well organized?
Effectiveness of argumentation and reasoning
-Is the team able to confront opposing arguments and rebuild their own
case?
-Do the speakers find flaws or inconsistencies in their opponent's reasoning?
-Were the arguments and counterarguments presented logically consistent?
Overall, teams will be graded not only on the content of their presentations
but also on the clarity and persuasiveness of their presentations. In
presenting evidence and in making your arguments cite readings and authors
for support.
Working in Groups:
Clearly, one of the most important parts of this exercise is working well
as a group. Successful teams will adopt a division of labor that plays
to their strengths. The first debater of each group will have ample time
to prepare a well thought out presentation. The second debater, and especially
the third, will have to think on their feet to refute and respond to the
opposition's arguments, claims, and evidence on short notice. The division
of labor you adopt will also play an instrumental role in how effectively
you prepare for the debate. Remember that most of the real work will take
place prior to the debate while you are researching, holding mock debates
amongst the members of your own group, and writing responses. Careful
preparation is essential to effective presentation.
Questions:
1) Is ethnic partition an effective method of mitigating ethnic conflict?
2) Are states and state policy primarily responsible for the formation
of national identity?
3) Does globalization promote democracy and rights?
4) Will a clash of civilizations‚ be the defining characteristic
of the post-cold war era?
5) Are human rights universal?
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