Debates are important in the English class for students in 3rd and 4th year (ESO) at Los Tilos.
These have been the topics covered this term:
3rd Year A: Should irresponsible people pay to be rescued?
3rd Year B: Should you make your friends in real life or in cyberspace?
4th Year: Is grafitti street art or vandalism? Modern Art... Is it real art?
Debates can be a highly effective form of teaching and I really love seeing my students fully engaged when they participate in this activity!
We always decide the topic to be covered around two weeks before the debate and then the groups start their research and work. Some students might be debating positions opposite to their beliefs.
These are some important aspects that I consider when I give marks to my students in a debate:
- It's really important to do some research and work before the debate: bring up facts, statistics, studies and important points.
- The two debate groups (pro and con) must participate equally. Members of both groups will have uninterrumped time to explain their position.
- If students begin talking at the same time or making fun of each other, the whole team will lose points.
- The debating teams will have to introduce their points of view at the beginning of the debate and give a conclusion at the end. Each team will name a spokesperson to do so. The spokespersons will also speak whenever it is their team's turn to speak and nobody else has more contributions to the debate. They will "fill these pauses" and give the rest of the students in their teams time to think.
- Examples are always welcome, but make sure that they are relevant to the topic at hand.
- It's always positive to bring some visual aids.
- In debating, each team will present points in favour of their case. They will also spend some time criticising arguments presented by the other team. This is called rebuttal. Rebuttals are highly and positively marked and are more desirable than mere expositions.
- Take notes about important points stated by the other team during the debate. It will help you to rebut them later.
- To say that the other side is wrong is not enough. You have to show that the other side is wrong. This is best done by taking a main point of the other side's argument and showing that it does not make sense.
- Do not rebut points that still have not been presented by the other team.
- Do not criticise the individual speakers, criticise what they say. Criticising the individual speakers does not make what they say wrong and it will make your team lose marks.
- Pay attention to body language, voice, grammar and pronunciation!
You can also visit this page from the BBC or this one to read more about debating skills.
Helena.
