Teams will develop and advocate a position supporting or opposing one of the following debate propositions:
Each team will submit a 3-to-5 pages (Double-spaced, Font Size: 12, excluding reference list) of detailed proposal for your position. When you are proposing your argument, please try your best to use those science-based evidences, such as journal articles, to support your argument and opinion rather than just saying "I think" or "I believe". For example, it is considered as "science-based" if you find some studies to support your argument, and then you can say "according to the study/report of XXX." Each team is supposed to upload their proposal into the website before the due day. Note: there should be a reference list attached at the end of the proposal statement paper.
Each team is supposed to read the proposal of the other debate team (e.g., the team "leaders are born" versus the team "leaders are made") is going to write a rebuttal argument to the other team's proposal. Again, this rebuttal letter will be 3-to-5 pages (Double-spaced, Font Size: 12). Note: there should be a reference list attached at the end of the proposal statement paper.
Non-debating classmates represents the jury. Each jury member will need read the proposal statement and rebuttal statement of both teams. Then, jury members will need to evaluate the performance of two teams and write a brief comments and/or suggestions to two teams. The grading and written comments will contribute to your participation grade in the course.
The evaluation and grading of jury members will constitute 40% of the team's grade. The other 60% of the grade will be decided by the instructor. Below are the criteria that I will use in grading each debate team's proposal statement and rebuttal statement:
The presenters on each side of the issue should get together beforehand to organize, coordinate, and even rehearse their presentations. Before they arrive at the discussion, they should split up responsibilities (e.g., specific arguments and/or points) among them, making sure that their presentations are linked to, while not being redundant with, one another. They should also decide the order of their presentations.
Debate responsibilities can be structured as follow:
The stater. This person will be primarily responsible for stating the position taken by the group. He or she will bring up, point by point, the issues inherent in each part of the argument. A prepared written outline may be quite helpful, but direct reading of a prepared statement will not be appropriate. A conversational presentation of the position in the stater's own words will be much more acceptable.
The prover. The prover will be responsible for citing relevant research to back up any of the statements given by the stater and to try to strengthen the stater's arguments. He or she must have good knowledge of the empirical content of the positions taken and should understand the research supporting the side chosen. Any effort is legitimate for generating support for a position!!
The attacker. The attacker will be responsible for probing the opposite team for weaknesses in their arguments. He or she may question data, disprove, counter, and use any rational method to discredit the opposition's position or data. It is also strongly suggested that the attacker be very familiar with the articles and materials being used by the opposing team.
The strategizer. Work mostly with the attacker to anticipate the other sides' argument and try to provide counter argument to support the team's position. The strategizer will also be responsible for watching the flow of the arguments (provide back-up support to the team). At the end, the strategizer will summarize, recap the team's position and reinforce the main argument.