Debate FormatDebate Format

Grade 9 English Language ArtsGrade 9 English Language Arts

Ms SnowMs Snow

May 2015May 2015

Opening ArgumentsOpening Arguments

5 minute maximum5 minute maximum The purpose of the opening argument is to present The purpose of the opening argument is to present

your position on the issue you are debating your position on the issue you are debating (Supporting side goes first)(Supporting side goes first)

The purpose The purpose IS NOTIS NOT to discuss how the other side to discuss how the other side is wrong, but how your side is is wrong, but how your side is RIGHTRIGHT (you should (you should not mention the opposition at all)not mention the opposition at all)

This is the only opportunity you have to present your This is the only opportunity you have to present your case and provide evidencecase and provide evidence

Work TimeWork Time

With your partner, team, or on your own, begin With your partner, team, or on your own, begin drafting your opening argumentdrafting your opening argument

You need to make sure your ideas and points You need to make sure your ideas and points are organized and all support your positionare organized and all support your position

Put your strongest reasons at the beginning Put your strongest reasons at the beginning and endand end

Time yourself – you should be close to, but not Time yourself – you should be close to, but not over, the 5 minute markover, the 5 minute mark

How to word your argument How to word your argument opening and transition opening and transition between pointsbetween points

When you begin your opening argument, you When you begin your opening argument, you should have an opening line that clearly states should have an opening line that clearly states your position on the issue/topic.your position on the issue/topic. For example: We strongly oppose/support…For example: We strongly oppose/support…

When you transition from point to point, you When you transition from point to point, you need to be clear that you are making a new need to be clear that you are making a new pointpoint For example: The most important reason we For example: The most important reason we

believe/think OR Another reason we OR We would believe/think OR Another reason we OR We would argue that OR Furthermore OR We would ask that argue that OR Furthermore OR We would ask that you consider…you consider…

Opening Argument Opening Argument TimelineTimeline

I will read the resolution statement for the debateI will read the resolution statement for the debate

Supporting side will present their opening argument (5 min max)Supporting side will present their opening argument (5 min max) Opposing side will have a chance to ask any clarifying questions Opposing side will have a chance to ask any clarifying questions

(no challenge at this point) 2 min max(no challenge at this point) 2 min max

Opposing side will present their opening argument (5 min max)Opposing side will present their opening argument (5 min max) Supporting side will have a change to ask any clarifying questions Supporting side will have a change to ask any clarifying questions

(no challenge at this point) 2 min max(no challenge at this point) 2 min max

3 minute work period – each team will have 3 minutes to collect 3 minute work period – each team will have 3 minutes to collect their thoughts and come up with a response/challenge to discredit their thoughts and come up with a response/challenge to discredit their oppositiontheir opposition

Next StepNext Step

As you prepare for your debate, you As you prepare for your debate, you need to anticipate what the other side is need to anticipate what the other side is going to argue and be prepared to going to argue and be prepared to challenge it and provide an alternative in challenge it and provide an alternative in your favouryour favour

With your partner, group, or on your own, With your partner, group, or on your own, make a rough list of what you anticipate make a rough list of what you anticipate the other side will say and prepare the other side will say and prepare information/stats/points to counterinformation/stats/points to counter

After the “Work Period”After the “Work Period”

Once the 3 minute work period is over, the debate Once the 3 minute work period is over, the debate resumesresumes Supporting side will have 3 minutes to challenge what the Supporting side will have 3 minutes to challenge what the

opposing side claims and to respond to claims made in the opposing side claims and to respond to claims made in the opposing side’s opening argumentsopposing side’s opening arguments

Opposing side will have 1 minute to respond ONLY to Opposing side will have 1 minute to respond ONLY to information presented in the 3 minute challengeinformation presented in the 3 minute challenge

Opposing side will have 3 minutes to challenge what the Opposing side will have 3 minutes to challenge what the supporting side claims and to respond to claims make in the supporting side claims and to respond to claims make in the supporting side’s opening argumentssupporting side’s opening arguments

Supporting side will have 1 minute to respond ONLY to Supporting side will have 1 minute to respond ONLY to information presented in the 3 minute challengeinformation presented in the 3 minute challenge

ClosingClosing

2 minute work period – formulate a conclusion. YOU 2 minute work period – formulate a conclusion. YOU CANNOT INTRODUCE NEW MATERIAL IN THE CANNOT INTRODUCE NEW MATERIAL IN THE CLOSING, but you can include any points made by CLOSING, but you can include any points made by EITHER side during the debate. Your closing should be EITHER side during the debate. Your closing should be somewhat planned before hand. However, you may somewhat planned before hand. However, you may want to leave some space and time to include anything want to leave some space and time to include anything that comes up from the debate that you feel that comes up from the debate that you feel strengthens your positionstrengthens your position

Closing statementsClosing statements Supporting side – 1 minuteSupporting side – 1 minute Opposing side – 1 minuteOpposing side – 1 minute

What you should have What you should have prepared beforehand…prepared beforehand…

Outline/draft of your opening argumentOutline/draft of your opening argument Points you anticipate you will need for the Points you anticipate you will need for the

challengechallenge Outline of closing statementOutline of closing statement Any notes or information you would like Any notes or information you would like

to have/consult/quote/refer to. YOU WILL to have/consult/quote/refer to. YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR NOTES! No tech!OTHER THAN YOUR NOTES! No tech!