Debate Topic 2019-2020
"Resolved: The benefits of drones outweigh the costs."
https://sites.google.com/site/utahdebatecoachesassociation/middle-elem
What is debate?
A debate is a formal disagreement. There are usually two sides, the pro/affirmative side agrees to the resolution and the con/negative side disagrees with the resolution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB3vEzu6gUo
Debate structure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zZ4YEuThRw
Research pages for more information about drones
March 17/18
Listening Skills
One of the most important parts about a debate is being able to listen carefully to your opponent. If you don't listen well, you will not be able to hear their claims/contention and won't be able to rebuttal, which is another key part of a debate.
Watch this example debate video and listen for the contentions/claims. Write each one of the contentions down in order for both the affirmative/pro and the negative/con sides.
Elementary debate/Utah state debate 2019: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RaJEwNSHVu4yHUIOIvejI6MDzlGA4gMK/view
March 30/31
Watch these example debate videos and listen for the contentions/claims. Write each one of the contentions down in order.
Should animals be kept in zoos?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbC5xsO5Pow
Cats vs dogs: Which is better? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HnZaPSaJE
April 1/2
Rebuttals/Refutation
An attack against the other team's argument. Prove how the other team's arguments aren't solid and your arguments are better/more solid/have more (and/or better) evidence.
Watch the following video and write down the main parts of a rebuttal/refutation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6_6i-OJ_e4
Steps for a Rebuttal
1. Identify the other team's argument.
Our team stated...
2. State the counter argument.
Our opponents said...
3. Provide reasons for the counter argument is not important.
However...
4. Show why your original argument is more important than their refutation.
Therefore, our argument is still true...
Practice listening to the videos above again, creating rebuttals for the different contentions.
April 6/7
Watch the first video above (you just need to listen to the first round) and write down 3 rebuttals, 1 for each contention from either the affirmative/pro side or the negative/con side.
April 8/9
Watch the next two videos and do the same thing as you did with the first video. Listen to all of these videos since they are short. Write down 3 rebuttals, 1 for each contention from either the affirmative or negative side.
"Resolved: The benefits of drones outweigh the costs."
https://sites.google.com/site/utahdebatecoachesassociation/middle-elem
What is debate?
A debate is a formal disagreement. There are usually two sides, the pro/affirmative side agrees to the resolution and the con/negative side disagrees with the resolution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB3vEzu6gUo
Debate structure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zZ4YEuThRw
Research pages for more information about drones
- https://www.popsci.com/article/technology/25-reasons-love-drones/
- https://vittana.org/14-vital-pros-and-cons-of-drones
- https://junior.scholastic.com/issues/2017-18/042318/invasion-of-the-drones.html#1160L
- https://junior.scholastic.com/issues/2016-17/010917/drone-deliveries.html
- https://drones.procon.org/
- https://www.philforhumanity.com/Drones.html
- https://improdrone.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-drones/
- https://fulldrone.com/pros-and-cons-of-drones/
- https://expandedramblings.com/index.php/drone-statistics/ (Smith, 2019)
- https://fulldrone.com/no-drone-zones-updated-by-the-faa/
March 17/18
Listening Skills
One of the most important parts about a debate is being able to listen carefully to your opponent. If you don't listen well, you will not be able to hear their claims/contention and won't be able to rebuttal, which is another key part of a debate.
Watch this example debate video and listen for the contentions/claims. Write each one of the contentions down in order for both the affirmative/pro and the negative/con sides.
Elementary debate/Utah state debate 2019: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RaJEwNSHVu4yHUIOIvejI6MDzlGA4gMK/view
March 30/31
Watch these example debate videos and listen for the contentions/claims. Write each one of the contentions down in order.
Should animals be kept in zoos?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbC5xsO5Pow
Cats vs dogs: Which is better? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HnZaPSaJE
April 1/2
Rebuttals/Refutation
An attack against the other team's argument. Prove how the other team's arguments aren't solid and your arguments are better/more solid/have more (and/or better) evidence.
Watch the following video and write down the main parts of a rebuttal/refutation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6_6i-OJ_e4
Steps for a Rebuttal
1. Identify the other team's argument.
Our team stated...
2. State the counter argument.
Our opponents said...
3. Provide reasons for the counter argument is not important.
However...
4. Show why your original argument is more important than their refutation.
Therefore, our argument is still true...
Practice listening to the videos above again, creating rebuttals for the different contentions.
April 6/7
Watch the first video above (you just need to listen to the first round) and write down 3 rebuttals, 1 for each contention from either the affirmative/pro side or the negative/con side.
April 8/9
Watch the next two videos and do the same thing as you did with the first video. Listen to all of these videos since they are short. Write down 3 rebuttals, 1 for each contention from either the affirmative or negative side.