Course Title: Debate I
Credit: One
Classification and Maximum Weight: Standard, 4.0 Quality Points
Recommended Prerequisites/Co-requisites: None
Recommended For Grade:
Course Code:

Course Description:

Debate 1 combines writing, research, and public speaking all into one class. At the end of the year, students will be expected to be able to do in-depth research on any teacher provided topic, write a detailed five-paragraph paper on the topic, and then to debate other students on various merits of the subject.

Research

Students will be given *teacher generated topics. They will learn how to take an initial point-of-view of the subject. Afterwards, they will learn how to do in-depth research on the subject (gather information). Once they review the information they have gathered, then they are to see if their initial point-of-view holds up. After they have found information supporting their point-of-view, they are then to find information supporting the opposite point-of-view. *[It is important to note that students will not be allowed to generate their own topics of interest. They will be subjected to using the topics the teacher provides.]

Writing

Students will be expected to write a detailed five-paragraph on their findings. Each essay should have a controlling idea (thesis statement) and examples from their research supporting their controlling idea. Each paragraph of the essay should have, at least, five sentences. Within the conclusion of each essay should be information concerning the opposite point-of-view than the students’. This should serve to strengthen the students’ point-of-view as he/she is acknowledges a different point-of-view, but rejects it in favor of his/her point-of-view based on the information the reader just read.

Public Speaking

Students will be required to report out concerning their point-of-view on the topic they did their research on. Students will learn how to stand in front of a podium and effectively deliver a speech in front of a room of twelve or ninety-three. To assist in this process the students will learn a process of delivering a speech call the D.U.O. method.

Debate

Students will learn how to hold a proper debate with a moderator as the epicenter of the forum. They will learn how to be succinct in expressing their (research based) opinions and how to do so in a very timely manner. Students will not be allowed to use their own topics for debate until the end of the school year when, hopefully, they will have mastered (somewhat) the processes of proper debating.

Debate Forum

The class will try to secure the auditorium for a high school wide debate forum, at least, twice in the school year. This forum will be similar to a political “town hall” debate with a moderator, a panel of debaters, and a microphone for the audience to participate by asking questions of the panel.

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