​Research: Cutting Cards (Day 1)

​Research: Cutting Cards (Day 1)

By Kevin Rogers

DOGS CAN TALK

Poll

Dogs can talk

• Affirm

• Negate

Read this article and find three to four sentences to support your opinion. Take around five minutes before advancing to the next slide

​The article assumes that “talking” is really just pushing buttons that have audio. That means, the affirmative side has plenty of arguments. What the negative side needs is a piece of evidence that defines the word “talk” as verbal communication.

​This is another example of how we break down the resolution and research every interpretation/ perspective, including basic words, terms, and phrases.

We’ve already learned that speeches are timed. That makes it even more important for debaters to decide exactly what needs to be cited to support their claims. As a reminder, claims are the titles given to each piece of evidence, which are also referred to as tags or taglines.

Cutting Cards

The term used to highlight the words and phrases that the debater will actually say in the debate, allowing the speaker to focus only on the most important parts of the paragraph.

The rules of debate require students to provide a full URL, so the citation can be confirmed, and it’s important that when they cut and paste they provide full paragraphs at a time. To make reading the case easier, students highlight ONLY the words they will read out loud. Some debaters will shrink or minimize the words they aren’t going to read out loud, so that reading the highlighted ones will be easier.

Open the "How to Cut a Card" document on Canvas and take notes on it as you watch this video.

Cutting Cards

Annotate the sample case on Canvas using the following guidelines:

Question - What questions do you have about why the case writer included some phrases in the highlighting of the sample case and not others?

 

Identify -Identify key terms and vocabulary that are relevant to the topic and/or the activity of debate.

 

Predict - Do you see a pattern in how this case writer cut the cards?

 

Summarize - After reading the cases, summarize why the case writer chose to highlight those particular phrases and sentences

​Using the highlight feature and the article about dogs (linked on Canvas), come up with at least ONE claim to support Hunger’s position that Stella can talk. You can write your claim on the top of the article. You will use the highlight feature to “cut a card.”

​Research definitions that support your claim and to find additional articles that support Hunger’s position. Remember to include or check the following:

• Is there an author listed?

• Is the name of the article or the website listed?

• Are credentials provided? (you'll need to research what isn't readily provided in the article)

• Is there a publication date?

• Does the highlighting support the claim?

Cut two cards on your own

Exit Ticket (on Canvas)

Now that you have read about Hunger’s methods, would you still choose your original position (aff/neg). Write at least one paragraph stating why or why not and what was the most convincing evidence either way?