Speech/Debate

What is a debate?

• A fist fight
• A formal argument that follows specific rules.
• The point you are trying to prove.
• Something you catch fish with.

If you are in favor of the proposition, you are...

• on the pro side
• on the con side
• optimistic
• hyperbole

The proposition is "We should not have school dances in middle school."  Jamal thinks we should have school dances.  Jamal is:

• on the pro side
• on the con side
• a dancin' fool
• hyperbole

Another word for counterargument is:

• kitchen debate
• rebuttal
• hyperbole
• contrast

The proposition is "School should start late."  The argument is "We would get more sleep and do better."  A possible counterargument is:

• No way. You're dumb.  
• If school started late, we'd get out too late to play sports against other schools.
• Also, research has proven that teenagers naturally go to sleep later and need to sleep longer in the mornings.
• If we didn't have to get up early, we'd just stay up later, and not get any more sleep than we do now.

Which of the following is a proposition that could be debated?

• All police officers should wear body cameras.
• The 2nd amendment gives us the right to bear arms.
• 2+2 = 4
• My favorite protest song is "Strange Fruit."

What is an argument?

• How I talk to my mom.
• A set of reasons or claims to persuade an audience
• A set of affarmiatives to persuade an audience.
• A set of rebuttels to persuade an audience

There are two sides to every argument.  They are...

• the counteragument and the counterclaim. 
• the negative and the claim.
• the affirmative and the claim.
• the affirmative and the negative. 

What is a rebuttal?

• agreeing with the claim
• agreeing with the counterargument
• the act of arguing the claim or counterclaim
• a type of bread served with tea