Tuesday January 18th 2004

Education Workshop

Debating Skills: Defining the Resolution, Developing Arguments, Rebutting Arguments.

7:30 p.m. PROMPT! MEMBERS: FREE, GUESTS $15.00

Education Workshop Draft Plan

(This sheet is provided to all participants with "Debate Strategies")

Co – facilitators: (i) Jim Corston (ii) Mike Kobzar

At the completion of the workshop please rate the workshop on how well it achieved each of the objectives for you and be prepared to describe what worked well and what can be improved in future workshops.
 

Education Workshop Training Objectives:

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

1

To be better able to clarify the meaning of resolutions

        

2

To be better able to define arguments

        

3

To build confidence at rebutting arguments

       

Time

Activity

7.30 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

This workshop builds on the workshop led by Peter Goldthorpe and Jim Smith on Nov. 17th. (Attendance on Nov. 17th is not a pre-requisite.)

7.40

Defining the Resolution - Getting to the Gist of the Meaning of the Resolution

Facilitators will bring 5 resolutions to the workshop for use. Each is written on top of a flip chart. (a) Resolution #1 is discussed as a group and a definition is determined. Broaden the terms used in the resolution, paraphrase it, discuss why to define it strategically one way or another. Record the decision on appropriate flip chart sheet

7.55

(b) Break into 2-4 groups (aim for 2-4 people in a group) and each group defines one of the remaining 4 resolutions in the same way. (Max. of 10 minutes) Each group writes their definition under the resolution.

Large group discussion and amending if required.

8.15

Developing Arguments

(a) As a large group develop 3 arguments for Resolution #1 record on flip chart.

8.30

(b) Break into 3 groups (aim for 3-4 people in a group) and each group develops one argument for resolution #2 (Max of 5 mins). Share them with large group, record on flip chart and discuss

8.40

(c) In same groups take one of the other 3 resolutions and develop 3 arguments. Record on flip chart and discuss.

8.55

Rebutting Arguments

(a) Brief discussion of rebutting – approaches, types of weakness in arguments

9.05

(b) Facilitator selects one argument from the sheets (each of which has a resolution, a definition and 3 arguments on it), and asks for a volunteer to rebut the selected argument (max. one minute). Discussion.

Invite others for same argument and other arguments as time allows.

9.20

Workshop evaluation what worked well and why? What could be done differently next time?

For more information: www.debating.ca