Benefits from Debate

1
Benefits from Debate

• The debate process can be broken down into the
  following phases
•  Approaching the topic Debaters learn about
  the topic, examine it for potential
  controversies, and consider its terms.
•  Researching the topic Debaters read to gain
  more information about the topic and review the
  material.
•  Preparing to debate Here debaters practice
  critiquing, formulating, and responding to
  arguments.
•  Debating At last, debaters try out their newly
  acquired skills and test the arguments they have
  developed. During a debate the students must
  think on their feet to refute the arguments
  offered by their opponents.
•  Reflecting on and extending the debate
  Afterward, the debaters review the arguments and
  counter-arguments that arose in the course of the
  debate. They step back from the topic and
  consider what has been brought to light.

2
Benefits from Debate

• Debate is an effective teaching tool because it
•  Stimulates individual study by asking students
  to do independent research
•  Emphasizes group work and cooperation by having
  students work in teams
•  Encourages students to form their own opinions
  in the classroom instead of parroting those
  offered by teachers
•  Develops student performance through friendly
  competition in the classroom

3
Benefits from Debate

• Why Debate?
• Democratic Values and Civic Education
• In a democratic society, citizens use the art of
  debate to express their ideas.
• In undemocratic socities, debate can teach young
  people how to think critically and develop
  communication skills that can help them effect
  democratic change.
• Debate also enables students to consider
  carefully and critically the words of their
  political representatives and prepares listeners
  not to be persuaded by a demagogue.
• Decision-making in a democratic society proceeds
  through deliberation, discussion, and debate.
• Through debate students learn not only to express
  their views but also to persuade others. Because
  they learn that there are at least two sides to
  most issues, debate students become more tolerant
  of other views.
• Having to consider the strongest arguments in
  favor of both sides of an issue, debaters come to
  see that no one has a monopoly on the truth.
• Through debate, citizens of a democracy can often
  resolve peacefully the issues that divide them.
• Students gain more concrete knowledge about
  controversial social and political topics by
  debating them.

4
Benefits from Debate

• Critical Thinking
• Students who think critically question basic
  assumptions and objectively evaluate information
  presented to them.
• Through debate, students learn to identify
  controversies in topics, construct defensible
  positions, and research to find support for their
  positions.
• Debate also teaches students to develop active
  listening skills to help them build
  counterarguments and rebut their opponents'
  positions.

5
Benefits from Debate

• Communication Skills Debaters learn that having
  reason on their side will not suffice if they are
  unable to communicate their positions to others
• Successful debaters must articulate their
  positions clearly, before large audiences, and
  within set time constraints
• Debate requires strong oral and written
  communication skills

6
Benefits from Debate

• Vocational Skills
• Debate teaches countless lifelong skills,
  including organization, teamwork, negotiation,
  independent research, and oral and written
  communication skills
• Debate prepares students extremely well for
  interviews
• Learning to think quickly and organize one's
  thoughts into a coherent speech is essential when
  interviewing for jobs, schools, fellowships, and
  more

7
Benefits from Debate

• Native and Foreign Language Skills
• Debate provides students with an excellent
  opportunity to practice their native and foreign
  language skills.
• Before IDEA, most debates around the world took
  place in English. IDEA, however, has encouraged
  students to debate in their native languages,
  even in cases where these languages are not
  taught in school.
• Debating in native languages helps preserve
  minority cultures at the same time that it
  teaches students from such cultures skills they
  can apply when using their country's official
  language(s).

8
Benefits from Debate

• National Debate Associations
• National debate associations, independent NGOs
  that make up the core membership of IDEA,
  organize all debate activity within their
  countries, help organize cross-border activities,
  and assist IDEA in organizing international
  events.
• They also
•   Recruit new member clubs
•   Develop debate training and research material
  in local languages
•   Establish debate resource centers
•   Organize regional and national tournaments
•   Provide training and accreditation for coaches
  and judges
•   Raise funds to sustain their activities
• Small grant application up to 2000 -
  http//www.idebate.org/info/grant_app.aspbn