Guidelines for Debate Debate Topic Set with a statement and the debate held in terms of those for and against. Roles * Those speaking for the motion: * Those speaking against the motion: * Audience/evaluators * Moderator, time keeper and final arbiter/judge Debate Procedure The debate will take the form of timed presentations and responses from speakers from the two groups, as well as questions and evaluations from the audience. All group members are expected to participate in the research, development, and presentation of your debate position. Prior to the beginning of the class period, both teams are to position themselves behind tables facing each other at the front of the room. Each team is to write its team name, debate position (for/against), and debate position statement on the whiteboard nearest to their seating. Positions statements should be short (one or two sentences) summarising the teams overall claims. For example, in a debate on “Romance in the Workplace” the positions statements might be as follows: For: Workplace romances are private matters between the individuals involved. Organizations should not try to regulate them in any significant way. Against: Workplace romances can impact negatively on morale and productivity, and may result in charges of sexual harassment. Organizations have the right to regulate them as they see fit. Timing. While a team is not required to use all of the time allocated to each debate component, speakers must stop immediately when the allocated time runs out. Team members are prohibited from speaking to the audience or opposing team except at the times specifically allocated to them. Rebuttal conference. During this time each team can confer amongst themselves as to the key points to be made by those who will present the rebuttals, i.e. counter arguments. The two presenters should decide on who will present which points. Audience/evaluators will assess components of the debate and the successful delivery of the debated arguments. They should evaluate the presentation NOT their opinion as to the validity of the argument presented. Evaluations will be passed to the moderator to calculate and present the resulting aggregate scores and overall outcome. Etiquette. No derogatory comments, derisory or ad hominem remarks. No speaking or whispering to neighbours when people are making their presentations. No interrupting of those speaking. Debate Stages and Debater Roles Opening Statement Presenter: Gathers the main arguments into an introductory statement which should be a clear and succinct presentation of the main case. Does not give specific information; just says "this is true because of A and B and C..." (1 person) Topic Presenters: Present the main arguments for the team. Each presenter give specific details that support and claim to 'prove' A and B and C... (1/2 people) Rebuttal Presenters: Answer the arguments of the other team. These presenters must take notes as the other team is presenting their arguments and respond to every argument, using specific information to explore logical flaws in them. (1/2 people) Closing Statement Presenter: Presents the closing arguments for the team. Repeats the main idea for this and this and this reasons. (1 person) Timing Opening statements Arguments Rebuttal conference Rebuttals Question time Closing statements 10 minutes (5 minutes each team) 20 minute (10 minutes each team) 5 minutes 15 minutes (5 minutes each team) 15 minutes 10 minutes (5 minutes each team) Followed by overall evaluation result Debate Statements for 28th^th November 2017 First: Breaking NEWS "The Czech Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports proposes to reduce funding for the social sciences, and increase funding to foster technological innovation and the applied sciences. The budget proposal was underlined by the argument that technologies are the key to a sustainable (Degrowth) future." Your group has been invited to a television debate as experts either to support this move or to argue against it. Second: Breaking NEWS "The Czech government proposed to set up a Bureau of Technology Assessment that would be endowed with the power to prohibit new or existing technologies or their further development. As a first step a moratorium on all new innovation shall be enacted, in order to gain control over all developments and to conduct this assessment. This was supported by the argument that not all technologies are conducive to a sustainable (Degrowth) society but that society can and should strictly govern technologies and their development." Your group was invited to a public round table to discuss this proposal. You are either (1) in a group that is completely supportive of this move or (2) you are against it for the reasons you will explain.