Intelligence Squared Debate
Debate Essay
Project Reflection:
In this project we held several debates on several different controversial topics in today's society. To begin the project, we listened to several Intelligence Squared Debates, our model for the project. This gave us a general idea of what we were going to do. We also analyzed the debates and identified what good debate technique includes, and learned how to replicate it ourselves. One of these techniques was flowing a debate, which is following the arguments being made and preparing counterarguments for them, a surprisingly difficult task that requires much concentration. After these preparations, we made our first debate arguments. We then refined these arguments and made new counterarguments over the course of the next two weeks. After these arguments were as perfect as we could make them, we held our debate.
All of the four topics we had a chance of debating had to do with ISIS and foreign policy. We had to dive deep into these topics and explore every facet of them to understand them well for the debate. I learned a lot particularly on my topic, the Syrian Refugee Crisis. I hadn't looked into the topic very much prior, and came out of this project with a thorough understanding of it. I learned so much that I eventually felt confident in my ability to speak in front of people about it.*
Most of the growth in this project, however, came when I learned how to debate well and convincingly. There's no one better to critique persuasive speaking than your peers, and that's exactly who critiqued our debates. Being put on the spot in front of your friends really enhances your desire to not look like an idiot. With that kind of motivation, the finished product is almost always good. At the beginning of the project, I knew how to speak, but I struggled with presenting evidence in a concise and educated manner. Since that skill is so useful later in life, refining my speech style to fit with that model will undoubtedly benefit me later in life.
*Even though I never actually spoke.
All of the four topics we had a chance of debating had to do with ISIS and foreign policy. We had to dive deep into these topics and explore every facet of them to understand them well for the debate. I learned a lot particularly on my topic, the Syrian Refugee Crisis. I hadn't looked into the topic very much prior, and came out of this project with a thorough understanding of it. I learned so much that I eventually felt confident in my ability to speak in front of people about it.*
Most of the growth in this project, however, came when I learned how to debate well and convincingly. There's no one better to critique persuasive speaking than your peers, and that's exactly who critiqued our debates. Being put on the spot in front of your friends really enhances your desire to not look like an idiot. With that kind of motivation, the finished product is almost always good. At the beginning of the project, I knew how to speak, but I struggled with presenting evidence in a concise and educated manner. Since that skill is so useful later in life, refining my speech style to fit with that model will undoubtedly benefit me later in life.
*Even though I never actually spoke.