Debate Guidelines

I.  FORMAT A.  OPENING STATEMENTS 1.  About ten (10) minutes for each side 2.  A summary of the opening statement will be typed and handed out to the entire class before the debate 3.  The team should divide the task among its members B.  REBUTTAL 1.  After the opening statements have been delivered by each side, teams will be given two (2) minutes to organize a rebuttal of their opponents' presentation 2.  Following the two (2) minute break, the "con" team will begin its rebuttal by stating the flaws in the opponents' arguments and then the "pro" side will respond to these comments 3.  After this discussion, the "pro" side will rebut the "con" side by pointing out flaws in their opponents' arguments and then the "con" side will respond C.  CONCLUDING STATEMENTS 1.  When the moderator signals the end of the rebuttal, each side will have one (1) minute to finalize their closing argument 2.  The "pro" side will begin, followed by the "con" side D.  COMMENTS/QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE If time allows, either side may respond to questions from the audience. II.  EVALUATION OF THE DEBATES A.  GROUP PEER EVALUATION (50%) Students in each group will evaluate one another based on the following criteria: 1) student knows the material; 2) student contributed to debate preparation; 3) student contribute to the debate itself.  Assign a grade from zero to one-hundred (0-100) for each criterion and divide by three (3) to get the final grade. B.  AUDIENCE PEER EVALUATION (50%) Students in audience will evaluate both pro and con sides based on the following criteria: 1) knows the material (content); 2) well-argued points (presentation). Assign a grade from zero to one-hundred (0-100) for each criterion and divide by two (2) to get the final grade.       Dates for Debates Homosexuality ............November 11 Capital Punishment .....November 13 Contraception ............November 18 Cloning ......................November 20 Just War ....................December 2