A three-minute presentation

Making a short presentation may be even more challenging than making a term presentation: you have to present a compelling case within three minutes!

Useful tips

Preparing:

1. Think over the chosen topic and come up with an idea you feel strongly about.

2. Make up a list of reasons why you are right in defending this idea.

3. Think of convincing, up-to-date examples to support your case.

4. Rehearse out loud keeping track of the time.

Presenting:

1. Start with an introductory phrase:

I'm going to talk about…; In my statement I will deal with…

2. Make a clear thesis statement.

3. Produce 2-3 arguments, which you develop and support with examples.

4. Conclude with a sum-up relevant to your thesis statement:

So, all of the above shows that …

It appears reasonable to conclude that…

So we can conclude beyond reasonable doubt

DEBATE

Debating skills are an essential part of your professional kit.

The main purpose of a debate is to develop critical thinking skills, tolerance for differing viewpoints, ability to communicate in situations of confrontation. To meet these goals, debaters work together in teams, affirmative and negative, and must research both sides of each issue. Each team is given the opportunity to offer arguments and direct questions to the opposing team. At the end of the debate the judge will offer constructive feedback, commenting on logical flaws, insufficient evidence, or arguments that debaters may have overlooked and announce which team has won.

/after Karl Popper Debate/

To win the debate, you should perform to the best of your abilities, no matter what your real attitude to the issue is.

Before engaging in this fascinating and challenging activity read advice from more experienced debaters.

Useful tips

• Research the topic thoroughly; read everything you can. Don't focus on your side of the argument only, read articles relevant to your opposition and try to anticipate what they will attack you with.

• Remember that debate is a team activity.  Make sure that you and your partners are going over arguments together so that you can help each other to produce the best arguments.

• Know your material - if you have well prepared speeches, a strong command of the facts and ideas surrounding the issue, you will find it far easier to respond to counter-arguments and points from the opposition that you may not have considered.

• If they ask tough questions, take a little time to consider your answer. It is very easy to get wrong footed and say things you later regret. Take your time and address each question without rushing. Make sure you are sticking to the debate topic.

A tip for the judge:

• The judge’s decision should be based on the content of the debate. A good question for judges to ask themselves is: “At the end of the debate, was the audience left with a clear impression of the team's arguments?”

Judges should make their decision on which team won or lost the debate based on the performance of the team as a whole.

Debate Format: Team 1 (Affirmative), Team 2 (Negative)

Opening Statements of Two Teams: (1 minute each)

Like an introduction to a formal paper, introduce your team and the topic you will be debating. State what you are going to argue during the debate (like a thesis statement) and say why your position should win.

1. Team 1: Constructive Statement 1 (2-3 minutes)

In this speech, the affirmative team is expected to offer its argument in favour of the proposition.

2. Team 2: Cross-Examination

The negative debater is expected to ask a question rather than make a speech. The affirmative debater is expected to answer this question; he or she should neither make a speech or ask questions in return. Team members should not assist their teammates by answering questions on their behalf.

3. Team 2: Constructive Statement 1 (2-3 minutes)

The negative team is expected to offer its argument against the affirmative position.

4. Team 1: Cross-Examination

Now the Affirmative debater asks questions and the Negative debater is expected to answer them.

The number of constructive statements (i.e. arguments) each team is supposed to present is subject to preliminary agreement between the teams.

5. Team 1: Rebuttal

The affirmative speaker summarizes team’s refutations of the negative arguments.

6. Team 2: Rebuttal

The negative speaker summarizes team’s refutations of the affirmative arguments.

7. Team 1: Closing Argument

The affirmative speaker summarizes the key points the team presented concluding with a persuasive argument that will win the debate for the team!

8. Team 2: Closing Argument

The negative speaker summarizes the key points the team presented concluding with a persuasive argument that will win the debate for the team!

RULES

• No research is permitted during the discussion. Once the debate begins, the participants may not conduct research via the Internet, nor through electronic or other means.

• No outside assistance is permitted. Debaters, however, are allowed to consult whatever research materials they have brought with them to the debate.

• Debaters should be able to provide sources for direct citations.

• Debaters should practice intellectual honesty. Students should cite arguments and statistics truthfully and never fabricate sources or data.

• As long as the speakers communicate their ideas clearly, it does not matter if they use sheets of paper instead of note cards. No reading the speech is permitted, though.

Find more in www.ideal.forestry.ubc.ca/.../debate_format.pdf (Modified Karl Popper Debate Format)