How to have a debate? Tips for preparing and developing a debate

We selected in this post some tips and suggestions for How to debate efficiently and effectively

Debate is, like dialogue, a characteristic form of human communication that can be distinguished from dialogue by the presence of several people who take an active part in it. O Debate it is the “discussion” of a certain theme.

The Debate Genre

Each individual carries within him the voices that constitute him, a fact that makes us unique. At the same time, we share, with our peers, the marks of the socio-historical context. By making us similar. We are, therefore, unique and similar.

However, it is in the clash of these antagonistic forces that ideas improve and evolve, because every time we express our opinions about this or that subject, we are forced to admit that in the other there are divergent points of view, neither better nor worse, the fact is that we have to face opinions opposite to the our.

It is in the exchange of different experiences and views of the world that we can change and expand our feelings and knowledge, which will, by definition, always be incomplete, since we always influence and are influenced.

These preliminary statements help us to understand the Debate genre and its main means of expression, speech.

We can watch debates on television, radio or live at school, for example, when the subject leads us to a more detailed and regulated discussion.

We propose to promote a debate in the class about the use of brute force or the concealment of meaning effects used in Dominant Discourses to influence the collective unconscious and its reflexes in the individual. The Power of Media, Social Media and The End of Privacy. involved.

The language used in the debate genre can be formal or informal, depending on the situation, remember that debating is not it means fighting, disagreeing with the ideas of others, on the contrary, it is a moment when the right to express opinions must be respected. With that, we evolved.

What makes us unique beings is, among other factors, our ability to express, arguing and counter-arguing about opinions and issues of the reality in which we are inserted.

Although similar, our opinions are unique and, supported by arguments, express our concepts and personality.

It is natural that we always try to convince the “other” that our opinions and reasons are the most correct.

Given this, it is also natural that clashes and divergences arise, however that is where the essence lies positive against these positions, the exchange of experiences, source of personal social growth and historic.

Study in depth the subject to be debated, try to use data and information capable of demonstrating the veracity of your arguments.

Do not rely on generalizing statements, demonstrate, with one or more examples of particular cases and situations, that your arguments are consistent.

Be considerate, examine the meaning effects of the speech. Sometimes a misused meaning effect can be the cue for counterargument.

Finish by synthesizing the arguments and counter-arguments used by the opponent during the debate, and explore their inconsistencies, comparing them with the consistency of yours.

Remember, there are no absolute truths, the rule of the senses is incompleteness, everything is in eternal transformation, be courteous and make concessions

It is possible that during the debate you may agree, in whole or in part, with some of the opponent's ideas. If this happens, admit it, after all these are points of view that oppose and modify each other. After all, it is through differences of opinion that balance is reached.

Every debate must have a moderator, who will start the work presenting the theme and considerations on the importance of the debate as well as the rules previously agreed between the participants

The moderator must maintain the atmosphere of cordiality between the parties and alert them through signs when the time available for each is running out. The debate moderator should draw attention if he senses that the debater is running away from the main topic.

It should also ensure the debater's right to take the floor without any interference from the audience.

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How to have a debate? Debate preparation

Debate is a discussion between several people who, having different opinions on a topic, seek to convince the audience that listens to them. Each participant tries to defend their ideas and refute those of others.

• Determining the theme
• Choice of participants and moderator
• Definition of rules to be respected by all stakeholders (who speaks first; duration of interventions; role of the moderator; possibility of dialogue; public participation…)

Development of the debate:

• Moderator's opening words for a greeting, presentation of the topic and participants; it will be time to remember the previously established rules;
• participant interventions;
• public participation in asking questions;
• closure of the debate by the moderator, with the presentation of a final balance (by the moderator himself or by external observers, previously chosen).

How to have a debate? What is the use of a debate?

• exchange of ideas
• Confrontation of views/opinions
• Reflection
• Input of information
• Disinhibition to "take the word"
• Know how to defend your ideas
• Knowing how to talk/knowing how to listen

How to have a debate? Stages of the debate:

1. Choice of subject — simple but interesting
2. Appointment of secretaries
3. Set free discussion time (15/20m)
4. debate critique

How to have a debate? Disposition of participants:

• Participants must be seated around a table, in order to achieve better listening conditions and better contact between everyone.

How to have a debate? Every debate has:

Two Secretaries:

• They do not take the floor and record the significant elements
• name of stakeholders who want to take the floor
• frequency of interventions - topics covered

A Moderator - with the following roles:

• Launch the debate by presenting the topic clearly
• coordinate the interventions of the various participants
• prevent them from straying from the proposed topic
• control the time allotted, which will be the same for everyone
• invite to conclusions

Duties of participants:

• Prepare the topic in advance, consulting the necessary information
• Clearly expose your ideas
• Respect the previously established rules, namely the moderator's indications
• Listen carefully, avoiding repeating ideas already exposed
• Do not interrupt those who are using the floor or use aggressive language
• role of secretaries
• Record the type of arguments presented by each group
• Report the course of the debate / present the arguments used

Using the floor, you will be able to:

Speech acts for a debate:

In order to hold a debate, it is essential to know how to argue and assume correct postures, making it essential to:

• good preparation of the topic to be debated;
• the detection of positive and negative points in different interventions;
• listening attentively to the interlocutor, noting the ideas to be discussed;
• recognizing, first, the positives and then the negatives;
• the exemplification and realization of statements, opinions, positions.

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