How to develop an argument and (try to) win a debate

What is a debate? A debate is a an argument with two sides where people exchange opinions and try to convince other people that their argument is right

If you want to develop your argument and try to win a debate you need to follow 5 basic steps

1 Identify your Conclusion!

This is one single sentence that sums up clearly and simply what you want to persuade the other person/side to believe. For example: “Capital Punishment should be brought back now”

2 Think of REASONS to support your conclusion!

Come up with as many reasons or ‘points’ as you can think of that will support your argument. For example: 1.It guarantees public safety! 2.It saves money for the tax payer. 3.It helps prevent overcrowding in prisons. 4.It deters others from doing the same. 5.Some crimes deserve death.

3 DEVELOP your reasons

Develop your reasons in more detail by: 1.Give examples which support or illustrate your reason: “There are many cases of murderers being released from prison and repeating the crime. For example John Smith was killed only last year by a man who had served out his prison sentence for murder.” 2.Explain what you mean in more detail: “Prison is too expensive. This is because prisoners have to be fed, housed and monitored by trained staff twenty four hours a day” 3.Give supporting reasons in support of your initial reasons: “It guarantees public safety. It is not possible to commit crimes like burglary or mugging when locked up in prison”

4 Provide EVIDENCE

Find evidence that will back up your reasons. This will make your argument much stronger. For example: “ Countries with the death penalty like Saudi Arabia have far fewer violent murders than this country.” “Keeping murders in jail costs the tax payer £30000 a year.”

5 Use COUNTER ARGUMENTS

Try to think of arguments that your opponent might use against you and try to answer them to show their point doesn’t diminish your argument. For example: “ People will argue against me by saying that in the past innocent people were executed by mistake. But we now have genetic testing so such mistakes are now less likely”

Your debate- Use the laptops to research your team’s evidence/ reasons for your argument 20 mins max! Possible topics: For/against legalisation of Euthanasia For/ against capital punishment For/ against farming horse meat For/ against lowering drinking/voting age For/against illegalising of buying and smoking cigarettes

Debate rules One person opens the debate with a summary of what their team will be arguing and why in brief bullet points Same person closes the debate summing all points up in conclusion Everyone says something during the debate Demonstrate use of the 5 strategies! One team go first, then the second, then questions and answers Then vote!

Circle the counter claims in each argument “It is wrong to kill a human being. Jack is a human being. Therefore Jack should not be killed. But Jack is an old man in severe pain who wants to die.” “Wales is a very wet country. The Met Office reports that for the last 10 years it has had 3 inches of rain every month. So it is a country to avoid for camping holidays. But on the other hand it has beautiful mountains and beaches which are ideal for an outdoor camping holiday.”

Homework- Complete the hand-out on counter arguments