Public Forum Debate Topic & Deadlines

The next debate topic for all classes is:

Resolved: same sex couples should not have the legal right of marrage.

Assignments include:

4 Articles--Find and print or bookmark 2 Affirmative articles and 2 Negative articles--40 pts (Due 3/4 or 3/5)

40 Evidence Cards--Create 20 Affirmative and 20 Negative Evidence cards. Refer to the format from earlier blog site posts--80 pts. (Due 3/9 or3/10)

2 Sentence Outlines--Create 1 Affirmative and 1 Negative sentence outline for the debate resolution.--50 pts. (Due 3/15)

Debate--Debate against another person--100 pts (Begins 3/16)

Sample Evidence Card

This is the ONLY acceptable format for an evidence card. For the Public Forum Debate, each individual will need to show 20 Affirmative and 20 Negative evidence cards.

Sample Evidence Card for Debate…



MARRIAGE IS MEANT TO PROTECT WOMEN (Tagline-7 Words or less that summarizes the evidence)


Women Should Not Support Same-Sex Marriage. Sam Schulman.
Opposing Viewpoints: Feminism. Ed. Christina Fisanick. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008.
(Source—Information where the evidence originates; use APA or MLA format)


A woman can control who is the father of her children only insofar as there is a civil and private order that protects her from rape; marriage is the bulwark of that order. The 1960's feminists had the right idea: the essential thing for a woman is to control her own body.(Data—Passage or quote from document giving the evidence you want to use for the debate

Public Forum Debate Topic

Right now 1st, 4th, 5th, and 8th Period classes voted for the following topic:

Resolved: Same-sex couples should not have the legal right of marriage.

I am recommending students go to www.myilibrary.org/Shortridge to the electronic database when at school. Then students can go to the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. You enter the search phrase, "same sex marriage." You will then have plenty of documents available for this debate topic.

Individual Public Forum Debate

The next group of debates will be individual contests in a Public Forum format. Each class is voting on their debate resolution from three options I previously posted. The format for this debate is as follows:

Coin Flip--Coin Flip determines who is negative or affirmative and the order of speaking.

First Constructive-5 min.
Crossfire--3 min.
Second Constructive--5 min
First Rebuttal--3 min.
Second Rebuttal--3 min.
Grand Crossfire--2 min.
First Final Focus--1 min.
Second Final Focus--1 min.

Assignments

Show Teacher 4 Articles-2 Affirmative, 2 Negative--40 pts.
Evidence Cards/Sheets (MUST BE IN PROPER FORMAT) 20 Aff. & 20 Neg.--80 pts.
Sentence Outlines (One Affirmative and One Negative)--50 pts.
Debate--100 pts.
Self-Critique--50 pts.

I will post the due dates for each assignment next week.

Next Debate Topics

Each class will vote on the three options for the next debates:

#1--Same-sex couples should not have the legal right of marriage
#2--Indianapolis is a model of a great American city
#3--Events like Black History Month, Womens' History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month are prime examples of tokenism.

4th Period and 8th Period voted for option #1. For these debates, it will be individuals (one on one).

Mid-Term Grades

Mid-term grade will be entered on Tues. night. As of now, your major assignments and point values are as follows:

Data Sheet--75
Definitions of resolution words--25
2 Articles Related to Resolution--25
15 Aff. & 15 Neg. Evidence Cards--60
Aff. & Negative Outline--50

There are material checks which will factor into your grade but the number vary by class.

While currently assigned, these tasks will NOT be counted for your mid-term grade:

Terminology Assignment--80
1st Team Debate--100

Terminology Assignment

A handout was passed out on 2/9-10 for an assignment on terms relating to debate, speech and writing. The assignment is due 2/18-19 and is worth 80 points. You are to use a dictionary and write out the definition using a full sentence.

1. affirmative
2. negative
3. constructive
4. rebuttal
5. fallacy
6. objective
7. subjective
8. thesis
9. paradigm
10. induction
11. deduction
12. assertion
13. conclude
14. sequence
15. interpret
16. justify
17. define
18. classify
19. compare
20. contrast
21. synthesize
22. evaluate
23. identify
24. discuss
25. illustrate
26. infer
27. summarize
28. trace
29. claim
30. warrant
31. predict
32. speculate
33. analyze
34. examine
35. decode
36. investigate
37. dissect
38. criticize
39. assess
40. compose

Observing/Participating in Speech/Debate Tournaments

Remember it is a requirement for high school credit to attend one speech or debate tournament this semester. The remaining tournament dates and locations are as follows:

2/27--HS Speech Tournament @ Kokomo

3/20--HS State Speech Tournament @ Fishers

3/27--HS State Debate Tournament @ Kokomo

Remaining Tournaments to Attend

As stated from the beginning of the semester, in order to earn high school credit in debate this semester, you must attend (either compete or observe) at least ONE speech or debate tournament this Spring. Here are the remaining tournaments I am taking students:

2/6--State Debate Tournament at Ben Davis

2/27--Kokomo Speech Tournament

3/20--State Speech Tournament at Fishers

I already took students to the Carmel Middle School Speech Tournament and the Carmel High School Speech Tournament this semester.

You need to sign up outside Rm 214 and pick up a Field Trip form.

Case Outline Assignment--Due 2/4 or 2/5

Assignment is worth 50 points...

Each TEAM is to turn in one Affirmative case outline and one Negative case outline. Refer to the instructions on the post, Case Structure, for the specifics on an outline.