Debating techniques

Debating techniques

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This task is about debating techniques.

Here are some statements taken from a debate. The topic of the debate is 

"Bullying needs to be dealt to." 

Read each of the sentences 1 - 9 and answer the questions that follow.

  1. "A bully is someone who intimidates smaller or weaker people."
  2. "Why does the bully emerge? How do they get away with it? I will tell you why."
  3. "I know every one of you is sick of bullying ."
  4. "The negative team's pathetic arguments are like their hair-cuts: scraggly and thin."
  5. "Solid points have been made by us; their arguments are soft. Our case is sharp; theirs is dull."
  6. "It's important for you to act now!"
  7. "A) it is wrong, B) not ethical, and C) it demeans us all."
  8. "Their case looks like a castle built of rock and stone, but we will show it's a sandcastle that will be washed away in the tide of our arguments."
  9. "Telling us of their experience of bullying is just personal opinion. They could have made it up."

Question 1Change answer

a) What is the speaker doing in sentence 1?

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b) What questioning technique does the speaker use in sentence 2?

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c) How does the speaker build rapport with the audience in sentence 3?

Question 1Change answer

d) Sentence 4 breaks a debating rule. What rule has been broken?

Question 1Change answer

e) What speaking technique has been used in sentence 5?

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f) What speaking technique has been used in sentence 6?

Question 1Change answer

g) What are two effects of using listing as a technique as in sentence 7?
i)
ii)

Question 1Change answer

h) What figure of speech is used in sentence 8?

Question 1Change answer

i) What debating technique is used in sentence 9?
Task administration: 
This task can be completed by pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
English, Creating meaning, Speaking
Keywords: 
debating, techniques, rhetoric
Description of task: 
Students read statements from a debate then provide nine short written answers to demonstrate their understanding of common debating techniques.
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (05/2002)
a) Providing a definition. moderate
b) Asks rhetorical questions. moderate
c) Any 1 of:

  • By addressing the audience directly through the use of "you".
  • Use of the first person "I".
 difficult
d) Personal abuse of the other team. easy
e) Use of contrast (accept opposites). very difficult
f) Use of the imperative. very difficult
g)

Any 2 of: 

  • Bringing clarity to the speech.
  • Making it easier to remember.
  • Keying in the audience to listen.
  • Adding emphasis. 

2 correct - very difficult
 
1 correct - difficult
h) Use of metaphor/simile. moderate
i) Rebuttal. difficult