Formal Debate

The debate course I took in my second year of college changed me. Of all the things I learned in that course, the most transforming lesson came from preparing for an upcoming debate. The assigned topic always had opposing viewpoints and preparation included research on both viewpoints. We never knew which side of the debate we would be required to present. To have any chance of earning a good grade and doing well in the debate required us to seriously 

LESSONS LEARNED FROM DEBATE   It’s fun to learn something new even when it can be initially dauntingTeamwork Don’t take things personally Consider and think about others’ perspectives How to form balanced, informed arguments and to use reasoning and evidence To utilize objective analysis to be applied to ideas To keep my emotions in check To have faith and confidence in myself Ethical communication   BENEFITS OF DEBATE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE   Meet great people and expand your understanding of the world Enhances the ability to structure and organize thoughts Enhances analytical, research and note-taking skills Develops effective speech composition and delivery Improves rigorous higher order and critical thinking skills    Debate students are encouraged to remember they are not arguing, they are debating, attacking the argument and not the person. A distinction, which we find, stays with them long after they’ve left the classroom. Y oung people are exposed to a number of different opinions and viewpoints; some from their parents, some from their education, the media and their peers. However, debate offers young people the opportunity to challenge their own opinions along with the opinions and beliefs of others in a safe and educational environment. Debate teaches participants to engage in healthy discussion, to think more critically about their sometimes inherited opinions and to really understand their origins and their validity by using facts and personal objectivity as well as life experience to defend, change or present their argument.       LESSONS LEARNED FROM MEDIATING CONFLICT Various legitimate perspectives always exist As much as possible, learning to view the issue through the opposition’s eyes is really helpful Usually all parties have the same goal; but they see different ways to reach that goal