Academic Debate
Full course description
Debating skills are an important component of academic life. In this 2000 level-project, students will prepare, present and defend a position for an academic debate. The debate topics will be centered around the issues that emerge out of a wide range of UCV courses from different concentrations taught during the academic year. There will be a “yes” (pro) and a “no” (con) team, which will build their argumentation strategy and prepare to refute arguments of the opponents throughout the project in order to win a debate. The emphasis lies on delivery and content. It is not only important to think about what you deliver, but also about how you deliver it. In the end, it will be your job to persuade an audience as to the correctness of your position. In order to do this, you need a coherently structured, logically laid out set of arguments that you will present in a clear and self-assured way. Your task is to make the issue involved come alive.
Course objectives
- To equip students with essential debating and communication skills.
- To introduce students to the practice of speaking in a public setting.
- To practice argumentation skills.
- To gain expertise on a topic of choice (the debate topic).
Recommended reading
Students will choose, read and use literature that is related to their debate topic. Some of the literature will be suggested by the tutor; however, most literature has to be found by the students themselves.
- M.T. Kiefer