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Coaching Schools Debating

Coaching Schools Debating. Christopher Bishop & Stephen Whittington Tuesday 25 February. The First Four Things. Welcome There are no natural debaters Debating is meant to be fun…always Ask questions. The golden rule. Debating is 95% science and 5% art.

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Coaching Schools Debating

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  1. Coaching Schools Debating Christopher Bishop & Stephen Whittington Tuesday 25 February

  2. The First Four Things • Welcome • There are no natural debaters • Debating is meant to be fun…always • Ask questions

  3. The golden rule • Debating is 95% science and 5% art. • So focus on the rules that will work in 95% of cases. • Everything that can have a rule should have a rule. These are up to you. • Prep technique • Rebuttal vs substantive • Argument structure

  4. Rule number 1 • Debaters can only work on improving 2-3 things at a time. • The coach’s job is to work out which is the most important.

  5. Rule number 2 • Treat it like a sport: some things are not optional • Having a clear definition (if affirmative) • Team line and team split • Rebuttal • Having a considered introduction and conclusion • Using examples

  6. Rule number 3 • Focus on potential ‘debating’ improvements not ‘debate’ improvements • Immersion therapy: lots of debates • Manner matters • Let debaters explain themselves – up to a point

  7. Rule number 4 • Letting people self-criticise (aka as coaching for lazy people) • The best and worst thing • The copycat exercise • The most likely thing

  8. Rule number 5 • Focus on team improvements, rather than just individual improvements • Practice prep sessions • Two on two debates • POI Game • 1st speaker speeches • Argument structure • Video watching

  9. Rule number 6 • Focus on developing your team’s impromptu preparation technique. • Who is in charge? • What is the schedule? • Brainstorm individually • Discuss and group together arguments • Decide on definition/team line/split • Develop material individually • Discuss at end and check speeches • 3rd speakers: rebuttal role

  10. Rule number 7 • Preparation (usually) pays off • Assigned topic areas • News programmes • Case preps • The Economist, The Atlantic, Slate.com, HuffPo, Foreign Affairs, etc. • Debating videos

  11. Questions

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