FUNDAMENTALS OF DEBATE - SPEECH 284 - FALL, 2000

A. C. Snider, Instructor

Lafayette 102 3:30-6:00 PM Tuesdays

Office -- 475 Main Street Rm 103 -- 656-0097 -- 238-8345

THREE CREDITS - TUESDAY ONLY

Students will be introduced to and familiarized with the concepts of academic educational debating as currently carried out in intercollegiate policy debate competition. Students will work on skills in: organization, research, delivery, refutation, and argumentation. Students will be trained to participate in classroom practice debates and will then engage in two field trips to novice debate tournaments held at other schools.

Readings will be distributed to students in ways which are compatible with current laws.

Comprehensive instructional materials can be found at websites prepared by UVM debate:

The course will utilize six primary teaching methods:

1. Lectures about debating and debate theory. This will be the primary mode for the transmission of information about debate concepts, practices, and vocabulary.

2. Class discussions. Class discussions will focus around the topic we will be debating, argumentative concepts, and on various debate methods and practices.

3. Practice speeches. Students will give short, unprepared speeches about very simple ideas in order to gain training in delivery, organization, and argumentative concepts.

4. Practice debates. Students will engage in debates against each other in teams of two. These debates will use and be supplemented by research done by students as well as material supplied by the instructor. Some practice debates may have to be scheduled outside of normal class times.

5. Debate tournaments. Students will engage in debates against novice debaters from other schools on three weekends. Two of these will involve travel, and the third will be here at UVM.

6. Research. Students will engage in primary research on the topic we will focus on.

Participation 10%

Practice Speech 10%

Practice Debates 20%

Tournament #1 20%

Tournament #2 20%

Tournament #3 20%

Evaluation will be based on earned points only. No extra credit work will be allowed. High standards of academic excellence will be called for. You must complete all of these assignments in order to receive credit for this course.

There will be a travel component to this class. Students will attend at least two away and one home debate tournament. Travel will commence on Friday evening and we will return on Sunday evening. During the trip your transportation and housing will be covered by UVM, and you will receive a $10 a day meal allowance. Specific rules and procedures of travel will be distributed and discussed. Dates of travel will be announced.

Students should feel free to see me during office hours or by appointment, both to receive extra instruction and help on assignments and to question evaluations of your work.