Listening & Claims
Before giving your own idea in debate, what should you do first?
Listen to the other person
Finish this sentence: “I think ___ because ___.”
A claim and a reason
If a reason does not actually prove the claim, is the argument strong?
No
What phrase did we use to disagree politely?
Yes, but…
When many arguments exist, what must a debater eventually do?
Choose one main position
What is a claim in debate?
What you think / your main idea
What does a reason do in an argument?
It explains why the claim makes sense
What question did we ask to test if a reason really works?
Does the reason prove the claim?
When refuting, should you ignore the other side’s idea?
No
What question helps decide which impact matters most?
Which is more important and why?
Why did we practice restating a peer’s idea before adding our own?
To show we were listening
Why are examples important in debate?
They help people understand the idea
Why is “Satellites are important because they are expensive” weak?
Being expensive does not prove importance
Why is it weak to say “Both sides are important” in debate?
It does not choose or explain which matters more
Why is listing many ideas weaker than choosing one focus?
It is unclear and not persuasive
If someone gives an opinion without a reason, what is missing?
A reason
Why is “Space food is good” a weak claim?
It is too vague / not clear
Being expensive does not prove importance
Question it / test it
What does it mean to say one argument “outweighs” another?
It matters more
What does synthesis mean in debate?
Combining ideas into one clear position
In one sentence, explain what makes a good first debate response.
It clearly states an idea and shows you listened to others
What three parts did we practice using to build a strong argument?
Claim, reason, and example
In one sentence, explain what it means to test an argument.
You check if the reason really supports the claim
In one sentence, explain a strong refutation.
It responds to the other side and explains why your idea matters more
In one sentence, describe a strong final debate answer.
It clearly chooses one idea and explains why it matters most