would you please inform me about debates?

[Tavico]

so... as some of you know, I am Brazilian,
and I hear a lot about debates in american schools,
we don't have that here, and I am willing to promote that in my school, so...

I would like to know how these debates works, how are they organized...

thanks in advance

 

[arbites_augmented]

Two people stand up.

One says "I think we should do this"

The other says "No, we should do this!"

Basically, it's an organised argument.

 

[Phean]

Debate teams are a wonderful thing for the educational process, they build research and argumentative skill. Model United Nations is a program that is similar, and may already be available to you. Here are a couple links to get you started. sorry for the wording... it is very late here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_United_Nations

http://www.model-unitednations.org/index.html

 

[butscrew]

Also Mass Debates are the best kind of debating.

 

[Phean]

Also Mass Debates are the best kind of debating.

Do you mean MUN, or angry mobs? Because both are fun.

 

[Tavico]

In Brazil, in spite of Portuguese being the country's official language, some of the most important MUN conferences in the country are held in English.

MUN....


anyway, simple as that?
lol
ty u all for the awnsers

 

[butscrew]

Also Mass Debates are the best kind of debating.

Do you mean MUN, or angry mobs? Because both are fun.

Mass Debates. MASS DEBATES! Read it out loud quickly and you will come to understand the gift that is mass debating.

 

[Pharaoh Llandy]

so... as some of you know, I am Brazilian,
and I hear a lot about debates in american schools,
we don't have that here, and I am willing to promote that in my school, so...

I would like to know how these debates works, how are they organized...

thanks in advance

The best sort of debates are the one about local matters. Abortion/Model UN/Religion has been done to death. For example, one debate I did in school was about whether a nearby lake/reservoir should be given permission to have increasing watersports activities on it, such as motorboating. This required research into all sorts of local laws, regulations, local peoples opinions, potential impact on wildlife, etc.

 

[killop5]

Right;

Generally Speaking, there are 2 'teams' one team is for the motion and one team is against.

The 'Motion' is the thing being debated, it could be "This party believes that we should dump nuclear power" or such.

They normally work like this; (A is for and B is against)

-Person 1 from team A stands up, gives his speech and sits down. In his speech he will try to deliver the positives while destroying the potential Negatives

-Person 1 from team B stands up, puts forward his negatives and destroys A's positives

-Person 2 from team A stands up, puts forward some more positives and proves that Person 1 from team A is right despite what Person 1 from team B said.

-Person 2 from team B stands up, shows that Person 2 and 1 from team A are wrong.

-Person 3 from team A stands up, Sums up what team A said and why they are right

-Person 3 from team B stands up, Sums up what team B said and why team A is wrong

-Questions go to the floor (Audience)

-Debate ends.

 

[Mage246]

And at some point, Hitler or the Nazis is generally invoked. It's traditional.

 

[Agent Griff]

Debate are coolest when you can physically intimidate the other side into backing down and letting you win.

That kinda takes the challenge outta them, though.

 

[Kazzan]

Insulting is also part of the process.

 

[Swadius 2.0]

so... as some of you know, I am Brazilian,
and I hear a lot about debates in american schools,
we don't have that here, and I am willing to promote that in my school, so...

I would like to know how these debates works, how are they organized...

thanks in advance

Try and form a group in your school, like a club since even a smll debate would be stretching the logistical capabilities of a single person. Organize a formal place for a debate if it's going to be lengthy. Asking permission from your instructors or from those in charge is a good way to go, then in order for it to be successful, you need to advertise it. Posters, notices, asking people to sign up and come are all good methods. And finally, if this is your first debate you either have to pick something so outrageous and locally affecting that it would bring pitch fork wielding maniacs a-runnin', or something that's generally accessible to all, but still engrossing.
Talking about local matters can also drawn in the crowds, if, for example, you're debating about the privatization of the water system in your city, someone from those sectors might come if you wrote or approached them beforehand.
Finally, you need to to a lot of research if you're going to lead the debate. There will be instances where you're going to need to nudge people along with a few open ended questions.

 

[Adorno]

It sounds like a sport, and the goal is to 'win' the argument.
Normally I'd say a debate is mutual exchange of views on things
to enlighten your debate partner - be enlightened yourself - and reach understanding of each others views...

But maybe I'm being a democratic wus 

 

[Mage246]

Nah, the goal is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the women!

 

[CountArtha]

This was my event in sophomore year of high school:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%E2%80%93Douglas_debate

 

[dedhero]

Insulting is also part of the process.

No wrong. Insulting during a debate is the biggest signal that one's argument is weak. Ad hominem attacks are highly discouraged in a debate. Do not confuse a true debate with arguing or political debates, both are rife with insults.  Don't give the guy the wrong idea.

 

[Suspect-Device]

You should do some maths debating, god I remember maths debating into the small hours of the morning.

Of course not everyone has the concentration to maths debate to that degree, but with years of practice and a protractor who knows what could happen.

 

[ealabor]

I would like to know how these debates works, how are they organized...

thanks in advance

Well, basically the way they work is that you be a President to run on a ticket that claims that he will usher in a new era of bipartisanship.

Then when you get that position disregard what you claimed to be, and exploit the seat of government power to bully your critics by issuing a gag order on the chamber of commerce, and attacking media outlets and talk radio.


You'd think I were describing events in Venezuela, but alas, I am referring to these 50 fair states.

 

[Elenmmare]

I dislike the structure of current debates. In them, people can rebut your arguments with the stupidest of things, but you can't rebut their rebuttal. For example, in one of my debates I made a huge ****ing argument based on Domestic Helpers being given a minimum wage in Hong Kong, and my opponent gives me a 'They don't have a minimum wage."

The **** they don't!