Bachelor 2019/2020

The art of Debate

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Area of studies: Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Foreign Languages

When: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Бурдюгов Иван Александрович, Ksenia Chermoshentseva, Kseniia Kindenova, Irina Rezanova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 58

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is designed for students to get started as a speaker in British parliamentary debate format, provides a detailed overview on debating as a truly amazing component of foreign language acquisition, improves speaking skills and helps to overcome fear of speaking in front of any audience. the motions for the debates within the course cover various spheres of life: social, economic and political. the ultimate perspective of this elective course is to develop students' ability to construct reasoned persuasive speeches in academic discourse. The course consists of two parts: (1) the theoretical part - the introduction to the debate basics (debate formats, methods of argumentation; methods of building a case, basic rules of rebuttal and refutation, types of speeches and their peculiarities (both at the level of constructing individual statements and certain specific language expressions, and at the level of planning and structuring a reasoned monologue); (2) the practical part - to participate in the discussions and debates. The course contains various activities such as quizzes, tests, discussions, online quizzes, games, debates and research projects. The course targets lecturers, teaching assistants and 1st year students of the Foreign languages and intercultural communication programme to whose needs it is specifically designed.

Learning Objectives

• to introduce the key aspects of specific means of argumentation; to master the skills of building a speech; to develop individual linguistic resources necessary for conducting discussions and debates; to learn how to use argumentation skills in written and oral speech.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• know basic concepts and notions in the field of rhetoric
• know major argumentation techniques
• know etymological, semantic, morphological, combinational, stylistic properties of the specific vocabulary of the English language
• to know major argumentation techniques
• to be able to analyse speeches
• know major debate formats
• know major argumentation techniques, develop skills of searching for arguments
• be able to use different methods of identifying logical errors, know etymological, semantic, morphological, combinational, stylistic properties of the specific vocabulary of the English language
• be able to rebut effectively, develop improvisational skills
• be able to plan your speech and non-verbal behavior, use different methods of analyzing vocabulary in your own research
• to know major forms of debates
• be able to plan your speech and non-verbal behaviour
• to be able to analyse new topics and searche for arguments
• to be able to apply skills of working with various sources of information, selecting materials, setting goals, presenting and discussing research
• be able to plan your speech and non-verbal behaviour

Course Contents

• Тема 1. The Foundations. Debate formats
  Philosophy of Debating. A Basic introduction. Similarities and differences of different debate formats. Debating championships and competitions.
• Тема 2. The topic in Debate. Argumentation in Debate. Logical Fallacies in debate. Rebuttal
  The issue and definition in Debate. How to define a motion. Limiting motions by Definition. The need for a neutral definition. The right of definition. Practical Exercises. Elements, forms and modes of Argumentation. Logical Fallacies. The structure and techniques of rebuttal in Debate. Key groups for Rebuttal
• Тема 6. BP debate. Strategy and decision making
  World university championship. Speech analysis. The elements of decision making. Tactics in Debate. Speech presentation.
• Тема 5. Adjudication in Debate.Debate skills. Research skills
  Adjudication criteria and models. Standards of adjudication. Develop debate and research skills.
• Тема 4. Style in Debate. Points of Information in Debate.
  Arrangement style and delivery. Visual, vocal, verbal presentations. Offering and responding to the points of information. The importance of points of information
• Тема 3. The British Parliamentary format.The case approach in Debate. Individual Speeches
  The Speakers and Speeches. The strategy of case development. Structure of individual speechesSpeaker roles, signposting.

Assessment Elements

• Home Assignment
• Written Tests
• Oral Presentations
• Exam

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (2 module)
  0.25 * Exam + 0.25 * Home Assignment + 0.25 * Oral Presentations + 0.25 * Written Tests

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Bourbeau, P. (2015). Resilience and International Politics: Premises, Debates, Agenda. International Studies Review, 17(3), 374–395. https://doi.org/10.1111/misr.12226
• Wheeler, E. (2016). Elmer Wheeler’s Tested Public Speaking [Second Edition]. San Francisco: Golden Springs Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1403508

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Briscoe, S. F. (2017). Policy Debate : A Guide for High School and College Debaters. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1429313