Three principles and the skills of debate

[ESAL SPIRIT]

One: Debate to learn.The first reason to debate is to learn. Debate stimulates development of the following skills:
· Critical thinking skills - Critical thinking is the process of formulating, identifying, clarifying and sustaining thoughts and ideas. Critical thinking is essential for well-reasoned arguments. Students need to learn to see the logical connections between abstract ideas and events in the real world. Critical thinking allows debaters to find the logical flaws in the analysis of their opponents position and be able to see when argument is not being supported. Critical thinking is the cornerstone of good debate. But it is hard skill to teach, or even explain. You cannot teach someone to think critically by lecturing to them. The only way you can learn is by doing; by putting arguments forth and listening to the opponents responses.
· Research skills - When you make arguments you need evidence to support these arguments. Sometimes simple logic or common examples can be used successfully to support an argument. But often the arguments will need evidence, and require you to gather information from outside sources.
· Organizational skills - A big part of debating is organizing your arguments into an effective speech. In public speaking, organization is even more important than in writing. Readers can always turn back a couple of pages and remind themselves of what the author is talking about. But in debate, if you are not clear and logical, you might lose the attention of your judge and then lose the debate.
· Listening and note-taking skills - In debate, listening skills are essential because if a debater fails to hear or to understand an opponent's argument, he or she cannot successfully refute it.
Two: Commit to honesty. If you participate in debate, your job as a debater is to be honest in your arguments, honest in your use of evidence, and response to questions.
Three: Debate with respect. Debate is not about personalities, and you should never belittle or degrade another person simply because they disagree with you. Debate is about ideas, and in a battle of ideas, the only acceptable weapon is a well-reasoned argument.