The document provides information about how to structure a debate. It explains that the affirmative team must prove their point using well-researched arguments and cited sources, while the negative team aims to dismantle the affirmative team's arguments. It then outlines the debate process and provides a list of potential debate topics as well as an example of a thesis statement about banning smoking in public places. Finally, it instructs readers to work with their group to write a thesis statement on a debate topic, outline supporting arguments and evidence, and identify potential counterarguments and responses.

2. Research You must use research to back your claims. We will be spending time doing research. Take time to cite your sources correctly. TIP: if an opponent can not tell you from where he/she quoted a statistic, points are taken away from that team .

3. How does this work? Affirmative team- attempts to prove a point regarding a topic (ex. Abortion is wrong, Gun control is the answer to stopping violence). Wins by presenting the most bullet-proof arguments. Negative team- attempts to poke holes in the Affirmative team’s thinking. Wins by shooting down all of Affirmative team’s theories.

4. Debate Process Affirmative, 1 minutes Cross examination by Negative, 1 minute. Negative, 1 minutes Cross examination by Affirmative, 1 minute. Rebuttal, Affirmative, 30 seconds Rebuttal, Negative, 1 minutes Rebuttal, Affirmative, 30 seconds A B A B A A B B B

5. Debate Topics public school vs. home school corporal punishment (spanking) death penalty legalization of marijuana animal rights in medicine U.S. military draft school uniforms legal driving age nuclear weapons governmental services to illegal immigrants abortion keep whaling legal? keep hunting legal? year-round school standardized testing (PSSAs, SATs, Benchmarks) cloning violent video game bans beauty pageants stem cell research cell phones in schools Walmart: good or bad? U.S. military torture Harry Potter = witchcraft voting age

6. Unscramble the thesis: and is used as a form of contraception because abortion is tantamount to murder I strongly believe that abortion should be banned cheapens life Learning the right order of the thesis sentence is important. So try to unscramble this sentence.

7. Corrected thesis: I strongly believe that abortion should be banned because abortion is tantamount to murder , cheapens life, and is used as a form of contraception.

8. Let’s look at a thesis sentence: I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places because smoke pollutes the environment, contaminates our lungs, and smells terrible. position reasons

9. Sit with your group. Write a thesis statement. Outline your three main supporting arguments and at least three specific pieces of evidence for each that you can use to support your position. TODAY

10. Identify three counterarguments your opponents are likely to make. For each, devise a good response. Do research as needed to complete the outline.