This study proposed a novel approach to classroom debates, in which chatbots that are able to engage in argumentative dialogues are adopted to facilitate students' debate preparation. The approach comprised three stages: first, students interacted with a chatbot named Argumate to help them generate ideas; second, students discussed the ideas with…

Providing a record of the deliberations of the Second National Conference of Forensics is the function of this book, which is organized around the deliberations and results of each of the following nine work groups: (1) rationale for forensics, (2) ethics of forensics, (3) promotion and tenure standards, (4) strengthening educational goals, (5)…

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing tournament directors wishing to provide a balance between individual events and debate is an equitable overall sweepstakes formula. One such formula, modified from a methodology initially developed in response to a need at the Missouri Association of Forensic Activities (MAFA) intercollegiate…

A study examined the administration of college forensics programs, comparing the current (1990) status of programs to the status of such programs one year ago and five years ago. The study was based on the philosophy that if forensics programs have changed, more than likely they have changed in terms of what activities are offered to students, and…

Forensics judges rank students, determine the outcome of tournaments, and are in positions to give the contestants feedback that can help them learn. Several ideas that can help improve the quality of judging include: event rules should appear on the ballots, suggested criteria for judging should appear on the ballots, tournaments should use…

The 16 articles in this journal issue identify and assess change and constants in intercollegiate forensics during the decade of the 1970s. The articles give varying perspectives on the significance of the decade and the topics range from concern for tenure for the debate coach to the formats of argumentation theory within the debates themselves.…

The 14 articles in this journal issue focus on the role of forensics in the eighties. Among the topics discussed in the articles are the following: (1) the survival of forensics, (2) intercollegiate debate, (3) accountability, and (4) intercollegiate forensics. In addition, several articles provide predictions and projections for the future of…

This curriculum guide is a result of a graduate seminar in improvement of speech instruction given in 1971 at the University of Nebraska (Omaha). It is designed primarily for a full-year high school course, but individual sections can be used for a semester course or units. The aim of the curriculum is to integrate new approaches in communication…

Analyzes pedagogical, historical-critical, philosophical, and political-public approaches. (RN)

This paper describes the use of British union, or parliamentary, debating in a college public-communication course. This debating format, practiced at British universities and used in the British House of Commons, promotes interaction between speaker and audience, emphasizing the effective methods of persuasive discourse that evoke audience…

Intended for use by instructors of upper division speech courses, this paper describes a questioning and answering technique for teaching argumentation. The first section of the paper discusses the concept of argumentative exchange, which is defined as an episode between two or more individuals wherein one or more feel that differences of belief…

Debate as an elitist activity can be defined in two ways: it may mean that entry to a tournament is restricted to only a few participants from any one school, or it may mean that although a wide range of students may participate in debate, only the best debaters are allowed to compete in prestigious national tournaments. The restriction on the…

The educational benefits of debate suggest several reasons for funding debate programs on college campuses. First, debate training improves communication skills (analysis, delivery, and organization) and helps students in other communication situations. Second, debate promotes depth of educational experience by exposing students to important…

The two articles in this publication focus on ways of teaching argumentation and debate in the college setting. The first article examines the place of the argumentation and debate course in the speech communication curriculum and suggests cognitive and behavioral objectives and assignments for use in such a course. The second article discusses…