Examines the relationship between the concept of distinction as a "dialectic move" and the "dissociation of ideas" to frame a theory of argumentative distinction. Applies the emerging theoretical framework to a wide spectrum of arguments drawn from a variety of disciplines and historical periods. (PRA)

This article describes how the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues is reviving debate competitions among high school students in city schools. Starting in Atlanta in 1985 and boosted by seed money from the billionaire George Soros' Open Society Institute, urban educators and their supporters in 2002 formed the National Association for…

Strategically introducing students to a controversial science case--before they read it, watch it, or listen to it--motivates them to learn from it and paves the way for successful discussion and debate. A strategic introduction also provides an opportunity for the instructor to demonstrate scientific reasoning and share guidelines for the…

Communication teachers and forensics coaches open up students to new ideas, to new experiences, and to new cultures best when they encourage students to explore new ideas and challenge old ones. Learning has taken place when a student comes to really understand a new concept whether through the research necessary to develop, test, and prove the…

A study examined attitudes that discourage students from competing in rhetorical criticism forensic events. Subjects, 31 students at the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech Association state championship, completed a questionnaire. Results indicated that: (1) only 1 of the 11 subjects who had experience in competitive rhetorical criticism chose to…

Televised political debate has become an expected element in most political races for public office: as important as door-to-door campaigning, as crucial as purchased media time, as strategized an element as scheduling press conferences. In order to address candidates' opinions of local televised debates, who should participate in them, and what…

This paper is an analysis of how competitive debate organizations have solved many of the criticisms that have been leveled at political and (specifically) presidential debating and, thus, provides models that presidential debates can be patterned after to improve the quality of the debating that is taking place in the political realm. The paper's…

This article presents a qualitative case study that uses discourse and social semiotic analysis methods in order to examine the rhetorical construction of fictional personas within an online role play used for learning in the college classroom. Of special focus are the differing patterns of semiotic resource use (for example, language and…

Debate in the Catholic community in Australia often centres on how the Catholic school best expresses its Catholic identity. Is it in closing its doors to all but Catholic families or does Catholic identity require an openness to all Christians, those of other religions and those of no religion? This paper argues that if the school is to be truly…

By understanding the values and goals of debate, the applicability of debate to all disciplines, the logistics of setting up a debate and the judging and grading procedures, college instructors in all disciplines can use debate to stimulate student interest and increase conceptual skills. Debate functions to develop skills in critical thinking,…

Debate is an activity which can help young children learn to be part of a team without experiencing the intense competition that is present in athletics. For children, a focus on developing communication skills rather than on competition in debate can help foster attitudes of open-mindedness, fairness, and tolerance for the viewpoints of others.…

Teaching the basic course in speech communication can be challenging in many ways. A class debate revitalizes the course, while offering an excellent means for evaluating learning at the end of a semester course. Proficient use of interpersonal skills is necessary to organize group members and control group discussion; sufficient knowledge of…

In academic debate the affirmative plan is the basis of argument; for debate to be competitive, therefore, the importance of the counterplan cannot be overstated. This article proposes a new criterion for assessing whether counterplans are competitive. (PD)

This essay attempts to sort out and evaluate some commonly held notions about British debate and debaters in the light of my experience and it makes recommendations and suggests means by which the SCA could more fully utilize the tour." (Author)

Discusses the counter-resolutional counterplan: its advantages and strategic use by the negative debate team. (PD)