Describes an advanced English-as-a-second-language program that features debate as a means of preparing foreign college students to compete with English-speaking students. (FL)

Suggests that debate training might help correct written and oral communication deficiencies of college students. Discusses a course in debates in public policy with regard to evaluating student presentations before and after the course. Findings indicated that students improved significantly in organization, idea development, poise, and assurance…

Tests two hypotheses concerning success in debate: (1) that success would be enhanced by a fast speaking rate, large amounts of evidence, and use of jargon; and (2) that a high correlation exists among these same variables. Neither hypothesis is supported and several explanations are offered. (JMF)

Presents the text of the final debate of the thirty-fourth National Debate Tournament between Northwestern University and Harvard. Includes the judges' critiques and editorial analysis. (JMF)

Proposes an activity whereby science students develop critical thinking skills. Students are to debate the belief that the earth is flat. Guidelines are provided. (MA)

Provides examples and a summary of the results of a survey completed by nonscience majors (n=57). Students provided information about the importance of chemistry to their majors and argued their point of view in a paper. (DDR)

Explores how argumentation in the eighteenth-century miracles controversy (a century-long debate in Britain over the reasonableness of revealed religion) exhibited a controlling concern for procedural considerations. Discusses how the Deists and the Orthodox apologists used their argumentative force to advance rival methods for evaluating miracle…

Discusses how studying the 1988 Presidential Debates reveals the importance of ethos in speaking and being elected to office. Asserts that the debates also offer an excellent opportunity to teach propaganda devices or fallacies. Provides two examples from the second Presidential Debate. (MM)

Explores the negative popular reaction to the 1988 Presidential Debates. Examines how these events function as ritualistic enactments of the <public trust>, thus providing a rhetorical legitimacy for the electoral process in a system dedicated to <popular sovereignty>. Suggests how the 1988 debates failed to satisfy that function. (MM)

Argues that participation in high school forensic activities can change students' lives. Maintains that the activity teaches lessons about language and communication that go beyond what can be learned in the classroom. Explains the benefits of forensics to teachers and how interested teachers can prepare themselves to become involved. (TB)

Argues that debate is not antithetical to Japanese culture and that Japan has indigenous traditions of argument and debate. Outlines the Japanese tradition of argumentation prior to the "opening to the West" in 1853. Suggests a more expansive model of debate as appropriate to cross-cultural analysis. (HB)

Finds that the nontraditional media of television talk shows and morning network shows did not contribute significantly to greater knowledge of candidate issue positions, greater intention to vote, or higher levels of interest in the 1992 presidential election campaign. (SR)

Describes exercises that can uncover the assumptions underlying educational practice: (1) scenario analysis; (2) critical debate; (3) simulations of crisis decisions; (4) identifying heroes and villains; and (5) analysis of critical incidents. (SK)

Discusses research evidence concerning the persuasive effects of three variations in the articulation of an advocate's supporting argumentation. Finds that greater explicitness in identification of the sources of information and in the completeness of an argument significantly enhance persuasive effectiveness and perceived credibility; greater…

Notes that for two decades issues related to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) consumed major portions of the American Forensic Association's (AFA) annual business meetings. Reviews the circumstances leading to the AFA's vote to sponsor the NDT; examines the association's role in overseeing the NDT; and judges the significance of the…