Debate and the Research Process
In the seventh week of UUUS class, we experienced doing an academic debate. Hisham and I had assigned to be a team who would debate about Gun Laws in the USA. We had needed to prepare for both sides, pros and cons since we did not which side we were until the debate date. In the debate occasion, we were the negative speakers of the resolution, gun and gun ownership should be outlawed, while Ed and dawood were the affirmative speakers. The debate structure was three minutes for the affirmative speakers to introduce the topic and state their arguments,and then one minute was for cross-examination when Hisham and I asked some questions to clarify their arguments. After that, we had three minutes to state our two arguments and to provide the evidences. As a cooperative team, we had decided that I would speak about the two points and Hisham would provide the supports so that the other team and the audience could understand our arguments easily. The other team had one minute as well to clarify our arguments. Finally, starting with us, every team had two minutes to rebut.
In the seventh week of UUUS class, we experienced doing an academic debate. Hisham and I had assigned to be a team who would debate about Gun Laws in the USA. We had needed to prepare for both sides, pros and cons since we did not which side we were until the debate date. In the debate occasion, we were the negative speakers of the resolution, gun and gun ownership should be outlawed, while Ed and dawood were the affirmative speakers. The debate structure was three minutes for the affirmative speakers to introduce the topic and state their arguments,and then one minute was for cross-examination when Hisham and I asked some questions to clarify their arguments. After that, we had three minutes to state our two arguments and to provide the evidences. As a cooperative team, we had decided that I would speak about the two points and Hisham would provide the supports so that the other team and the audience could understand our arguments easily. The other team had one minute as well to clarify our arguments. Finally, starting with us, every team had two minutes to rebut.
Analysis My understanding of the US university expectations changed deeply after the project. In the first semester classes, I read and wrote a lot about how Americans evaluate things and how they value evidences. However, in this semester after completing the project, I truly understood how important using statistic for the supports to be convincing and reasonable. I realized that what I learned in the first semester was learning on paper, shallow compering to the debate experience. The big gain is that I saw what I learned, and I am looking to see more.
The topic for these debates were chosen because they reflects American values in both sides. For example, when we talk about gun laws in the US, some Americans might say that the guns should be controlled not banned because everyone, as long as she or he doesn’t injure others, entitles to own one. Other Americans might say guns should be banned because they are responsible for a huge number of death, and everybody has the right to live his or her life without fears.
One of the study skills I gained while completing the assignment is using academic approach to search topics and to evaluate sources. I mostly used KU library tools because it was the handiest and the most reliable. Another study knowledge I gained by going through the debating experience is that I should star building my own sources for my academic journey by using an accessible tools like what we learned in class, Evernote. I would like to conclude that I learned, in debate, being respectful is one element that has a greatly positive impact on the way the others think of the arguers’ reasons because this behavior reflects the confidence of the arguer. |
Transformation
My understanding of the US university expectations changed deeply after the project. In the first semester classes, I read and wrote a lot about how Americans evaluate things and how they value evidences. However, in this semester after completing the project, I truly understood how important using statistic for the supports to be convincing and reasonable.
Written in March 2014 |