Research:

Debating will be most effective if you research your topic carefully.

Your information will be deepened if you do further research at a library or archives. Try learning more about Doukhobors. Contact the historical association. Find out what people really think. Study tourism patterns in the Grand Forks area.

Preparation:

Put your notes into point form or on cards. Write down the most important points and put the relating arguments into subcategories.

Try to predict what the other sides' argument will be and decide on the best debating strategy.

Debate Structure:

A traditional debate has 3 speakers and they speak alternately for a set length of time. You will have 4 or 5 people and so the debate will be structured slightly differently. Each person will have 3 minutes to speak.

Speaker 1: Introduction:

The first person in a debate introduces the topic, the groups' point of view, and clearly states what they would like the final outcome to be and why.

Speaker 2:

The second speaker brings in more, new information, "the meat and potatoes of the debate". Emphasizes why it is important for your group goals. Try to include as many concrete facts as possible. Refutes what the previous person in the other group has said.

Speaker 3:

Introduces more facts and information. Refutes what the previous person in the other group has said.

Speaker 4: Rebuttal:

This person must give the final push to get their point of view across and refute what the other side has said. In some ways this is the hardest part of a debate.

REMEMBER TO PRACTICE.