Year 8 - English
Creating and presenting opening arguments for a debate
Participating in effective debates
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about debate and practise having debates. They first learn what a debate is, before presenting arguments for a debate and then learning how you create rebuttals in debates. Pupils then finish the unit by having a debate.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to prepare an effective opening argument for both sides of a debate and present them successfully.
Key Notes
- In a debate you need to be prepared to take the role of proposition or opposition, regardless of personal stance.
- An opening argument should use formal vocabulary, specific examples and address the motion clearly.
- Discourse markers can be used to create a clear and logical line of argument.
- It is important to practise presenting your arguments.
- You should consider how you present your argument including body language and use of voice.
Vocabulary To Learn
- proposition: the side that supports the topic or motion being discussed
- opposition: the side that disagrees with the topic or motion
- logical: when an argument follows a sequence of ideas that are connected and easy to understand
- pace: how fast or slow someone speaks
- tone: the emotion or attitude in a speaker's voice
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- In a debate you can only argue a stance you truly believe in.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
In a debate you need to be prepared to take the role of proposition or opposition, regardless of personal stance. An opening argument should use formal vocabulary, specific examples and address the motion clearly.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'proposition'
the side that supports the topic or motion being discussed.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: In a debate you can only argue a stance you truly believe in. Correction: Part of the skill of debating is being able to create, justify and convincingly present an argument that might not reflect your own personal viewpoint.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.