Year 8 - English
What is a formal debate?
Participating in effective debates
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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 understand how a formal debate is structured and consider your role within it.
Key Notes
- Debates are a formal type of communication that help us build knowledge and develop critical thinking skills
- A debate is focused around a motion which is a clear statement.
- The proposition is in favour of the motion.
- The opposition is against the motion.
- A debate requires a range of roles and skills.
Vocabulary To Learn
- formal: following set rules, traditions or an official way of doing things
- informed: having knowledge or information about something, usually because you've learned or researched it
- rebuttal: a statement that a claim or criticism is not true
- motion: a statement that is being discussed and argued for or against in a debate
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There are no rules in debating. It is just another way to argue or have an argument and does not need preparation.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Debates are a formal type of communication that help us build knowledge and develop critical thinking skills. A debate is focused around a motion which is a clear statement.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'formal'
following set rules, traditions or an official way of doing things.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: There are no rules in debating. It is just another way to argue or have an argument and does not need preparation. Correction: Formal debating is an important part of society and allows important issues to be discussed in a constructuve way. It takes consideration and preparation to be involved in an effective debate.
More Lessons In This Unit
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