Last Go 'Round
As promised, I will now comment on my last debate. However, as I am getting into a blogrut (I think I just coined a new word. So when your kids say, "Dad/Mom, I don't want to go to school today. The teacher's in this stupid blogrut on the importance of history. He needs a new thread," you will be able to say something useful came of my blog after all. Maybe I'll even get called a philologist.), this will be my last such entry unless the amazing events of some future debate demand public proclamation.
It was good. We (negative) were really prepared for a lot of things, but the affirmative team found something we had very little research on--nicely done, Nik. Bobbi (props on a great debate. How could we ever forget, "Are you asking me a question?") and I managed to assemble a way to attack the affirmative plan, even going so far as to argue they were off topic and exposing contradictions in their case. It was fun. And we won.
The thing I love about debate is that it is strengthening my critical listening and reasoning skills. It goes beyond saying, "The other team says A, but we think B." It's being able to clearly present a belief and defend it against attacks. Debate class is complementing Intro to Philosophy nicely, and really making me interested in apologetics next semester. And who knows, it might even help in law school.
It was good. We (negative) were really prepared for a lot of things, but the affirmative team found something we had very little research on--nicely done, Nik. Bobbi (props on a great debate. How could we ever forget, "Are you asking me a question?") and I managed to assemble a way to attack the affirmative plan, even going so far as to argue they were off topic and exposing contradictions in their case. It was fun. And we won.
The thing I love about debate is that it is strengthening my critical listening and reasoning skills. It goes beyond saying, "The other team says A, but we think B." It's being able to clearly present a belief and defend it against attacks. Debate class is complementing Intro to Philosophy nicely, and really making me interested in apologetics next semester. And who knows, it might even help in law school.
At 11:03 PM,
Debate... hehe. Memories from high school are coming back. We had a mock debate once. A mock is all one can say it was too. Although it probably was on the kindergarten level, I DO remember the feeling of "besting" the other team by finding a loop hole in their argument. Anyhoo, Way to go, Jusin and Bobbi! As one of my el ed teachers says, "It is good for people to argue." Now someone could take that out of context and be totally befuddled, but I know you all understand that she meant that people should not blindly accept whatever view comes their way. They need to develop an opinion using biblical principles and be willing to defend (apologetics!) their beliefs. I know that this whole subject is something I need to work on more myself. Don't get me wrong, some people or situations can get me very argumentative, but when it comes to giving reasons why I do/don't do things, I often lack a good argument. hmm.
I sure wrote a lot for a little comment. Glad you're enjoying your class!