Keith vs. Zahirah

Nervous at first, Zahirah overcame her fear and delivered 3 solid arguments with a steady amount of evidence.  Keith countered with 2 arguments,  one very well supported.  Zahriah really challenged Keith to rethink if the enslaved are really treated equal but the judges were confused as to why having opportunities available to them makes them equal or not.  Make the connection clear.  When asking questions, consider being very clear as to the purpose of the question and why it helps us better understand why opponent is wrong and why you are right.   In the end, Keith came back with a rebuttal that helped to strengthen his weaker argument and that the constitution should protect those enslaved as well.  Congratulations to both debaters for stepping up to the plate.

Taniy-ia vs. Michael

What a fantastic debate this was! Both speakers came over prepared and it showed.  Taniy-ia offered the class new arguments such as slaves are unable to prosper.  She did bring up the idea that slavery prohibited African Americans from being educated but should we not also know why that matters?  Taniy-ia's strength was in her CX and appropriately challenged the contradiction of being George Washington but violating the laws.  Is this true I wonder?  Mike brilliantly argued that there is a clear distinction between class and race therefore placing slaves as a lower class, not necessarily the race.  This argument sealed the deal in the judges eyes.  Congratulations to both debaters, the level has been raised even higher!

Kristina vs. Mai

Our best debate yet!  I want to congratulate these two young ladies for coming to the podium ready to debate.  Both students had speeches and were flowing.  Kristina was able to crack through Mai's armor with the treatment of the enslaved in the fields.  Mai was unresponsive to this question.  Mai on the other hand was able to get Kristina to define  equality which Mai took advantage of during the CX.  Rebuttals were better but if Kristina would have continued to flow during Mai's speech she would have remembered to attack Mai's untouched backbone of the economy argument.  Congratulations to both debaters for raising the level of debate. 

Hint: if all were created equal, can the abolishment side really prove that beyond Thomas Jefferson's writings who also spoke about the inferiority of Africans, that African Americans are equal to everyone else?

Sydney vs. Roshonda

Our second debate had some shining moments and areas in which all debaters should be aware of.  Sydney's opening speech was well supported but not organized enough.  Say the 2-3 major points up front then discuss each on in greater detail.  Roshonda's speech was very well organized but as the judges mentioned, not many students could hear. Try not to speak into the podium but to look at the audience.  Sydney's speech was in outline form whereas Roshonda's wasn't.  During the cross examination sydney asked a powerful question: If slaves are so happy then why are they running away/rebelling? Hobbes anyone...Lincoln document anyone.... 

Rebuttals need to be stronger. Know your packet and understand why your arguments matter.  It takes courage to come up so I commend both students for being the 2nd debate. 

Randall vs. John

First debaters take on the first challenges.  Although John delivered two arguments they were hard to follow at times due to lack of organization.  Randall's opening argument was definitely more organized but even he needs to be more clear as to what the 3 arguments are.  Definitely state your reasons upfront and then go into each one separately.   The cross examination was definitely John's strength today.  He challenged the idea that Africans were being "saved" from tribal warfare and pointed the blame at those engaged in the slave trade.  Didn't the trade work because of the trade of guns?  This is a brilliant counter argument.  Randall was successful at weaving himself out of the corner and provided additional evidence and explanation to back up issues that were brought up throughout the debate.  Congratulations to both debaters, it is not easy going first, and Randall for the first win.  Hopefully Wednesday's debaters will appear with typed, outlined speeches.  This effected today's debates.