Should slavery be abolished? Students at Constitution High School debate the advantages and disadvantages of abolishing slavery from an antebellum 19th century perspective. Having students focus on the social, economic, cultural, and to some extent political nature of this debate, helps students understand the context of America's "peculiar institution", roadblocks African Americans needed to overcome in order to abolish slavery, as well as frame the upcoming 10th grade American history course. The purpose of this blog is to create a forum in which students can self-reflect and continue the process of peer-to-peer evaluation as they debate in class.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Bria v. Erik
Erik, fearful of not being prepared, got up there and delivered two arguments. Bria delivered a strong inhuman argument. Erik's rebuttal was strong enough to sway the judges. Congratulations to both debaters.
Brasof I do not agree with what u said "Bria delivered a strong inhuman argument". I think it was very weak. Bria's strongest part in the debate was the cross-x. For Bria being scared of speaking in front of people she did a good job of that. One thing I think Bria needs to work on it to make her contentions clearer. Also she gave some evidence but it was never connected back to her one contention.It was hard to tell if she was flowing because her rebuttal didnt hit any of Eriks points. Erik needs to give more evidence to support his contentions. The point that stand out the most in Eriks debate was "their didnt even care for themselves so why should we care", that was a strong point that went up against Bria's inhumane contention. I think the rebuttal's were okay, but could have been better. Bria left a lot of points untouched, while Erik attack Bria's one and only point. The two of you did a good job.
I agree with the judges that both debaters delivered powerful arguments. Bria could of had more passion in what she was talking about so her audience would be interested in her speech. Bria needs to project her voice so everyone can hear her. Noone needs to train to hear her. Erik did well presenting his arguments. Everything his opponent said he had a responce to. During cross examination, Erik did well asking clear questions and when Bria asked Erik questions he came back strong with evidence. I could be wrong but I feel as though both debaters weren't really ready to debate. One didn't have enough evidence to support their arguments and the other seemed to be nervous and wasn't ready for what their opponent was throwing at them. Also, when it was time to say their rebuttals, Bria didn't really hit Eriks points and explaned how his arguments were wrong and hers were ultimately right. Bria needs to work on making her arguments clear and getting her points across. I liked it when Erik said in his speech that because slaves didn't care for them selves that their masters shouldn't be obligated to care for them. That statement really made Bria's Inhumane argument weak and stood out to me throughout te whole debate. Although Erik did a good job making his argument look and sound better than Bria's he could have backed it up with evidence. Also, when Bria was getting attacked she should of backed her self out of the corner with restating her main points. Even though the debaters had their flaws they did a really good job. I am very happy that Bria was able to get over her shyness and bring what she had to the table. Erik was just good with everything. Well done guys.
This debate was interesting to watch because neither Bria nor Erik seemed very confident about the debate in the beginning but then they both got the hang of it, and managed to make good eye contact. Bria's rebuttal was weak because it was more of a personal opinion than fact, and Erik's rebuttal hit all of the points to give him the win. Both debaters impressed me a lot!
This was an ok debate, but it was very short. They didn't ask enough CX questions. I was kind of confused what Bria'sopening arguments is , and Eric's was clear. Their CX questions was both equal. Neither of them really cited any evidence which would of made their arguments stronger. They also didn't use their time for their rebuttal well. But over all they did an ok job.
Overall this was a strong debate for these two people. Eric had good evidence, but he should have had more. Bria had evidence, but her debate confused me a little bit. I didnt understand her two arguments. but both speakers should have had more evidence. there is never two much evidence. u should always use more to be on the safe side.
I thought the two oppenents were a very good match. They both had some of the same problems and the same strong points. Eric had a good argument that was not really questioned by Bria. Bria's speech and CX were the same her argument was good but Eric's questions were not good enough to dismantle her argument. In the end Eric won with a better rebuttle.
Brasof I do not agree with what u said "Bria delivered a strong inhuman argument". I think it was very weak. Bria's strongest part in the debate was the cross-x. For Bria being scared of speaking in front of people she did a good job of that. One thing I think Bria needs to work on it to make her contentions clearer. Also she gave some evidence but it was never connected back to her one contention.It was hard to tell if she was flowing because her rebuttal didnt hit any of Eriks points. Erik needs to give more evidence to support his contentions. The point that stand out the most in Eriks debate was "their didnt even care for themselves so why should we care", that was a strong point that went up against Bria's inhumane contention. I think the rebuttal's were okay, but could have been better. Bria left a lot of points untouched, while Erik attack Bria's one and only point. The two of you did a good job.
ReplyDeletekayla
I agree with the judges that both debaters delivered powerful arguments. Bria could of had more passion in what she was talking about so her audience would be interested in her speech. Bria needs to project her voice so everyone can hear her. Noone needs to train to hear her. Erik did well presenting his arguments. Everything his opponent said he had a responce to. During cross examination, Erik did well asking clear questions and when Bria asked Erik questions he came back strong with evidence. I could be wrong but I feel as though both debaters weren't really ready to debate. One didn't have enough evidence to support their arguments and the other seemed to be nervous and wasn't ready for what their opponent was throwing at them. Also, when it was time to say their rebuttals, Bria didn't really hit Eriks points and explaned how his arguments were wrong and hers were ultimately right. Bria needs to work on making her arguments clear and getting her points across. I liked it when Erik said in his speech that because slaves didn't care for them selves that their masters shouldn't be obligated to care for them. That statement really made Bria's Inhumane argument weak and stood out to me throughout te whole debate. Although Erik did a good job making his argument look and sound better than Bria's he could have backed it up with evidence. Also, when Bria was getting attacked she should of backed her self out of the corner with restating her main points. Even though the debaters had their flaws they did a really good job. I am very happy that Bria was able to get over her shyness and bring what she had to the table. Erik was just good with everything. Well done guys.
ReplyDeleteThis debate was interesting to watch because neither Bria nor Erik seemed very confident about the debate in the beginning but then they both got the hang of it, and managed to make good eye contact. Bria's rebuttal was weak because it was more of a personal opinion than fact, and Erik's rebuttal hit all of the points to give him the win. Both debaters impressed me a lot!
ReplyDeleteBria handled Erik's CX well and also had good CX questions to ask Erik
ReplyDeleteThis was an ok debate, but it was very short. They didn't ask enough CX questions. I was kind of confused what Bria'sopening arguments is , and Eric's was clear. Their CX questions was both equal. Neither of them really cited any evidence which would of made their arguments stronger. They also didn't use their time for their rebuttal well. But over all they did an ok job.
ReplyDeleteOverall this was a strong debate for these two people. Eric had good evidence, but he should have had more. Bria had evidence, but her debate confused me a little bit. I didnt understand her two arguments. but both speakers should have had more evidence. there is never two much evidence. u should always use more to be on the safe side.
ReplyDeleteEric VS Bria
ReplyDeleteI thought the two oppenents were a very good match. They both had some of the same problems and the same strong points. Eric had a good argument that was not really questioned by Bria. Bria's speech and CX were the same her argument was good but Eric's questions were not good enough to dismantle her argument. In the end Eric won with a better rebuttle.