Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia

Vicerrectoría Académica y de Investigación

Course: English Conversation
Code: 551015

Activity guide and evaluation rubric - Task 3 - Debating about controversial

issues

1. Activity Description

Type of activity: Collaborative

Evaluation moment: Intermediate Unit 2
Highest score of the activity: 90 points
The activity starts on: Monday, March The activity ends on: Sunday, April 11,
15, 2021 2021
With this activity, you are expected to achieve the following learning
outcomes:

Learning Outcome 2: discuss about a controversial issue using pro or con arguments
to convince a counterpart towards a specific point of view.

The activity consists of:

Step 1 – Getting information in the course internal mail and the student’s
institutional email about proposed topics and schedules to participate in a
debate session
Task 3 consists of your participation in a synchronic debate via Teams or Skype to
demonstrate your ability to support your ideas about a controversial topic,
strengthening also your sociolinguistic skills.

Go over the following references in Unit 2 in the contents section in the Learning
Environment for you to understand the nature and dynamics of debates: Iberri-Shea,
G. (2017) and the video available as the VIO of Unit 2: Moreno, L. I. (2019).
Fostering speaking skills through debates.

In the course internal mail and your institutional email, you will get from the course
director the guidelines and information to register in one of the available debate
sessions. When subscribing, you will be able to choose one of the controversial topics
available and either the PRO or the CON side for the debate.

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Step 2 – Getting ready to participate in the debate
Depending on the number of students subscribed for each controversial topic and
position (PRO or CON), the debate session can last between one to two hours. Make
a research about the topic of the debate and prepare the arguments to defend your
point of view and position about the controversial issue. Remember that the
arguments must be strong enough to try to convince others that you are right. Get
ready to defend your position and try to anticipate counterpart’s arguments so that
you will be able to provide accurate rebuttals if possible during the debate.

Step 3 – Debating about controversial issues

According to your subscription in Step 1, be ready the set day and time to present
and defend your ideas verbally, accurately and fluently via Teams or Skype. The
session will count with a tutor as moderator of the debate and at least one student
for the PRO side and at least one student for the CON side.

During the debate, take a screenshot and save it as part of the evidence of Task 3
that you will deliver to the Evaluation environment. Be attentive to the moderator’s
instructions on how to participate in the debate and be respectful about the rules of
the activity. Keep in mind to address always directly to the topic.

Throughout the debate, you will be required to introduce yourself, to summarize the
importance of the controversial issue the debate is about, to explain your PRO or
CON position regarding the topic, to interchange questions and answers between
both sides, to provide rebuttals to counterpart’s position, and to draw some
conclusions about the topic and/or the activity.

NOTE: The use of microphone and camera is mandatory.

Step 4 – Submitting a summary of the debate

If possible, during the debate take some notes about the controversial issues
addressed, so that you will be able to submit a summary about the activity to the
Evaluation environment. Your summary should be about 200 words long and must
include information like the names of people who participated and their position, a
brief description of what happened, your conclusions about the topic, and at least a
screenshot as evidence of your participation.

For the development of the activity consider that:

In the Initial Information Environment, you must:

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- Check the course agenda to be aware of the synchronic activities this course
implies.
- Go over the course rules and conditions to double check your commitment to
subscribe and participate in the synchronic activities of the course accordingly.
- Be attentive to the informative web conferences schedule to assure your
attendance.

In the Learning Environment, you must:

- Read thoroughly the course syllabus to understand the dynamics and nature of
English Conversation course, which is atypical from other courses due to real-time
interaction in most of its activities.
- Be aware of the guidelines and evaluation rubrics of each one of the tasks to
assure an excellent performance in the course.

In the Evaluation Environment, you must:

- Submit your individual outcome consisting of a PDF file with the screenshot of the
debate you participated in and the summary of the activity.

Evidences of individual work:

The individual evidence to be submitted is:

A PDF document with the summary of the debate session in which you participated
and at least a screenshot of the debate as evidence.

Evidences of collaborative work:

The collaborative evidence to be submitted is:

No group submission is required apart from the performance and real-time

interaction of the group in a debating session.

2. General Guidelines for the Development of Evidences to Submit

For Individual evidences, consider the following:

The PDF file to be submitted to the Evaluation environment must include a cover
page, the 200-word summary of the activity, and the screenshot that shows your
participation in the synchronic debate through Teams or Skype.

Please keep in mind that all individual or collaborative written products must comply
with the spelling rules and presentation conditions defined in this activity guide.

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Regarding the use of references, consider that the product of this activity must
comply with APA style.
In any case, make sure you comply with the rules and avoid academic plagiarism.
You can review your written products using the Turnitin tool found in the virtual
campus.

Under the Academic Code of Conduct, the actions that infringe the academic order,
among others, are the following: paragraph e) Plagiarism is to present as your own
work all or part of a written report, task or document of invention carried out by
another person. It also implies the use of citations or lack of references, or it
includes citations where there is no match between these and the reference and
paragraph f) To reproduce, or copy for profit, educational resources or results of
research products, which have rights reserved for the University. (Acuerdo 029 - 13
de diciembre de 2013, artículo 99)

The academic penalties students will face are:

a) In case of academic fraud demonstrated in the academic work or evaluation, the
score obtained will be zero (0.0) without any disciplinary measures being derived.
b) In case of proven plagiarism in academic work of any nature, the score obtained
will be zero (0.0), without any disciplinary measures being derived.

3. Evaluation Rubric Template

Type of activity: Collaborative

Evaluation moment: Intermediate Unit 2
The highest score in this activity is 90 points
First evaluation High level: Participation in the debate evidences the
criterion: strengthening of sociolinguistic skills as student is respectful of
the debate rules, directly addresses the topic, clearly explains
Demonstrate the PRO or CON position regarding the controversial topic,
appropriate exchanges questions and answers accurately, effectively
sociolinguistic skills rebuttals counterpart’s opinions, and is able to round up with a
to participate in a concise conclusion.
debate
If your work is at this level, you can get between 26 points
This criterion and 40 points
represents 40

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points of the total Average level: Sociolinguistic skills seem to be partially
of 90 points of affected when some shortcomings are present during the
the activity. activity, related to one or more of the following aspects:
compliment of rules, clarity in the explanation of the topic,
strength of PRO or CON arguments, rebuttal quality to
counterpart’s opinion, question-answer exchange accuracy, and
ability to wrap-up the activity and the controversial topic.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 11 points

and 25 points

Low level: Participation in the debate might be weakened

because rules are not followed, or the topic is not directly
addressed, or the arguments do not effectively explain the
position regarding the controversial issue, or question-answer
exchange is not accurate nor the rebuttal to counterpart’s
opinion, or there is not ability to round up with a concise
conclusion.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 1 point

and 10 points
Second evaluation High level: Phonological features are used effectively to convey
criterion: and enhance meaning, and intonation patterns and stress are
appropriate or show minor difficulties.
Produce speech with
appropriate If your work is at this level, you can get between 10 points
pronunciation and and 14 points
intonation
Average level: It is unclear with pronunciation at times, and
This criterion intonation patterns and stress show some difficulties.
represents 14
points of the total If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points
of 90 points of and 9 points
the activity.
Low level: Listener requires a high effort due to unclear
articulation and awkward intonation.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 1 point

and 4 points

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Third evaluation High level: Speech is effortless and smooth to express ideas in
criterion: a clear and concise manner.

Demonstrate If your work is at this level, you can get between 10 points
effortless fluency and 14 points
and delivery
Average level: Response level can sometimes cause slow,
This criterion stumbling, nervous, or uncertain speech and delivery.
represents 14
points of the total If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points
of 90 points of and 9 points
the activity.
Low level: Delivery shows choppy rhythm and pace, and
frequent pauses and hesitation are evident.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 1 point

and 4 points
Fourth evaluation High level: Ideas are expressed with effective use of grammar
criterion: and vocabulary including control of a wide range of structures
and appropriate vocabulary to exchange views on familiar and
Convey ideas with unfamiliar topics.
effective use of
grammar and If your work is at this level, you can get between 10 points
vocabulary and 14 points

This criterion Average level: Expression of ideas may exhibit some imprecise
represents 14 or inaccurate use of grammar and vocabulary, with control of a
points of the total limited range of structures and vocabulary to exchange views
of 90 points of only about familiar topics.
the activity.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points
and 9 points

Low level: Range and control of grammar and vocabulary

severely limit expression of ideas and connections among them,
with control of only very basic vocabulary and expressions.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 1 point

and 4 points

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Fifth evaluation High level: The summary fulfills the requirements of the
criterion: guidelines regarding length (at least 300 words) and contents,
and the text has no or almost no vocabulary, spelling,
Synthesize the most punctuation or grammar issues. The screenshot evidence is
relevant ideas from attached as well
the debate
If your work is at this level, you can get between 6 points
This criterion and 8 points
represents 8
points of the total Average level: The summary is written with fewer words than
of 90 points of required or might not include all the required aspects in the
the activity. guidelines. Some issues related to vocabulary, spelling,
punctuation or grammar might affect the quality of the text. The
screenshot of evidence is not included.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 3 points

and 5 points

Low level: The summary is not submitted to the Evaluation

Environment or its contents does not meet the requirements of
the guidelines, or there are plenty of writing issues in it.

If your work is at this level, you can get between 0

points and 2 points