DEBATE, DISCUSSION AND SPEECH WRITING

Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic often including a
moderator and audience. The participants give opposing views on a given topic. According to
Fallahi and Haney (2011) a debate is an organized argument or contest of ideas in which the
participants discuss a topic from the opposing sides. Thus a debate is a form of verbal
communication where one tries to prove a certain point despite what the opposing team suggests.
Its aim is to convince the opposition that you are right.
Debate involve three groups which are the affirmative team, the opposing team and the judges.
The affirmative and the opposing teams are the ones most communicating. The judge will
qualify the evidence and argument and the performance in the debate. Fallahi and Haney (2011)
states that in debate individual presents opposing views through social interactions. Debates
communicates different views upon a given subject. Debate as a form of verbal communication
has its advantages and disadvantages. Chang and Cho (2010) further agrees on that debating
involves students in expressing their options from two competing perspectives with the goal of
contradicting each other’s argument. The advantages of debate include it is informative and used
for teaching. Roger and Sterwart (2019) postulates that debates are usually associated with
educational establishments. Debates are currently most used in the education system so as to
prob the students to think, be confidence in expression and effective communicators.
Debates help the in acquiring better comprehension, application and critical evaluation skills. It
also improves listening and speaking skills. Kennedy (2009) says the immediate positive effects
include greater knowledge acquisition by the reinforcing already taught materials. Debate is a
teaching tool that is good in reminding the students what they covered and be able to support and
stand their ground. Thus debate develops oral communication skills.
Discussion is a process of talking about something in order to reach a decision or to exchange
ideas. This is a way of communicating that can involves a small or large group. In discussion
anyone can air their views are considered to come up with the final stand. It is an effective way
of verbal communication. Cashin( 2011) points out that, one of the strategies for building
discussion is to delay the problem solving part until the rest of the discussion has land time to
develop.www.hamline.edu also suggest that the discussion should start with expository questions
to clarify the facts, then move to analysis and finally to evaluation, judgement and
recommendationsIt collaborates exchange of ideas among students and teacher or students for
the purpose of furthering students’ thinking. Discussion is important to learning all disciplines
because it helps students to process information rather than simple reading.
Speech writing begins with self-introduction thus introducing oneself. Then make a great
opening statement that will interest the audience. Followed by structure your speech according to
how you will present your speech. Begin every paragraph with a topic sentence and use good
English. Express your opinions. Write from the 1st person and engage your audience. Then use
personal details and anecdotes. The way the speech is written should be easy for the audience to
follow.
REFERENCES
Chang, K.and Cho, M.H. (2010). Strategy of selecting topics for debate teaching in engineering
education.
Fallahi, C.R. and Haney, J.D. (2011). Using debate in helping students discuss controversial
topics. Journal of College teaching and Learning(TLC),4(10).
Kennedy,R.R. (2009). The power of in-class debates. Active Learning in Higher Education,
10(3),225-236.
Roger, D. and Stewart-Lord,A. (2019). Students perceptions of debating as a learning strategy: A
qualitative study. Nurse Education in Practice.
References
Www.hamline.edu.

Cit.Indian.edu

Cashin,W.E(2011). Effective Classroom discussion IDEA paper number 49

https://work.chron.com/roles-interviewers-15189.html

https://join.com/glossary/the-steps-of-the-interview-process

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/olemiss-buspublicspeaking/chapter/5-4-interviewer-and-
interviewees-2/#:~:text=list%20of%20questions.-,Execution,toward%20being%20an
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[18/09, 17:50] .: Buchanan (2005) Regendering Delivery: The Fifth Canon and Antebellum
Women Rhetors. Southern Illinois University Press
[18/09, 21:29] .: According to Buchanan (2008) delivery of speech is presentation of
information well researched, organised and presented to an audience. Delivery of speech
means presentation of a speech well

researched, organized, outlined, and practiced. A good delivery of speech involves presenting a
clear and coherent speech in an interesting.

Stage fright, mannerism, voice, emotion, transitions, paralanguage affect everyone at some
point and avoiding public speaking is not a viable option. Rehearsing, formatting presentation
notes and maintaining focus are strategies that help reduce stage fright, manage mannerism,
voice, emotion, transitions and paralanguage effectively.