Debate trains high school students to not only craft valid arguments, but to also listen compassionately to the arguments of their opponents. In order to truly understand the issue at hand, students must be willing to openly view both sides of the argument without judgment or preconception.
A constructive argument comes in the form of constructive speech. A productive speech will accomplish:
- A presentation of primary arguments.
- Support for arguments in the form of evidence and reasoning.
- Persuasively written with an introduction, transitions, and a conclusion.
Preparing for a constructive argument requires high school students to think critically and logically, research issues and events in depth, provide sound reasoning, be able to spot an opponent’s illogical reasoning, and then tie all of that together to form a persuasive speech.
If those steps sound familiar, it’s because they are. The research and critical thinking skills involved in winning a debate are also extremely useful in other high school classes, in college, and the workplace. Debate introduces students to useful skills they can take with them to succeed in life.
Developing, training, and finally forming a constructive argument leads to students understanding how to settle squabbles outside of a classroom setting. If a student is equipped with the proper tools to persuasively win an argument, then she will use those same tools when presented with arguments in the real world.
Most arguments are settled with both parties yelling at each other with illogical fallacies and untrue facts. However, high school debate students will instantly recognize their opponent’s actions to be unreasonable and fallacious. This student will be able to act swiftly and craft a logical and persuasive response. In doing so, she may be able to open up the mind of her opponent and allow him to see her viewpoint in a new way. That is, after all, what debate is about, showing an audience a perspective on an issue through the use of research, rhetoric, and influential speech.