Debate and Argumentation: 10 Importance

 

DEBATE, as an academic subject or cocurricular activity, is related to argumentation which is similar to reasoning.  In studying debate, we learn effective reasoning which is important because we do reasoning almost every time we communicate with others.

 

Basically, debate enhances the students’ intellectual abilities and social/communicative skills. The following are just some of the significance of debate and argumentation:

 

1. Debate provide students with the opportunity to think critically, improve their communication abilities, solve problems creatively, and increase their self-confidence as it affords training in rhetoric, persuasion, organized communication, and argument.

 

2. It engages students in writing (e.g. speeches), information analysis, and in-depth library and Internet research, thereby developing their academic research skills.

 

3. It enables students to express their views effectively and to respond cogently to arguments with which they disagree.

 

4. It encourages them to take part in a truly scholar examination of the issues facing the society, thereby molding them to become well read and well informed about current issues.

 

5. It encourages them to value truth and the process of seeking truth.

 

6. It teaches people to accept responsibility to articulate a position using to the best of their ability the available evidence and the rules of reason, logic and relevance.

 

7. It trains them to listen open-mindedly, recognizing always that new information may alter one’s position.

 

8. It teaches them to welcome evaluation and accept, and even encourage, disagreement and criticism.

 

9. It teaches them to refuse to reduce disagreement to personal attacks or attacks on groups or classes of individuals.

 

10. It teaches people to value civility, even in disagreement ... Continue reading

 

Read: Reasoning and Debate: A Handbook and a Textbook by Jensen DG. Mañebog

 

 

Jensen dG. Mañebog. “Debate and Argumentation: 10 Importance” @ www.OurHappySchool.com