Tuesday 2/22/11

Sorry for the hiatus I've taken over the last couple of weeks. I have no excuse. I apologize. And I'm back. Rather than try to recreate the wheel and retrace our steps for the last couple of weeks, I'm going to start off running again today. Here we go.

IN CLASS:
All classes today went over the basic structure of the debates that will take place in class starting next week. First we went over terms:

• Construction Speech--The speech that present and builds up your argument. This starts off the debate.
• Rebuttal--This is the speech that "tears down" what the other team built up. In the rebuttal, you will respond to what the other team has said.
• Affirmative Side--This is the side of the debate that argues FOR A CHANGE to the status quo (how things are now)
• Negative Side--This side argues AGAINST change to the status quo. They want to maintain how things are.

Next we went over how the debate will be structured. There will be three "rounds" in each debate where each team will have the chance to speak and/or respond to the opposite side. During each speech by the opposing team, your team should be taking notes in order to use for your rebuttal.

1. Affirmative Constructive Speech (2-4 minutes)
2. Negative Constructive Speech (2-4 minutes)
3. 1st Affirmative Rebuttal (about 2 minutes, responds to Neg. Const. Speech)
4. 1st Negative Rebuttal (about 2 minutes, responds to Aff. Const. Speech)
5. 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal (about 2 minutes, responds to 1st Neg. Rebuttal)
6. 2nd Negative Rebuttal (about 2 minutes, responds to 1st Aff. Rebuttal)

At the end of class, students were given a reflection page to look back at and respond to the essay writing process. Additionally, students got a checklist of all the things they should have included in their essay. Next we went to the lab so any student who needed to print an essay or bibliography could take care of that. ALL STUDENTS WERE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY WHETHER IT WAS DONE OR NOT. Incomplete essays should be completed and resubmitted as soon as possible.

ASSIGNMENT:
none, unless you are not done with your essay and then your homework is to FINISH!