As an English learner, you want to be able to understand and to discuss a subject. You want to have the ability to express your opinions, and to support that opinion with a clear argument.
In everyday conversation, Americans use the word debate to talk about discussions among people. When people debate, they give their own opinions about a topic.
Another use of the word debate describes a more formal discussion.
Debaters work on a team to convince a judge that their opinion about a topic has more value than the opposite side's opinion. A debate contest traditionally has this structure:
Teams agree to debate a resolution, a statement, such as "Nuclear power should be banned."
One team is the affirmative team(正方), in support of the resolution. One is the negative, against the resolution.
Each team gives an argument for or against the resolution. Then each team asks questions about the other team's argument. After answering the questions, each team makes more statements to support their argument.
Finally they summarize the arguments. In a classic debate, teams may take 12 turns, in which one member of the team speaks.
Students work with the idea of building their argument just like they would build a house. They would draw their house on paper or a whiteboard and list:
The focus of the discussion or the debate is the roof.
The reasons and arguments are the "pillars" to support the roof.
The data, numbers, examples, and expert opinions provide the concrete foundation.
The house metaphor(比喻) gives students a way to plan what they will say to support their message. As many nervous speakers know, having a visual aid is very helpful when speaking in public in a second language.
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