Debate Preparation

• Choose a position and then prepare to support it as if you were going to participate in a debate.
  

  Introduction

  In the field of psychology, just about everything is controversial, and you’ll need to develop your ability to look at things from multiple perspectives. Do disparities exist between diverse groups? Are certain diverse groups exposed to more negative results than others? Whether you agree or disagree with a particular stance, it’s important to not just understand the evidence being used to support the argument, but to be conversant in it and weigh it with other arguments and evidence.This assessment asks you to choose a position and then prepare to support it as if you were going to participate in a debate. Preparing for debates is a way of steeping oneself in a topic and all the evidence available. While there won’t be an actual debate in the assessment, the act of preparing for one gives you in-depth practice at building arguments, counterarguments, and rebuttals that you only get a start at when writing a short paper.This activity builds on critical thinking skills.

  Competencies Measured

  By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

  • Competency 2: Apply psychological theories to issues affecting culture, ethnicity, and diversity.
    • State position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories or research.
    • Assess the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.
  • Competency 3: Analyze psychological research findings related to culture, ethnicity, and diversity.
    • Identify counterarguments to the original argument, using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.
    • Identify rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.
  • Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
    • Cite scholarly evidence.
    • Compose a text that articulates meaning relevant to the main topic, scope, and purpose of the prompt.

  Preparation

  • Select a debate topic from the Debate Topics [PDF] document.
  • You may choose to watch this video on building arguments:
    • Reading Pioneers Academy. (2015, December 13). Debate skill: Argument building [Video]. YouTube.
  • Preview the Debate Preparation and Summary Worksheet [DOCX] that you will use complete for the assessment.
  • Research your topic to gather the sources you’ll need to complete the worksheet.

  Instructions

  Choose a position and then prepare to support it, using the Debate Preparation and Summary Worksheet, as if you were going to participate in a debate.In the worksheet, present your position and arguments for the debate topic, counterarguments to your position and arguments, and rebuttals to those counterarguments. The worksheet will finish with a conclusion on the strength of your position. Before submitting the worksheet, be sure to review the assessment scoring guide to ensure that you meet all criteria, including the following:

  • Your position.
  • At least three well-developed arguments.
  • Evidence to support your arguments (that is, data and research), including how the evidence supports the arguments.
  • Counterarguments to your points.
  • Rebuttals to the counterarguments that oppose your arguments.
  • Evidence to support your rebuttals (data and research), including how the evidence supports the rebuttals.
  • A conclusion that asserts why your position is strong.
  • In-text citations and references for all sources of information.

  Submission Requirements

  Submit the completed worksheet as your deliverable for the assessment.

  Competencies Measured

  By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

  • Competency 2: Apply psychological theories to issues affecting culture, ethnicity, and diversity.
    • State position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories or research.
    • Assess the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.
  • Competency 3: Analyze psychological research findings related to culture, ethnicity, and diversity.
    • Identify counterarguments to the original argument, using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.
    • Identify rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.
  • Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
    • Cite scholarly evidence.
    • Compose a text that articulates meaning relevant to the main topic, scope, and purpose of the prompt.
      

      Debate Preparation Scoring Guide

      CRITERIA	NON-PERFORMANCE	BASIC	PROFICIENT	DISTINGUISHED
      State position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories or research.	Does not state position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories or research.	States position on the causes of a chosen debate topic with poorly developed arguments that are not well supported by psychological theories or research.	States position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories or research.	States position on the causes of a chosen debate topic using at least three well-developed arguments supported by psychological theories and research.
      Identify counterarguments to the original argument, using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.	Does not identify counterarguments to the original position, using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.	Identifies counterarguments that vaguely or tangentially address the original position or may not reference appropriate psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.	Identifies counterarguments to the original argument, using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.	Identifies counterarguments to the original position, using psychological theories and research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the counterarguments.
      Identify rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.	Does not identify rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.	Identifies rebuttals to counterarguments that vaguely or tangentially address the counterarguments or may not reference appropriate psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.	Identifies rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.	Identifies rebuttals to counterarguments using psychological theories and research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support the rebuttals.
      Assess the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.	Does not assess the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.	Reasserts but does not assess the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.	Assesses the strength of the original position using psychological theories or research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.	Assesses the strength of the original position using psychological theories and research in culture, ethnicity, and diversity to support own views.
      Cite scholarly evidence.	Does not cite scholarly evidence.	Cites scholarly evidence, with errors.	Cites scholarly evidence.	Cites scholarly evidence according to APA guidelines.
      Compose a text that articulates meaning relevant to the main topic, scope, and purpose of the prompt.	Composes a text unrelated to the assessment prompt.	Composes a text related to the assessment prompt, but does not demonstrate an understanding of the main topic, scope, and purpose.	Composes a text that articulates meaning relevant to the main topic, scope, and purpose of the prompt.	Presents a focused response to the assessment prompt and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the main topic, scope, and purpose.