Actively Listening to a Debate

Actively Listening to a Debate
21 March 2005

Recognize your pre-conceived ideas on the subject, and any earlier arguments you have heard/made regarding the topic; try to bracket these, relax, and focus on good listening.
What need/issue gives rise to this discussion, or what is the basis proposition being debated?
How does each team analyze the issue?
1. What is each team’s central line of argumentation?
2. What evidence does each team adduce? How much is provided? How is it used?
3. What similarities and differences do you see between the two teams’ positions (re: the need, the issue, the solution)?
Who gives the most persuasive analysis of the situation? What are your grounds for saying this?
Who gives the best evidence to support the proposed solution? What evidence do you find most persuasive?
Who gives the most adequate rebuttal of alternative solutions? What arguments do you find conclusive?

Sample Debate Topics

1. Who was the historical person, Jesus of Nazareth?

Sample Proposition: One of the facts that can be known with reasonable certainty regarding the historical person, Jesus of Nazareth, is that he worked miracles.

Sample Flow Chart
Affirmative's Analysis	Negative's Counter-Analysis
The pertinent facts are ...	Those "facts" remain unproven; the evidence the Affirmative provided is insufficient
We know them because ...	OR, We agree on these facts but one also must consider ...
This question is important because ...	OR, Those "facts" are insignificant compared to ...
Reply to Opponent ...	Counter-Reply ...
What the Negative fails to realize is ...	This is a better analysis than the Affirmative's because ...
etc.	etc.

2. Faith and Reason

Sample Proposition: Faith and reason are mutually contradictory.

Sample Flow Chart
Affirmative's Analysis	Negative's Counter-Analysis
Faith is defined as ... Reason is defined as ...	The definitions provided by the Affirmative are erroneous or insufficient because ... OR, Better definitions are ... OR, We agree on these definitions but one also must consider ...
Based on these definitions, faith and reason are mutually exclusive because ... Some examples of this are ...	Based on these definitions, faith and reason are compatible because ... Some examples of this are ...
This question is important because ...	The Affirmative misunderstands the significance of this question ... OR, a more important question is ...
Reply to Opponent ...	Counter-Reply ...
What the Negative fails to realize is ...	This is a better analysis than the Affirmative's because ...
etc.	etc.

NB: In charting the flow of the debate, it helps to write the positive and negative comments relating to the same subject in columns parallel to one another (as was done above); likewise with analyses and counter-analyses of the subject. Try to record as many of the discrete parts of the argument as possible, so you have a firm foundation upon which to compare and contrast the divergent viewpoints. Do not try to analyze while you are recording; focus on listening and writing enough to remember accurately what points were made by which party. There will be time for analysis (and our own discussion) after this debate is finished.