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What are some critical thinking exercises for preparing for a debate?

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Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and reason logically and objectively. It is an essential skill for engaging in debates, as it helps you to present clear, coherent, and convincing arguments, as well as to identify and challenge the flaws and fallacies in your opponent's claims. In this article, you will learn some practical exercises that can help you to improve your critical thinking skills and prepare for a debate.

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Jim L Walters, EdD.

Semi-Retired Speaker/Consultant/Researcher
Kelvin Muchiri

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1 Clarify the question

Before you begin researching and forming your arguments, it's important to understand the question or topic of the debate. What is the main issue or problem that needs to be solved or answered? What are the key terms and concepts that need to be defined and explained? Additionally, what assumptions and implications are underlying the question? To make sure you understand the question, you can use techniques such as paraphrasing it in your own words, breaking it down into smaller parts, and asking yourself questions that start with who, what, where, when, why, and how. This will help you explore different aspects and perspectives of the question.

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Kelvin Muchiri

Author | Creative Writing expert, SEO expert, Sales & Marketing expert, Information management systems expert, News writing expert, AI Training expert.
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Before delving into research and argumentation, it's vital to gain a clear understanding of the debate question or topic. Take time to identify the central issue or problem that requires resolution and ensure that you comprehend the key terms and concepts involved. Additionally, consider the underlying assumptions and implications embedded within the question. To clarify your understanding, try paraphrasing the question, breaking it down into smaller components, and asking pertinent questions beginning with who, what, where, when, why, and how. These techniques facilitate a comprehensive exploration of the various dimensions and interpretations of the topic at hand.

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2 Evaluate the evidence

Once you have a clear understanding of the question, it's necessary to gather and evaluate the evidence that supports or opposes your position. Evidence can come in the form of facts, statistics, examples, testimonials, studies, or any other source of information that can be verified and cited. To evaluate the evidence, you should consider the credibility and reliability of the source and the author, as well as the accuracy and relevance of the information. It's also important to check the logic and validity of the reasoning to make sure it directly addresses the question and arguments without any logical fallacies or errors.

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3 Construct the arguments

After collecting and assessing the evidence, you need to construct your arguments. Arguments are statements that express your position and provide reasons and evidence to back it up. To do this, you can use the claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) framework to structure your arguments. This includes making a statement that answers the question or expresses your opinion, providing evidence to support it, and explaining how and why the evidence supports your claim. You can also refine your arguments with the Toulmin model, which consists of six elements: claim, evidence, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal. Additionally, you can use the Rhetorical Triangle to balance your arguments by appealing to ethos (credibility and trustworthiness of the speaker), pathos (emotion and sympathy of the audience), and logos (logic and reason of the argument).

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4 Anticipate the counter-arguments

Before you enter the debate, it's important to anticipate the counter-arguments that your opponent might raise against your position. Counter-arguments are statements that challenge or contradict your claims, evidence, or reasoning. To anticipate these counter-arguments, try to put yourself in your opponent's shoes and think of the strongest and most likely arguments they would make. Additionally, use the STEEL and RED methods to analyze and critique your own arguments. STEEL stands for State, Explain, Exemplify, Link; while RED stands for Recognize assumptions, Evaluate arguments, Draw conclusions. This will help you identify and address the weaknesses and gaps in your arguments so that you can be better prepared for the debate.

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Kelvin Muchiri

Author | Creative Writing expert, SEO expert, Sales & Marketing expert, Information management systems expert, News writing expert, AI Training expert.
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Prior to engaging in a debate, it's essential to anticipate the counter-arguments that may challenge your position. Counter-arguments typically contradict or question your claims, evidence, or logic. To effectively anticipate these counter-arguments, consider the perspective of your opponent and envision the strongest and most probable arguments they might present. Furthermore, utilize the STEEL (State, Explain, Exemplify, Link) and RED (Recognize assumptions, Evaluate arguments, Draw conclusions) methods to critically assess your own arguments. This approach will enable you to identify any weaknesses or gaps in your reasoning, allowing you to proactively address these aspects and fortify your stance for the upcoming debate.

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5 Practice the debate

Finally, you need to practice the debate with your partner or a friend. Practicing the debate will help you to improve your confidence, delivery, and feedback skills. To do so, set a clear format and rules for the debate, such as time limit, the order of speakers, the types of speeches, and the scoring criteria. Additionally, prepare an outline or a script for your opening, main, and closing speeches. This should include your main points, evidence, reasoning, and rebuttals. Record or watch yourself or your partner during the practice debate and note your strengths and weaknesses. Pay attention to content, structure, style, and body language. Afterward, review your performance and feedback to identify areas that need improvement or revision. Make changes to arguments, evidence, or delivery as needed.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Jim L Walters, EdD.

Semi-Retired Speaker/Consultant/Researcher
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Ultimately the mission of thinking critically is to render thoughts from a fair-minded position. It entails shedding one’s inherent egocentric tendencies such as “Arguing to be right instead of to be accurate”, “Using one’s arguments as a club in an effort to subdue another” and/or “Not taking time to check sources used for credibility, accuracy, relevancy, etc.

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What are some critical thinking exercises for preparing for a debate?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Clarify the question

2 Evaluate the evidence

3 Construct the arguments

4 Anticipate the counter-arguments

5 Practice the debate

6 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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What are some critical thinking exercises for preparing for a debate?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Clarify the question

2 Evaluate the evidence

3 Construct the arguments

4 Anticipate the counter-arguments

5 Practice the debate

6 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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