Need help with debate topic

Reenee · 10-03-2007, 09:37 PM

I have a parlimentary debate in class next Wednesday. I was given a demonstration of it today and it was very daunting and intimidating for me, not to mention hard to keep up because we had to write a "flow" at the same time (essentially, you write down your opposition's arguments and such).

My topic given was "Political correctness is detrimental to education." I'm opposing this, so I have to argue it is NOT detrimental.

My question to you all is I'd like an everyday example of this topic. I really can't think of something to help me start to construct my arguments.

violate forum boredom · 10-04-2007, 08:16 AM

I believe political correctness is detrimental to anything, but if I had to present the case against, I would use any case that involved religion.

kannazuki · 10-04-2007, 08:21 AM

Just out of curiosity, is your debate British Parliamentary style? What position are you speaking in?

Reenee · 10-04-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannazuki

Just out of curiosity, is your debate British Parliamentary style? What position are you speaking in?

Yeah. I'm the opposition. More precisely, member of the opposition.

kannazuki · 10-04-2007, 09:02 AM

If it's British Parliamentary, the arguments you'd use depends on the position you speak in, actually.

If you're the first or second speaker of the opposition, then basically you put down several points on why political correctness is not detrimental in education. (it is not practical to be politically correct considering that it would mean looking over the curriculum and seeing where it was politically incorrect then correcting it; it endangers free speech because it effectively limits public discourse; it's very awkward language and if we all had to make conscious efforts to be politically correct, then discussion would be hampered by us having to consciously choose our words carefully.)

If you're third opposition, you have to introduce an unusual new idea that hasn't come up in the debate (for example, striving to be politically correct could be seen as trying to change the nature of a society, which might not be for the best and you could bring up a parallel with George Orwell's newspeak in 1984.) while if you're fourth speaker of the opposition, there's not much you can do to prepare because you basically just take notes on what everybody says and summarize.

Reenee · 10-04-2007, 09:27 AM

It's only two vs. two. It's not the real thing.

By the way, the person I was partnered up with types his "hey" as "a". As in "'ey".

I would really appreciate the help. (Fuck HIM though, I'm only the member. I'm not leading jack shit.)

kannazuki · 10-04-2007, 09:30 AM

Oh right, my bad.

But yeah, any those examples I put up in my last post could work.