Page 95 - Bigseminar-2-report-pdf

The Benefits of Debate

1. Debate develops the ability to make prompt, analytical responses. Cross-examination

demands quick and decisive responses to questions about argumentation made before.

2. Debate helps integrate knowledge. Debate topics are multi-faceted and cut across several

disciplines. This allows debaters to gain knowledge from unique disciplines outside the

student's normal academic subjects.

3. Debate develops critical listening skills. Debaters develop excellent listening skills from their

first debate when they learn that they must know their opponent's arguments as well as their

own. Through making accurate and practiced note taking of the "flow" of a debate round,

debaters learn to glean and analyze information as they hear it.

The Benefits of Seminars

1. Seminars provide practical advice to help boost confidence and tips on how to tackle a

variety of tasks in the Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking and Use of English by utilising

effective strategies such as skimming and scanning texts, recognizing paraphrase (Reading),

identifying and addressing key content points appropriately (Writing), and responding with

extended and relevant contributions (Speaking).

2. Seminars can help you become a better listener, present your arguments and ideas clearly

and be open to others' points of view. Group discussions and activities can also let you practice

interpersonal skills, such as dealing with conflicting opinions among group members and

working together to accomplish assignments or tasks.