CBSE Class 11 English Debate Worksheet Set B

DEBATE WRITING

A debate is a formal contest of argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given proposition. It is a persuasive manner of speaking with the aim of converting the view of another person, or an audience, to your own point of view. In this speech, the speaker speaks either for or against the motion being discussed.

♦ Format:

• Salutation: Address the jury and the audience.

• Introduction: Begin with a quotation, question or interesting statistics.

• Stating the stand: Make your stand very clear from the very beginning.

• Main points: Highlight the main points very emphatically.

• Develop points: Substantiate them with relevant examples, statistics, etc.

• Conclusion: State your own opinion or view in the concluding lines to emphasize your stand on the issue.

→ Points to remember:

• Open by addressing the audience with ‘Respected chairperson, members of the jury and my worthy opponents’.

• Begin the first paragraph by making your stand clear, that is, mention ‘the motion tabled before the house is …’ and state whether you’re speaking ‘strongly in favour of’… or ‘firmly against…’ the motion.

• Develop 3–4 good points in support of your stand and negate at least two points of your opponent.

• Try to give a strong example with your best point.

• Language structures used should be specific to a debate.

• At least one point could be built up by asking a series of questions for more effective

presentation. For example, instead of making a statement such as ‘class room teaching methods even today are often mundane and boring…’, it would be more effective if the point was conveyed thus— ‘In today’s technology- driven world, may I ask why classroom teaching methods are still so mundane and boring?’

• Conclude with your strongest point and reiterate your stand once again (use a quotation if possible).

Here are suggestions for using words and phrases which could be used in debating.

Disagreeing Expressing complete disagreement

I don’t think so!
I disagree
I disagree entirely.
I’m afraid I can’t agree.
I’m afraid you’re wrong
On the contrary!
Definitely not!
Never in a million years!
Not necessarily

That doesn’t necessarily follow.
That’s not necessarily true
That isn’t strictly true.
I wonder whether that’s the case.
I’m inclined to disagree with that…
That may be so, but …
That might have been the case once,
Well, maybe they do, but … You may be right about …,
That’s a good point, but…
That would be great, except that…
but what I’m concerned with is…

♦ SAMPLE

‘Should college students or even Class XII students be given unlimited freedom?’ Write a debate for or against the motion in about 200–250 words.

Respected chairperson, members of the jury, and my worthy opponents’.

Teenage proclaims itself near adulthood. So shouldn’t a teenager be allowed to probe the mysteries of the world all on his/her own? The modern environment and educational facilities surely enable that. However, I strongly feel that some kind of guidance is necessary for their young and impressionable minds. It is true that the modern world offers a variety of opportunities for all age groups in all the fields of knowledge, and everything is accessible at the click of a button. But, with one click on the wrong button, one could get access to harmful knowledge. Therefore, there needs to be some kind of control over the kind of freedom a teenager enjoys.

One could argue that aren’t teenagers capable of deciphering the good from the bad as they are on the threshold of adulthood? I agree with this thought but too much curiosity can lead to added confusion, and even chaos. Some kind of parental guidance should be exercised on teenagers regarding the kind of movies to be watched, the books to be read, friends to have, etc. Some of us may strongly protest as to why can’t we be on our own and enjoy life. But the truth is that the world consists of both good and bad things and teenagers are not in a position to differentiate between the grey areas amidst good and bad. So the parents’ guidance to a certain extent is essential.

Therefore, I think that while creative urges and the inquisitiveness of teenagers about the goingson in the world should not be suppressed with too much parental interference, teenagers, on their part should not insist on complete freedom to make their choices in life.

Thank you.

→ Practice Questions:

1. Write a debate for/ against the motion, ‘Should Tablets replace textbooks?'.

2. Write a debate for/against the motion, ‘Technology makes us more alone’.

3. Write a debate for/against the motion,'Human life is responsible for the possible end of life on earth'.

Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 11 English Debate Worksheet Set B