DON'T GET ANGRY - DEBATE IT!
- THE GREAT DEBATE -
We all have strong opinions about some things. Sometimes our opinion can be quite different from someone else's. Instead of arguing and getting mad with each other, we could have a debate.
Let's take one of the statements below as an example.
Motion: New Zealand is the best rugby nation in the world.
A debate is really a structured argument. You decide which side you want to be on (ie whether you want to argue for or against the motion) and then you take it in turns to speak. Each person has a set amount of time in which to speak, and you may not interrupt someone when they are speaking.
Your aim is to persuade everyone else that your opinion is the right one, so you could try being logical, clear, interesting, funny - whatever you think makes your argument the most attractive.
When everyone has had a turn, you can choose someone from each side to sum up. Then everyone gets to vote for or against the motion.
If your schools both have video conferencing facilities you could arrange a debate by video. Otherwise you could do it by email.
The debating subjects below should give you a few ideas. You can either choose one to debate with your partner school of think up some of your own. You can also choose whether you want to agree or disagree with each statement.
| British students have better educational opportunities than their New Zealand counterparts | New Zealand schools are the best in the world |
| The British have a happier lifestyle than New Zealanders | New Zealanders have a healthier lifestyle than the British |
| Britain should keep the Royal Family | New Zealand should become a republic |
| Britain should be "nuclear-free" like New Zealand | New Zealand should build up her army, navy and airforce |
| Britain is more technologically advanced than New Zealand | New Zealanders are more inventive and creative than the British |
| Britain is the best equestrian nation in the world | New Zealand is the best rugby nation in the world |
| British TV is superior to New Zealand's | New Zealand music is superior to Britain's |
| National Curriculum areas covered: | |
| New Zealand - Level 4 | |
| English | |
| Listening 1,2,3,4,5 Speaking 1,2,3,4,5 Viewing 1,2,3,4 Presenting 1,2,3,4 Plus various links with other curriculum areas depending on the topics and issues chosen. |
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| Britain - Stage 3 | |
| English | |
| Speaking and listening 1abcd, 2ab, 3a plus various links with other curriculum areas depending on the topics and issues chosen. |
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