Last weekend saw a superb Zoom Socratic debating competition, with students dialing in from the Caribbean, London and Spain.
The session took in key debating and public speaking skills covered since the autumn of 2024 - with an emphasis on evidence, stories, rhetorical questions, rebuttal, POIs, and signposting.
Our warm-up focussed on the environment, and the question 'what should we do with fashion waste?'
Our set-piece debate looked at the motion:
'This House believes that we should be allowed to use animals for medical research and testing?'
It was tremendous to see the use of Pathos and rhetorical questions, as well as excellent rebuttal. Voting remained in favour at both tellings, 75% at the first poll, but down to 63% at the second. It was very pleasing to see active listening and those recognising the argumentation of another side/point of view.
Well done all!
We were delighted that our members performed so impressively in the certification process too, with merits and distinctions handed out across debating grade thresholds.
We much look forward to our next competition.
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