## Project: Environment

Final project - a debate
A debate is a discussion. There is usually a motion, topic or resolution, which is a statement and it is usually worded: This house believes ... .
There are always two sides to the debate. The affirmative group usually speaks first and this is then countered by the negative group. Then the teams have time to prepare their rebuttal and summary. This time the negative group makes their rebuttal and summary first, followed by the affirmative group.
The motion is: This house believes people who do not actively do things to protect the environment should be punished.

- Your teacher will put you into groups – either agreeing or disagreeing.
- In your group, research your point: what does ‘actively’ mean? What kinds of punishment – fines? And does this actually work?
- Organise your points logically making a good case.
- Check your work and decide which member of your group is going to do most of the talking.
- Think about the points that the opposing team is likely to make and discuss how you will refute them in your rebuttal.

Suggested timing and procedure:

- 2 minutes to present your case
- 2 minutes to prepare your rebuttal and summary
- 2 minutes for the rebuttal and summary.

| Good | Sufficient | Insufficient
Organisation | Information is presented in a logical, attractive sequence. | Information is mostly presented in a logical, attractive sequence. | Information is not presented in a logical, attractive sequence.
Content | Interesting, clear information. | Information is mostly interesting. Some was already known. | There was not much that was of interest in this presentation.
Speaker style | Speaks clearly and at an understandable pace. Maintains eye contact with audience. Well-rehearsed. | Mostly speaks clearly and a good pace. Mostly keeps eye contact. Has rehearsed a bit. | Mostly unintelligible. Does not maintain eye contact. Has not rehearsed.
Language | The vocabulary use is very good and the sentence structure is good. | The vocabulary use is fairly good and the sentence structure is good. | The vocabulary use is not very good, neither is the sentence structure.