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Year 5

Learning the roles in a debate and making a rebuttal

I can understand the roles in a debate and make a rebuttal point.

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New
New
Year 5

Learning the roles in a debate and making a rebuttal

I can understand the roles in a debate and make a rebuttal point.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The motion is the name for the belief or proposal that is being debated.
  2. The team that agrees with the motion is called the proposition.
  3. The team that disagrees with the motion is called the opposition.
  4. A rebuttal point is a counter-argument made against something specific that the opposing team has said.

Common misconception

Rebuttal points can be argued against.

A rebuttal point comes at the start of a speaker's speech and cannot be responded to.

Keywords

  • Motion - The motion is the name for the belief or proposal that is being debated.

  • Proposition - The team that agrees with the motion is called the proposition.

  • Opposition - The team that disagrees with the motion is called the opposition.

  • Rebuttal - A rebuttal point is a counter-argument made against something specific that the opposing team has said.

This lesson involves learning the terminology involved with debating. These words can be challenging for pupils to learn and remember. It would be good to have these words displayed in your classroom and referred to and revised between lessons.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Proof' in a debate can be defined as something that is ...
made up
an opinon
Correct answer: real, factual and cannot be disputed
Q2.
Which two of these are benefits of using proof in an argument?
Correct answer: helps to add credibilty
Correct answer: helps to persuade those who may be undecided
forces the audience to agree with the speaker
makes the opposing team look weak
Q3.
In the PEPS structure, where would a speaker add proof to their argument?
first
last
Correct answer: after their explanation
after their point
Q4.
Which two things could a speaker do to generate proof for their argument?
make it up
borrow it from a team member
Correct answer: conduct research, either online or by asking other people
Correct answer: use their own life experience
Q5.
Anecdotes can work well in a speaker's proof. What are anecdotes?
facts
statistics
opinions
Correct answer: stories from life experience
explanations
Q6.
What should a speaker be summarising during the summary part of their speech?
their life story
Correct answer: the most important parts of their argument
every single point in their argument
how their team is better than the opposing team

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The _________ is the name for the belief or proposal that is debated in a debate.
Correct answer: motion
opinion
rebuttal
Q2.
What is the name of the team who agrees with the motion in a debate?
Correct answer: proposition
opposition
audience
Q3.
What is the name of the team who disagrees with the motion in a debate?
proposition
Correct answer: opposition
audience
Q4.
Which two of these are roles in a debate?
Correct answer: chairperson
referee
Correct answer: time keeper
umpire
Q5.
What is the job of the summary speaker?
to summarise which team is doing the best
to summarise how the audience is feeling
Correct answer: to summarise their team's arguments
Q6.
What is the name for a counter-argument made against something specific that the opposing team has said?
Correct answer: rebuttal
resolution
proposition