Basic Debate : 4th Edition [Hardcover]

McGraw-Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0844259810 | ISBN-13: 978-0844259819 | Edition: 4

Basic Debate is ideal for beginning debaters and has become a classic text that teaches the fundamentals - from the skills of analysis, research, logical reason, and argumentation to the techniques of cross-examination debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, and student congress. This text also features a chapter devoted to parliamentary procedure and appendices on competing in a debate tournament as well as the judging process.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 327 pages
• Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill; 4 edition (February 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844259810
• ISBN-13: 978-0844259819
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Postmodernism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for teachers and students of debate, April 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Basic Debate : 4th Edition (Hardcover)

Focusing on the major types of debate that common for high school students, this book is designed to serve as a primer on debate, although it would be a useful resource for more experienced debaters also. The first several chapters deal with the building blocks for argumentation -- analysis, research and reasoning, with exercises and discussion topics included after each chapter. The authors then turn to a nuts-and-bolts coverage of the three most common types of debate -- Lincoln-Douglas Debate (where the debate centers on a value propositions); Two-man or policy debate (where the debate centers on a broad question of public policy, such as foreign trade or education reform); and Student Congress, or parliamentary debate (where the debate is conducted pursuant to Roberts Rules of Order and the discussion centers on specific items of mock legislation). This nuts-and-bolts section covers the essential elements of a case, the relevant burdens of proof and argumentation, and the particular skills that are so important to each type of debate. The book seems to be designed for easy use as a textbook (a Teachers Guide is also available from Amazon), but it would work well as a resource for self-study, too.

I was involved in competitive Forensics through all of high school and college, both as a student and as a coach. Based on that experience, it is even more obvious to me what a difficult undertaking the authors must have faced when putting together this book. Debate is, after all, an activity that really can only be learned by jumping in and doing it. This text is the perfect supplement to that type of a teaching program. Students can get a quick handle on the fundamentals, start having debates, and then use the text as a resource for lessons as those debates present them with problems. This book is an ideal learning tool, with plenty of examples and exercises, and it is written in a straightforward, accessible fashion.

I have reviewed a number of these types of books, and Basic Debate may be the best debate book available for teaching and coaching debate at the high school level

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the Classroom, August 3, 2007

By 

William Alexander "Alexander, Shaun" (Spartanburg, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Basic Debate : 4th Edition (Hardcover)

A very useful "nuts and bolts" book that could be successfully used in any classroom to teach the fundamentals of beginning debate. It is not, however, a book for advanced debaters who would find it simplistic and a "rehash" of already acquired skills.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Debate, February 13, 2008

By 

William Hicks (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Basic Debate, Student Edition (Hardcover)

One of better overall debate books out there. Could use an update to include Public Forum Debate. Congress chapters very good. Great bok for beginning debate clas.