Persuade Me! Is Baseball or Basketball Better? Debate Prep For Beginners

**IMPORTANT: Since this is meant as a gentle and fun introduction to debate practices, students are expected to keep their camera on for the entire class. If this poses a problem, please write me before class. I understand there are often great reasons for keeping cameras off during an online class, but if students want to learn how to debate, they need to practice getting comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions in a "public" way. It also helps other students receive the information and opinions more openly and charitably, because a "face" is attached to the words. Thank you for understanding!**

Students present their point of view about the sports of baseball and basketball using facts, details, and evidence. We will focus, as much as possible, on the GAME ITSELF and not specific players or historic moments in history. I will keep track of all students' ideas by typing notes, live during class, onto a shareable document. For those interested, these notes can work well for a future debate or a persuasive essay. 

At the end of class, students will be asked to choose a side and to select the strongest points of their argument. Students must also acknowledge the strongest arguments of the other side. Students will be steered toward citing specific facts and details and away from vague statements like "is better" and "everyone knows." In this way, the class will lay the groundwork for preparing students for a mature and respectful debate on any subject.

Students should have a basic understanding of the rules of both baseball and basketball and, ideally, have some experience watching or playing full games of each sport. It is not necessary to know the names of specific players or professional team histories. We will focus on the rules and elements of the games themselves. There will be a keen focus on hearing others out and on making constructive and specific comments and compliments.