11th Grade Debating

  • After reading Les Miserables, we gathered in the school library to discuss the characters, plot and the settings in the novel. Our parents and we put forward different ideas and we talked about the message the writer tried to give the reader. So one week later we gathered for the debating activity to discuss the topic "people tend to be convict from the birth or they can change if they are given a chance" Our families, friends, and teachers came to watch us. Our Literature and English teacher taught us about the criteria of debating. We gathered a lot of information and statistics about the topic within a week to defend our ideas and give a persuasive speech to the juries and the audience. 


    This activity really helped me to improve my idea and to gain experience and to gain self-confidence. Before this activity, I hardly speak in front of people, but now I feel I mustn't be too shy to talk to people. So debating is one of the few activities that builds genuine self-confidence. Also it develops the capacity for thinking,  and it  enables  a  person  an opportunity to acquire knowledge. According to me, debate is an opportunity for objective analysis to be applied to ideas.

    Zeynep Dursun