Works Cited and Note Cards

Binder Section: Writing/Projects

English 2 and 3: Preparation for Class Debates

Instructions to Create your Works Cited List:

  1. Make sure that you have created a citation in noodle tools for ALL resources cited in your research brief (all articles, reports, etc).  Erase the citations of any resources NOT used in your research brief.
  2. In the upper left corner of the screen, click the “Save as a Word Doc” button.
  3. On the next screen, click “Export and Print” at the bottom of the screen.
  4. A “Save As” box will pop up.  Click “Ok”.
  5. Another box will appear with the words “Rich Text Format” selected.  Click “Ok”.
  6. Your works cited list will magically appear in a Word document for you to save and print!

Debate Structure:

FIRST:

Person A: 2 minutes to make her case
Person B: 1 minute counter (rebuttal)
Person A: 30-second closing statement

 SECOND:

Person B: 2 minutes to make his case
Person A: 1 minute counter (rebuttal)
Person B: 30-second closing statement


How to Prepare Note Cards for your Debate:

When you debate, it is important that you make eye contact with both your opponent and your audience. This demonstrates confidence in your position and in your ability to present and support it.  Therefore, you should NOT read straight from your research brief when debating.  Rather, you will take key sentences and points from your research brief and write/type them onto note cards.  These note cards will remind you which points to make in which order, while also forcing you to speak more naturally and to connect with the people around you.  Using this method also requires that you know your argument well enough to make your case without reading straight from the page!

You know your research brief and argument the best so you decide how to create note cards that will best serve your needs.  The following is a SUGGESTION for how to transfer information from your research brief on to separate note cards.

Part 1: Making Your Case: You will have 2 minutes to state your position and make your case.  During this time, you should present your argument and the evidence supporting it.  You should have a minimum of 6 note cards, one for each of the following:

  1. Your hook
  2. Bridge
  3. Thesis Statement
  4. Body Paragraph 1: argument, evidence, commentary
  5. Body Paragraph 2: argument, evidence, commentary
  6. Closing

Part 2: Counter/Rebuttal: After your opponent makes his/her case, you will have 1 minute to counter.  For this, you should have 2 note cards, one for each of the following:

  1. Body Paragraph 3: argument, evidence, commentary
  2. Body Paragraph 4: argument, evidence, commentary

Part 3: Closing Statement: Finally, each side will make a 30 second closing statement.  You may repeat your closing statement made during your initial argument and address the counter argument made by your opponent.

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