How to Use Argument Topics to Your AdvantageThere are many arguments that can be made in the classroom, and in a classroom you can typically find topics about which to argue, as well as get a little rousing exercise on the side. But where should you start when it comes to what topic to bring up?
It is important to understand the main idea behind a certain argument before deciding whether or not you want to address it in class. For example, if you have taken an introductory class in physics and you have already come to the conclusion that stars and planets revolve around the sun, that solar system revolves around the earth, and the universe revolves around everything in existence - you can then claim that the universe is expanding. However, in order to make this argument you must have a basic understanding of the laws that govern the universe. The college debate format is all about building this basic knowledge base so that students can begin to draw conclusions based on their knowledge, rather than on gut instinct and feelings. When you work on these fundamentals in class, then you can build on this knowledge at home and also in a college setting. When a professor asks you to present a point of view in a college debate format, you are generally required to present one idea for the majority of the class period. This means that you will be able to spend your entire presentation introducing one idea, but then need to spend the rest of the time explaining how you arrived at that idea. As a result, the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck in this type of presentation is to be concise with your exposition, but to also be thorough. In addition to being clear and concise, it is also important to give examples of how you arrived at your main idea. You can explain the basis of your premise by using some graphically based examples. It is also a good idea to state your main concept in several different ways. In addition to giving different examples of how you came to your main idea, it is also important to state your basis in different ways. For example, you might state the main idea in the form of a question such as: What would happen if the sun were to explode? In this manner, the students can see that the two questions are connected. If the sun exploded, it would cause the earth to shrink, and the universe to expand, but if it didn't the universe would stay the same size. So, in this case the main idea that is being presented is: The universe expands and contracts. College debate topics are always fun, but it is also important to keep it fresh and exciting, so that you will have a great experience during your presentations. So, next time you are in a class about which to argue and want to get into the swing of things, take a look at what you already know and figure out the topics to present for your class.
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