Assignment on Argumentation

Argumentation is concerned primarily with reaching conclusions through logical reasoning, that is, claims based on premises.

Although including debate and negotiation which are concerned with reaching mutually acceptable conclusions, argumentation theory also encompasses eristic dialog, the branch of social debate in which victory over an opponent is the primary goal. This art and science is often the means by which people protect their beliefs or self-interests in rational dialogue, in common parlance, and during the process of arguing.

Argumentation is used in law for example in trials, in preparing an argument to be presented to a court, and in testing the validity of certain kinds of evidence. Also, argumentation scholars study the post hoc rationalizations by which organizational actors try to justify decisions they have made irrationally.
(source: Wikipedia.org)


For this assignment, the Oxford-Oregon debate will be used. This is a debate that includes constructive argument, cross examination, and refutation.

There are two parties: the Affirmative, and the Negative.
The former will "win" by proving all aspects such as the practicality, necessity, and beneficiality of their case.
The latter will "win" by destroying only one aspect on the former's case: the practicality, necessity, and beneficiality. But they can not bring up a topic that the former hasn't brought up.

The Affirmative side has 3 members (a practicality, a necessity, and a beneficiality speaker) who are each allowed 5 minutes to present their aspect. Likewise, the Negative side has 3 members who are given 3 minutes to refute.

Both teams have 4 members total which, in addition to their three speakers already mentioned, include either a team captain or a scribe.
They will state the summary, and the defense of their team's arguments and evidences.
(Source: http://spcpquedebatevarsity.tripod.com/id27.html)


I found this video on youtube regarding this type of debate. However, the video looks chaotic and it's difficult to understand the speakers. It looks like the purpose of the video is to brag about how their team trumped their opponent. Well, see for yourself. You'll know what I mean.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU4ah5YSs64)

First post

Hello.

I had never imagined that I would be making a blog. My professor believes that it is a good way of learning, so he has required his students to have their own blogs.

I was thinking that social network sites like facebook and friendster were blogs. I even signed up for that believing that those sites was what he wanted.


Why do I call myself the "foreign alien"? Because the world of blogging and social networking is alien to me. Plus I wanted a "cool" sounding name.