Organizing Dissent: Educational Debate Activities in Romania

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Teaching Argumentation and Rhetoric, pp. 17-31, 2010

15 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2011

See all articles by Rozália Klára Bakó

Rozália Klára Bakó

Sapientia - Hungarian University of Transylvania

Date Written: January 27, 2011

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze organizing issues raised by developing debate activities for youth. A focus on educational debate is aimed at highlighting the benefits of teaching argumentation and rhetoric skills in an interactive manner. In fact, educational debate is one of the most effective tools of learning participatory communication. It also helps in developing critical thinking skills. Debating both sides of a controversy in a formal, simulated setting might seem uncomfortable at first. However, it is justifiable on educational grounds, because it helps participants understand the complexity of most controversial issues. In everyday life debates are informal: beyond psychological contracts, there are no settled rules for dialogue. Formal debates attempt to bring clarity to the blurry debates that take place in the real world: confronting ideas in a controlled manner contributes to developing a more tolerant and participative attitude in communication.

Keywords: educational debate, critical thinking, youth, participation

Suggested Citation

Bakó, Rozália Klára, Organizing Dissent: Educational Debate Activities in Romania (January 27, 2011). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Teaching Argumentation and Rhetoric, pp. 17-31, 2010 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1749300

Rozália Klára Bakó (Contact Author)

Sapientia - Hungarian University of Transylvania ( email )

Strada Matei Corvin Nr. 4
Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County 400112
Romania

HOME PAGE: http://www.sapientia.ro/eng/

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