01. Debate Exercises for Practicing Negotiation, Communication, and Presentation Skills

Debate Game: Four Corners

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Here are debate exercises designed to enhance negotiation skills, communication, and public speaking. These exercises include the ones you've provided, along with additional creative exercises to further develop critical thinking and debate skills.

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Objective

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To learn how to respect and understand differing viewpoints.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize that multiple perspectives exist on any issue.
• Listen to and respect others' viewpoints.
• Explain one’s own point of view clearly.

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Teaching Methods

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• Workshop
• Discussion
• Group work
• Presentation

1. Group work

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• The facilitator sets up four corners in the room, each representing:
  
  
  • Strongly Agree
  • Agree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly Disagree

• The facilitator presents a proposition from Appendix A, and participants move to the corner that best represents their viewpoint. In each corner, participants discuss their reasoning.
  

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2. Presentation and discussion

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• One participant from each corner presents their arguments. Each presentation should have an introduction, body, and conclusion. After hearing the arguments, the facilitator leads a group discussion. Participants then return to their original corner or change if their opinions have shifted.
  
  

3. Reflection

• Did the exercise increase your understanding of the topic?
• Has your viewpoint changed? Why?
• How did the exercise impact your communication skills?

Appendix A: List of Propositions

• Should whistleblowers be supported by the government?
• Should intellectual property be abolished?
• In a country with a growing elderly population, should policies focus on immigration rather than encouraging families to have more children?
• Should secular states allow minority groups to implement their own family laws?