Debate Workshop

On 25th-26th April the society held a Debate Workshop. Even though Professor Alfred Snider couldn't get there personally, the workshop was a great success. Prof. Snider and Dr. Steve Llano held video-conference sessions and coached workshop participants on debating. Special thanks to them for getting up at odd hours and sharing their expertise! Also thanks to Karen and Mirja for organizing the event, and to everyone who participated. Hope to see you all in the upcoming UTA Debate Society meetings and events!

Karen Leaving Finland

UTA Debate Society was established on January 2010 with Karen Nelson as the founding member. Before this there was no formal debate in Tampere. During the last few months everyone involved has learned a lot, not only in the weekly meetings but also in the Debate Workshop organized and hosted by Karen in association with the language center. Karen has provided us with the tools to continue learning and practicing debate, and to make the society grow and prosper after her returning to the United States.

That said, Karen has been a pioneer in establishing a debate scene in this part of Finland and the society wishes to thank her for her efforts, in hopes that in the future the cooperation will continue!

- Pekka & Jenni on behalf of the UTA Debate Society

THBT international aid should be tied to Women's Rights

Here is a link http://debatevideoblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/debate-public-tie-development-aid-to.html to a debate between the Irish National Champions and St. John's University. This is the same motion that we had a debate about in our last meeting (4/20/10). For those that participated this is a great resource to use to see where improvements can be made.

If you have questions email me directly or start a discussion on the Moodle page!

-Karen

Volcano takes us online

Here's a quote from yesterday's Newsletter of the Edwin Lawrence Debate Union at the University of Vermont:

"Finally, there is always room for a first. Just when you think you have seen it all, something new comes up. This weekend the Finnish organization LAAKEA had planned a debate workshop for professors of English in Tampere, Finland and had invited Alfred Snider, LDU director, to hold the workshop. After that there was to be a two-day workshop for student debaters planned. However, the eruption of the Iceland volcano has caused this program to be cancelled because Snider simply cannot get there. “I have never had an event cancelled because of volcanic activity,” said Snider, “but we are working on using Skype to hold the debater workshop. I hope that I can go back in the fall for the teacher workshop.” "

Debate Workshop from April 25th to 26th

Important: Small number of the workshop ads had a wrong registration deadline. The correct deadline is April 19th.

The workshop is getting closer, but there's still time to register! It's going to be a great opportunity for everyone to improve their debating, argumentation and public speaking skills. You don't need any previous experience in debating to participate. The workshop is hosted by Prof. Snider, an experienced teacher of argumentation, persuasion, and debate.

To register, send an email to: kgnelson@uvm.edu
The program: http://www.uta.fi/~kkmiha/studentWorkshop.pdf

More about Prof. Snider:
http://www.blogger.com/profile/16478595639198105911
http://debate.uvm.edu/tuna.html

Comprehensive description of BP style debate:
http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/resources/guide_deane.pdf

Quick description of BP format on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Parliamentary_Style

Media from IDEA Exchange 2010 now available

If you missed out on all the action at this year's IDEA Exchange in Vilnius, Lithuania, you can still experience it! Many videos and pictures are now posted from the IDEA Exchange 2010. Check out the more than 250 pictures of the event on the IDEA Flickr page. In addition, go to IDEA's channel on BlipTV.com to view a playlist of seventeen videos of presentations, debates, and the keynote speaker. For more information on the IDEA Exchange, and to easily access this media, visit the IDEA Exchange website.

Check the videos on BlipTV.com!

***********IMPORTANT***************

REMINDER: We will be having a meeting THIS THURSDAY to discuss recruitment for the UTA Debate Society and promotion of the debate workshop on April 25th. We will be meeting at the Cafe next to the Language Center at 4 pm (16.00)

DECISIONS: At the meeting tonight we decided that we will be meeting LONGER to prepare for the debate workshop. The meeting will begin promptly at 5 and will conclude at 8.

*Anyone, that has not registered for the debate workshop there is still time. Send me an email with your contact information! - kgnelson@uvm.edu

Thanks
Karen