April – July 2018
Sundays 17:00 – 20:30, Room FGS A
Objective
The main goal of the course is to provide instruction and practice in order to help participants develop important life skills.
These include cognitive skills such as analytical thinking, critical thinking and logic; and rhetorical skills such as self-expression, use of language, message conveyance and presentation.
The secondary goal is to build a debate team that will represent Weizmann institute in the academic debating league, domestically and abroad.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate the appropriate use of nonverbal delivery including vocalics, kinesics, eye contact and appearance.
- Develop and demonstrate the process of effective public speaking by organizing, and delivering oral presentations and speeches on multiple topics.
- Critically analyze and evaluate evidence and arguments made on various subjects in everyday life.
- Explain and apply appropriate analytical concepts to various audiences.
- Develop, organize and defend arguments for any topic in a limited amount of time.
Course Requirements:
- Every meeting will include a short lesson, a British Parliamentary Debate and constructive feedback.
- This course requires consistent participation of every student. We expect each participant to take an active part in every meeting,
- Moreover, every participant should not be absent more than three times during the semester.
The Coaches:
Alon Cohen is the director of the Cohen-Idov Center for Debate & Rhetoric, Alon has been coaching Israel's national debating high-school team, He's been coaching debate at universities and lecturing in organizations, NGO's and teaches seminars in the last six years. Former Debating champion in the Israel's national championship in Hebrew and English.
Varia Ostrovski has been teaching Deabte and Rhetoric for the last four years. She has taught at the Ben Gurion University as well as in different NGOS and companies. Her achievements include reaching the semi-finals at the European Universities Debating Championship and the finals of Israel's National Championship. She wishes to instill her passion for debate and public speaking in the Weizmann Debate Club members.
Guest Lectures:
Yoni Cohen-Idov is an Israeli-American debater, journalist, speaker and consultant. Cohen-Idov was the 2010 World Universities Debating Champion (ESL), 2009 European Universities Debating Championship Runner-Up (Main Category) And Top Speaker (ESL).
In 2010, Cohen-Idov spearheaded a national initiative to promote debate education in Israel’s public schools, in collaboration with the ministry of education. The program aimed to promote critical thinking, civil discourse, tolerance and understanding in the country.
Since 2012, Cohen-Idov has taught, trained and consulted organizations and individuals on message conveyance, adapting his debate-based methods to the business and public spheres. Cohen-Idov has worked with some notable Israeli and American politicians, as well as business figures and organizations.
Cohen-Idov is the founder of the Cohen-Idov Center for Debate and Rhetoric.
Maya Kindler is a senior debate coach and an acting instructor. Kinder has graduated the Nisan Nativ studio for acting with distinction. She has then developed her acting career performing in plays in Israel and abroad. As a debater, she has reached the finals of the Israeli national championship. In recent years, she has trained students, lawyers and adults in the art of public speaking.
Syllabus
22.4 Introduction to debate - the rules of British Parliamentary debating, debate exhibition.
29.4 Speech structure and developing arguments.
6.5 Developing arguments II – the chain of causation: How to create a coherent argument without flaws.
13.5 Do's and Dont's in public speaking, guest lecturer: Maya Kindler, Professional actress and performer, National Israeli championship runner up.
27.5 Story-telling: Painting an image in order to illustrate your point.
3.6 The debate equation: Every debate and discussion boils down to three main questions. How to set an equation using those factors.
10.6 Developing arguments III: How to find multiple explanations to establish a point.
17.6 Rebuttals: A systematic model explains how to answer every argument.
24.6 Summaries and extensions: How to summarize speeches and prepare a solid case from the second house.
1.7 Two rounds – preparation to upcoming events. Conclusion of the course.