Topical Talk Festival 2023: How to create a standpoint #MonarchiesTopic #coteaching

Creating a strong standpoint requires careful thought, research, and effective communication skills. Our students followed all the directions given by the Topical Talk Festival 2023 materials and we're guided in a co-teaching lesson in which the teachers helped them develop a compelling standpoint:

First, they chose one of the topics covered already during the Topical Talk Festival for which they had already gathered enough information. It's essential to have a clear understanding of the subject matter! 

Secondly it was essential that the students understood both sides, for that purpose the students had already got familiarised with arguments from both sides of the debate. This will help them in the future to anticipate counterarguments and strengthen their own standpoint. Then, they had to consider the main points and evidence used by the opposing side.

When they face a real debate what they should do next at this point is research and gather evidence: facts, statistics, expert opinions, and relevant examples to support their standpoint. In addition they must consult credible sources such as books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, and academic journals. The more evidence they have, the stronger your standpoint will be.

In the lesson, the students practiced how to anticipate potential counterarguments that opponents may present and prepared responses to refute them. Anticipating counterarguments strengthens standpoints and demonstrates that the students have considered multiple perspectives.

All in all, our students practiced Effective Communication: by delivering their standpoint with clarity, confidence, and persuasive language. 

When they record their audio files and their videos (next challenge), they will need to consider the tone of their voice, body language, and use of appropriate gestures to engage the audience, experts from The Economist. 

Throughout all the different sessions we've covered so far we as teachers have always reminded them to maintain a respectful and ethical approach throughout the debates. It's essential to open up to listening to the opposing side's arguments and respond with well-thought-out counterarguments. The students have also been reminded to focus on the topic at hand and to avoid personal attacks or fallacies.