An Invitation to Debate: Reasoning and Argument as a Framework for Civil Society

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This comprehensive introductory textbook gives students the framework and tools to become great debaters and use those skills to further civil and respectful responses on contentious topics. Focusing on core concepts and skills of research, reasoning, and argumentation with a special focus on debate rhythms, the book builds students ability to express ideas and respectfully dissent, ultimately improving their individual resilience in adverse circumstances and encouraging the emergence of communal values in society.

An Invitation to Debate takes students on a step-by-step preparation of case research, speech composition, rebuttals, and resolutions. It is not specific to a particular debate style, allowing professors to use the book across a variety of procedural types, including policy, British Parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, International Public Debate Association, world schools, and Coolidge.

As the most up-to-date debate textbook, An Invitation to Debate will show students how to use AI technologies to aid (but never replace) their own case preparation. Throughout the book, students will be challenged to consider opportunities for debate to create more civil and fruitful discussion in their daily lives and on the world stagewhere respectful debate can break through political barriers and counteract social injustices.

Reviews

"An Invitation to Debate outlines the technique of debating with conversant, usable techniques. This book adds a fresh perspective grounded in the transformative power of debate, informed by the author's sweeping experience with the society-changing power of debate in post-genocide Rwanda. Voth handily explores the rhetorical traditions that underpin his argument for embracing debating, all the while grounded in practical application. Given our uncertain times, this volume helps facilitate fair-minded argument." --Allan Louden, emeritus professor and former director of debate at Wake Forest University

Author Bio

Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate and speech programs at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He has written five academic books since 2014 detailing how rhetoric, argumentation, and debate instruction make the critical difference in improving human society. His instructional speech and debate clients include the U.S. State department, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C., and the George W. Bush Institute. As a collegiate speech and debate director he has coached more than five world champions, more than thirty national champions, and more than fifty state champions in speech and debate competitions over the past thirty years.