Why do people debate?

Diaz, Yzuelte Lysa
Montejo, Alyssa Mariz
Muta, Alyssa Jamie

Why do people debate?

For years of studying and taking up different kinds of English classes, we have been exposed to concepts and experiences of debate. Presently, we are beginning to prepare to actually be in a debate and when we perform any activity, it is vital for us to know WHY we are doing it and why people in the real world go through it.
While recalling debates that we have witnessed throughout the years of our life in the academe, we have come up with a few reasons on why people debate which are as follows:

First – TO PROVIDE AND DEFEND REASONS. By providing and defending reasons, through debate, individuals hone their ability to think logically and analytically, and sharpen their capability to respond persuasively to arguments. In every debate, there are arguments. There are always two sides of a debate and both sides always have arguments about what they are standing up for. During the discourse of arguments, we are exposed to points of certain issues and we are exposed to how others think and how they view the issues. It is important for us to have arguments so that our minds will have clarity and jurisdiction over a situation that we are analyzing or trying to understand. If there is no argument in a debate, then there is no debate at all because debating is arguing.

Second – TO GET INFORMATION. In every debate, we are able to gain information about a certain issue that we are discussing. During each debate, points of information are given and it helps us to learn more about a specific issue.

THIRD – TO EXAMINE AN ISSUE. When people debate, it is a fact that they are examining a certain issue. They analyze points of an issue and they give clarification to misconceptions about the rightness or wrongness of the issue. It is important for us to examine everything thoroughly and verify unclear points of view, in any situation, that are presented to us. During any debate, the debaters examine the issue that they are to debate about and they elaborate the reasons why things happen and argue about what they think “should be”.

FOURTH – TO DEVELOP AWARENESS. Debates are always about “important issues”. They help us become aware of what is happening to our world. Listening to a debate and actually being in a debate is a way for us to develop a sense of awareness – LOGICAL AWARENESS. It makes us take a step to view the world and understand why things are happening and how we should view and judge each situation.

FIFTH – TO EXPRESS CONCERNS AND OPINIONS. In the course of debate, individuals can voice out ideas, practice freedom of speech, and seize the liberty of expressing feelings of resentment to arguments which they disagree. During debates, individuals are able to voice out their opinions and develop their personality and show who they really are. When we debate, we say what “WE” think is right and we “fight” for what we believe. It is important for us to do this because by doing this, we can help others to broaden their mind and judge a situation the way it should be judged.

SIXTH - TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ABILITIES. Thru debate, individuals develop the ability to speak rhetorically, coherently and cogently.

SEVENTH - TO INCREASE SELF-CONFIDENCE. In debate, individuals enhance their self-confidence and trounce stage fright.

As we can see, debate is not only a “requirement” or a “hobby”. It is an argument, it is an issue examiner, it is an awareness developer and it is a way for us to let our “voices out”. By realizing the importance and purposes of a debate, it is a fact that debates are needed in our world to clarify and solve issues, and decrease the chaos of important events and unsolved tragedies in our world today.