Debate Reflection

What did you learn about how to persuade others from participating in your debate?
I learned many new skills in how to persuade others while participating in my debate on
vaccines. In order to be successful, I had to learn both sides of the argument so I could counter
the other sides arguments effectively and to show the audience that I was well educated on the
topic as a whole and not just my side. I had to provide not just well-informed knowledge and
facts but, I also had to provide compelling stories in order to reach my audience emotionally.
This debate helped me to dig deeper and look into how I could persuade my audience using
pathos, ethos, and logos in order to be the most effective in my debate. Using these three appeals
helped me to become more advanced in the art of persuasion and has helped me to become and
overall better debater.

What did you learn by observing others’ debates?

By observing others’ debates, I learned what strategies were most effective and based on the
audience’s responses, what other ones I should avoid. I learned that those who were extra
prepared tended to destroy the other side, even if the other side was prepared. I also observed
that those who spoke the most clear and loud tended to have the most influence on the audience.