Mustang Minute

1/8/14 Sports
Pretend like you are writing a letter to a person named George from another country
who has never heard of your favorite sport (if you dont have a favorite, choose one
you know a little bit about). Explain to this person how the game is played. Include
details like the rules of the game, special terminology and what it means, and any
equipment you would use. Write as much as you can, but at least page.
Your entry will begin like this:
Dear George,
play:

I want to tell you about my favorite sport, _________________. Here is how you

REFUTATION
C

Could you win a game of football

without both offensive moves and
defensive ones?

Sports

Debate

Offense

Advancement

Defense

Refutation

Tennis- impossible without clash

You know how

to serve. Now
you need to
learn how to
return the serve.

 Speaker 1: Bananas are better than apples because they contain more potassium.
Speaker 2: Circles are better than squares because their shape is more pleasing to the
eye.

Hit the target!

Refutation Methods

#1 Kindergarten: Counterclaim
Example #1
Mom: You cannot go out with your friends because your room is not clean.
Student: You say that my room is not clean, but I disagree. It is clean.

Example #2

Speaker 1: Bananas are better than oranges because they contain more potassium.
Speaker 2: Speaker 1 says that bananas are better than oranges, but I disagree. Oranges
are better than bananas.

How could this counterclaim be made stronger?

#2- Average
Counterclaim + Reasoning
Example #1
Mom: You cannot go out with your friends because your room is not clean.
Student: You say that my room is not clean, but I disagree. It is clean. I folded all of my
clothes and put them away while you were shopping.

Speaker 1: Bananas are better than oranges because they contain more potassium.
Speaker 2: Speaker 1 says that bananas are better than oranges, but I disagree.
Oranges are better than bananas because
How could this be made stronger?

they contain more vitamin C.

#3- You guys!

Counterclaim + Reasoning + Therefore
Example #1
Mom: You cannot go out with your friends because your room is not clean.
Student: Mom says that my room is not clean, but I disagree. It is clean. I folded all of my
clothes and put them away while you were shopping. Therefore, it has changed since you
last saw it and I should be able to go hang out with my friends.

Speaker 1: Bananas are better than oranges because they contain more potassium.
Speaker 2: Speaker 1 says that bananas are better than oranges, but I disagree.
Oranges are better than bananas because they contain more vitamin C. Therefore,
you should prefer oranges because while many foods in an ordinary diet contain
potassium, few contain an appreciable amount of vitamin C. It is more important to eat
oranges whenever possible than it is to eat bananas.

Step #1- They say

Short and simple, restate their claim.

Step #2- But I disagree

State your claim, short and simple!

Step #3- Because

Give your reason.

Step #4- Therefore

Compare your reason with your opponents, and say why yours is better.