“Behind the news” inspired Debate topics Term 2 2015
April 20th, 2015
GOZONE Debating has found some new topics to debate this term and 3 were inspired by stories on the ABC Behind the News web pages www.abc.net.au/btn.
Term 2 2015 Topics:
Learning tip: Some people find it difficult to engage with a topic until they have a bit of an overview of what its about.
4 ways to get an overview:
- Watch a video
- Look it up in the encyclopedia
- Find a book about it.
- Find something about the topic which gives a lot of information, not just a small story.
Whenever you start with a new topic you need an overview of the issues involved. If you can find a video about it, that is a great advantage as you take in information by watching and listening.
Consulting an encyclopedia is another way to get an overview. I know that many approach wikipedia with caution but they have wonderful overviews of topics you’ll never find in the more traditional encyclopedias. A whole table of contents which shows you all the different areas in the topic so that you can go straight to the ones that sound right for your topic.
EG “Category:Trees From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trees. |
A tree can be defined as a large woody perennial plant. Though there is no set definition of size, it is generally at least 4.5 m (15 ft) high at maturity, and with branches supported on a single main stem. Trees are important components of the natural landscape and significant elements in landscaping. Compared with most other forms of plants, trees are long-lived. A few species of trees grow to over 100 m (300 ft) tall and some live for several millennia.
This category has the following 29 subcategories.
Trees by climate? Trees by location? Forests Wood Bonsai
? Documentary films about forests and trees?”
This is bound to lead you to lots of ideas about the value and use of trees.
Can’t wait to hear the arguments you come up with.
Lesli Grant