Read for background information about the subject.Prepare a comprehensive
bibliography.Collect as much material as you can
find.Read and study the material discovered.
We will discuss each of these four steps in detail.
1.Read for background information about the subject.
First you want to get a good general knowledge of the proposition (topic)
you are to debate. You need to study the historical background of the
topic and why this topic is a matter of current interest. The reading
order should be from the general to the specific, from background to present-day
facts and figures, from books to magazines to newspapers. Naturally, in
studying a question one will use all of these sources more or less concurrently,
but for real understanding of the broader aspects one needs background
material early in his research.
The Reference Department of your library would be a good place to start.
Here are located all the very best of the reference books. There are several
sources you can consult for general background material. We will just
mention a few:
The Encyclopaedia BritannicaThe New International EncyclopediaThe Social Science Encyclopedia (provides a broad coverage of the
social sciences)The International Encyclopedia of the Social SciencesFacts on File (a weekly world news digest with index)Editorials on File (twice-monthly newspaper editorial survey with
index)Chronicle of the 20th Century (a compilation of newspaper articles,
headlines, captions, chronologies, pictures, and cartoons that tells
the history of the 20th century in America)Current textbooks on your topic
Dave Morgan, a homeschooling Dad in Fresno, California, suggests interviewing
a college or university professor who specializes in the topic you are
studying. Call the history, political science, chemistry, etc. departments
at your local college or university and ask if there is anyone with an
interest or specialty in your topic. It would be beneficial to interview
several people in order to obtain a wide range of opinions and views on
your topic.
We suggest you read one general book that would take the affirmative
position on your topic and one general book that would take the negative
position. In this way you will have a broad understanding of both sides.
We also suggest you subscribe to a good daily newspaper. Keeping up with
current events is very important to good debaters.
2.Prepare a comprehensive
bibliography.
The second step in your study of topic will be that of preparing a general
bibliography. A bibliography is a list of books, pamphlets, magazine articles,
and other printed materials in which information may be found on a given
subject. Excellent
bibliographies on many subjects have already been compiled.
If a bibliography on your topic is available you should try to obtain
it. The major sources of published bibliographies are:
Bibliographies loaned to libraries: Library of Congress, Bibliographical
Division, Washington, D.C.Bibliographies available for purchase:Bibliographies included in books prepared especially for debaters:
You will also need to prepare your own bibliography to supplement these
prepared bibliographies. Your bibliography will include:
Books and Pamphlets
To find books relevant to your topic you can do a keyword search at
your library (consult Subject Headings for suggestions on keywords).
Other sources are: Subject Guide to Books in Print (books from Books
in Print are rearranged under subject headings),
Magazine Articles
Search using the computer or useReader''s Guide to Periodical Literature.
Check the Alternative Press Index (periodicals from a certain side of
the political spectrum), the Social Sciences Citation Index, Congressional
Digest (each issue is devoted to a single important question currently
before Congress and consists of pro and con materials), Annals of the
American Academy of Political and Social Science (journal that covers
several controversial topics)
Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and other reference works
Who''s Who in America
Statistical Abstract of the U. S.
Statesman''s Yearbook
Court opinionsNewspaper ArticlesGovernment Sources
1. One should write one''s representative and senator early in the season
requesting all available materials on the current topic.
2. Special agencies. Among the most useful of these are:
The Library of Congress, U.S. Office of Education, Government Printing
Office
Internet SourcesDebate HandbooksPrivate Sources and Personal Interviews
Examples of this would be: American Medical Association, the AFL-CIO,
The Foundation for Economic Education, the National Association of Manufacturers,
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Many others are listed in the World Almanac.
We have found it useful to work on preparing your bibliography while
at home using the internet. If possible log onto the card catalog of your
local library (or a university or college library if possible) and do
your research in the unhurried atmosphere of your own home. The WWW is
also a valuable source for preparing your bibliography.
3.Collect as much material as you can find.
After you have listed all the references you can find on the topic, you
must then get as much of the actual material as you can.
4.Read and study the material discovered.
After you have secured all of the material available, you will then read
and study carefully the books and articles you have found. Try to learn
as much as you can about the subject and to get the points of view of
as many different authorities as possible. Be on the lookout for new ideas
and new suggestions for arguments, arguments on both sides of the topic.
Look for specific items of evidence, which might be used as proof. Take
careful notes as you read. We will discuss how to take notes next.