Anthony Cosentino is an active member of the Putnam, Connecticut, community. Alongside working as a certified volunteer firefighter for the Putnam Fire Department, he is a longtime Social Studies teacher at Woonsocket High School. Anthony Cosentino also formed Woonsocket’s debate team, and coached it for a decade.
Debating is a vital communication skill that students can develop from a young age, which makes it a popular school and college-level activity. Here are three benefits that practicing debate can bring: 1. Research skills development Since debate requires an individual or a team to be able to make a convincing argument, one of the first tools they must learn to use is diligent research. A claim requires evidence to support it; this involves identifying credible sources, finding quantitative and qualitative data relevant to the topic, and summarizing it so that it is presentable within their limited speaking timeframe. 2. Improved critical thinking When practicing debate, agreeing with the topic is not always relevant, in the same way that one will not always encounter perspectives one agrees with in life. Under both circumstances, a student must learn to analyze the arguments for and against an issue through an objective, rational lens. Conversely, if a student does agree with an issue, debating against it provides them with an opportunity to question their point of view, and to be mindful of internal biases. 3. Greater empathy Whether it is one’s teammates, opponents, or the issue itself, a debate student will find themselves working with varied mindsets. Empathy is a significant part of all of these dynamics. With teammates, one learns to find common ground to collaborate on a presentation; with opponents, they must understand their perspective to argue it; with the issue, students must contextualize their personal ideas and knowledge within a bigger picture. In life, these activities can help one understand and potentially be more compassionate with differing opinions.
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AuthorAnthony Cosentino - Teacher in Putnam, Connecticut. Archives
October 2021
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