Here's my debate, opinions please!

[Nanobyte]

You remember this one?
Was the Great Awakening a Key to the American Revolution?
Our standing: no

Well it was delayed due to that icestorm, and it's taking place tomorrow. My speech has to be a maximum of 4 minutes long, and here is what I've come up with:

The Great Awakening was a religious uprising, a time when Christianity was revitalized throughout the colonies, and an era of moral retribution. The American Revolution was the result of political tension, the English monarch ruled over the colonies through its use of internal taxes and “virtual representation”. When Jonathan Edwards preached of the firey hells, he was not referring to the British Parliament, nor was he relating penance and salvation with independence. The religious fervor and political scandal occuring within the colonies were significant for different reasons, one being the general establishment of a nation, and the other being the reformation of a predominant faith within that nation.
Now that we understand the difference between the two, I’m going to tell you what was the overall reason for the American Revolution. Overall, the reason the colonies sought succession was because of what was occuring within Britain, not America. Shortly before England imposed its first tariff, the Sugar Act, they were involved in a seven year war with France over colonization on the New World. As a result, Britain was suffering from financial ruin, its economy dipped into a state of depression, and the colonies moved forward into a time of progression. Even before all this became apparent, even before the war was officially over, Britain imposed a writ of assistance to prevent the colonies from trading with the enemy, and after Boston merchants rebutted, Parliament moved to end the rebuke. That time afterwards the British legislature placed a series of successive internal taxes on goods and commodities that could be brought in or shipped out of the American coast. Such acts as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act brought America to its knees, and its people rose up in response. Only after colonists began showing resistance, with their formation of mobs and organized militias, did Britain begin sending troops across the Atlantic to forcibly put them down.
The only bond the Great Awakening and the American Revolution bear would be the enlightenment of the common people, the time when the intented audience sees what was always there.

I tested it out, and it comes out to be 3 minutes. That's good enough, right? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 01-09-2003, 01:09 AM: Message edited by: Nanobyte ]

[Night Stalker]

Looks pretty solid. Let us know how the debate goes. Are you prepared for the counter points that will be raised? The strength of a debate position lies not in the opening statement, but in the follow on rebuttals.

Good luck with it.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Night Stalker: Looks pretty solid. Let us know how the debate goes. Are you prepared for the counter points that will be raised? The strength of a debate position lies not in the opening statement, but in the follow on rebuttals. Good luck with it.

That it does. I used to love team debating when I was at school. For two or three years I was the schools "whip". The last speaker. Rebuttal was everything.

In my final year of high school (year 12 in Oz) we won a statewide interschools competition too. [img]smile.gif[/img] Lots of fun.

Wow. This brings back memories. Of people. Old friends, people from the other schools I'd meet. The best was debating against all girls schools.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Nanobyte: You remember this one? Was the Great Awakening a Key to the American Revolution? Our standing: no Well it was delayed due to that icestorm, and it's taking place tomorrow. My speech has to be a maximum of 4 minutes long, and here is what I've come up with: The Great Awakening was a religious uprising, a time when Christianity was revitalized throughout the colonies, and an era of moral retribution. The American Revolution was the result of political tension, the English monarch ruled over the colonies through its use of internal taxes and “virtual representation”. When Jonathan Edwards preached of the firey hells, he was not referring to the British Parliament, nor was he relating penance and salvation with independence. The religious fervor and political scandal occuring within the colonies were significant for different reasons, one being the general establishment of a nation, and the other being the reformation of a predominant faith within that nation. Now that we understand the difference between the two, I’m going to tell you what was the overall reason for the American Revolution. Overall, the reason the colonies sought succession was because of what was occuring within Britain, not America. Shortly before England imposed its first tariff, the Sugar Act, they were involved in a seven year war with France over colonization on the New World. As a result, Britain was suffering from financial ruin, its economy dipped into a state of depression, and the colonies moved forward into a time of progression. Even before all this became apparent, even before the war was officially over, Britain imposed a writ of assistance to prevent the colonies from trading with the enemy, and after Boston merchants rebutted, Parliament moved to end the rebuke. That time afterwards the British legislature placed a series of successive internal taxes on goods and commodities that could be brought in or shipped out of the American coast. Such acts as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act brought America to its knees, and its people rose up in response. Only after colonists began showing resistance, with their formation of mobs and organized militias, did Britain begin sending troops across the Atlantic to forcibly put them down. The only bond the Great Awakening and the American Revolution bear would be the enlightenment of the common people, the time when the intented audience sees what was always there. I tested it out, and it comes out to be 3 minutes. That's good enough, right? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Seems o.k.

You could give a concise list-like summary of your reasons in closing though. Finishing with a concession to the "yes" side is not very strong.

Point form summaries are always a good information transmitter. Concise. Memorable. Helps your train of thought too.

"These are the reasons. 1... 2....3.. and 4.

Now, 1: blah blah blah, blah blah blah.
As for 2: Blither blither blither, blither blither blither...."(and so on)

Also, some of what you're saying assumes the listener has existing knowledge.

That may be fine, but coming from a perspective unfamiliar with American history, I for example have no idea who Jonathan Edwards was. A simple "Popular preachers such as..." (or whatever he was - I'm assuming he was a preacher?) Gives your information more clout.

Have you had a friend run through your argument as devils advocate? Pointing out the weaknesses in the argument so you can bolster it?

Whatever you do, be confident. Act confident even if you are not. It works wonders.

Take your time with your words and don't rush through everything. Pause when you want to emphasise a key point. It allows your argument to sink in.

[Yorick]

Oh yeah, and all the best Nanobyte. Good luck, knock 'em dead, and have a ball!