Your team will debate another team on a controversial issue related to world literature. For example, does today's modern society have its myths, or is this form possible only within traditional societies? Your team will be graded on the overall quality of its argument, including research, "expert opinion," etc. you present to back up your case. Beyond this, the winning team (as determined by the swaying of class opinion) will receive one extra-credit point.

Grading of this assignment is as follows:

• 2 points for research
• 2 points for using specific, concrete examples
• 2 points for argumentation
• 2 points for overall organization and effectiveness
• 1 extra-credit point it you win or tie the debate

Your topic is given on the team sheet which specifies your projects. There you will also find whether your team is to argue the affirmative (in favor of the proposition) or negative (against the proposition) side of the argument.

What is the format for the debate?

There are two phases to the debate: constructive; and rebuttal. In the constructive phase, each team lays out the evidence and arguments for or against the proposition under debate. In the rebuttal phase, no new evidence or arguments are introduced. Instead, each team tries to tear apart the arguments presented by the other team, and rebuild their own case if it is being torn apart. 

The numbers in the table below give the sequence of events in the debate:
 

Before the debate, the class (minus the teams debating) is polled concerning their agreement or disagreement with the proposition. The vote is recorded.
Affirmative Team	Negative Team
CONSTRUCTIVE PHASE (28 minutes)
1. Give first constructive argument (5 minutes)	2. Cross-examine the affirmative speaker on first constructive (2 minutes)
4. Cross-examine the negative speaker on first constructive (2 minutes)	3. Give first constructive argument (5 minutes)
5. Give second constructive argument (5 minutes)	6. Cross-examine the affirmative speaker on second constructive (2 minutes)
8. Cross-examine the negative speaker on second constructive (2 minutes)	7. Give second constructive argument (5 minutes)
REBUTTAL PHASE (12 minutes)
10. Affirmative team gives 1st rebuttal (3 minutes)	9. Negative team gives 1st rebuttal (3 minutes)
12. Affirmative team gives 2nd rebuttal (3 minutes)	11. Negative team gives 2nd rebuttal (3 minutes)
After the debate, the class (minus the teams) is polled again concerning their agreement or disagreement with the proposition. The vote is compared with the previous one. Movement in one or another direction indicates victory for one of the teams. If the numbers remain the same, the debate is a tie and both teams receive extra credit.

How Should We Divide Up the Work?

If your team has five members, that works out to one member for each constructive and rebuttal, and one cross-examiner. However, you could also have three members do the research and write the affirmative speeches, while the work of the remaining two members is to get up and deliver them. Some teams like to give collective rebuttals, where each member says a sentence or two.

Where Can I Go to Find Information on our topic?

Knowledge is power. The more you know about your topic, the better your arguments will be and the greater your chance of winning.

To begin, here is a list of scholarship on the various topics:

Myth:

• Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With 1000 Faces. BL313.C28
• Campbell, Joseph. Flight of the Wild Gander. BL304.C35 1990
• Fox, Hugh. Myth: Foundations of the Epic Genre. PN56.E65F69 1989
• Spoken and Written Language: Exploring Orality and Literacy. P302.S6 1982
• Kane, Sean.  Wisdom of the Mythtellers (Dr. Beebee's book;  may use in N-432 Burrowes)

Secondary Orality

• Schwartz, Richard B. After the Death of Literature. PN81.S243 1997 
• Kernan, Alvin B. The Death of Literature. PN98.P67K47 1990 
• William J. Donnelly. Confetti Generation: how the new communications technology is fragmenting America. P96.T42D6 1986 
• Auden, Thomas. Story as Cultural Mediator. Micro 4 PSUs1986Thoma,A 
• Trace, Arther. Literature, Its Opponents and its Power. PN524.T68 1997
• Stone, Kay.  Burning Brightly:  New Light on Old Tales Told Today (Dr. Beebee's book;  may use in N-432 Burrowes)

Epic:

• McWilliams, John. The American Epic: Transforming a Genre. PS169.E63M38 1989
• Edwards, Viv. Oral Cultures Past and Present: Rappin' and Homer. GR40.E38 1991

Tragedy:

• Steiner, George. The Death of Tragedy. PN1892.S7 1963 
• Krook, Dorothy. Elements of Tragedy. PN1892.K7
• Williams, Raymond. Modern Tragedy. PN1897.W5 1979
• Brereton, Geoffrey. Principles of Tragedy. PN1892.B68

• Muller, Herbert Joseph. Spirit of Tragedy. PN1892.M7 1968