This page provides guidance for participating in academic discussions, debates, and presentations.

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Seminar Expectations

A seminar is an academic discussion, not a casual conversation. You are expected to:

• Prepare – Read the material and prepare notes or questions
• Contribute – Share your ideas; do not stay silent
• Listen – Build on what others say; respond thoughtfully
• Support – Use evidence and reasoning, not just opinion
• Respect – Disagree politely and consider other perspectives

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Building an Oral Argument

1. State your position clearly – Begin with a clear statement of what you believe or argue
2. Provide reasoning – Explain why you hold this view
3. Offer evidence – Support your reasoning with examples, facts, or references
4. Acknowledge complexity – Recognise counterarguments or limitations
5. Conclude clearly – Summarise your main point

Example:

“I would argue that social media has weakened public discourse. The algorithm prioritises engagement over accuracy, which means sensational and divisive content spreads more easily than nuanced analysis. For instance, research from MIT showed that false news stories spread faster than true ones on Twitter. While social media does enable broader participation, the quality of that participation is often superficial.”

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Useful Discussion Phrases

Stating a Position

• I would argue that…
• My view is that…
• The evidence suggests that…

Agreeing and Disagreeing

• Building on what [name] said…
• I see your point, but I would argue that…
• I’m not entirely convinced because…
• A possible counterargument is…

Asking for Clarification

• Could you explain what you mean by…?
• Can you give an example of that?
• This connects to the idea of…

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Debate Structure

Role	Task
Proposition Opening	Present the main argument for the motion
Opposition Opening	Present the main argument against the motion
Rebuttals	Respond directly to opponent arguments; reinforce your case
Closing	Summarise key points; make a final appeal