The Great Debaters

1. Characters, Setting, Plot, Climax

The characters are native americans from Wiley College in 1935-36 United States of
America.Together they from the colleges debate team, directed by professor Tolson. The debate
team is formed by Henry Lowe, Samantha Brooke, James Farmer Jr and Hamilton Burgess. The
plot speaks of the beginning of civil right changes for the African American community. of the
struggles this community had to face in those times and the excessive racism. How the debate
team finally is able to challenge white universities. The climax is when Wiley College take on
Harvard on the first multi-colored debate ever in the states.

2. Name 5 Debating skills used or given by Mr Tolson

1. Deflecting with a different topic.
2. Speaking from experience.
3. Using empathy to prove a point.
4. Using an opponents point against them.
5. Clearness and force.

3. In the movie Ms Samantha Booke is challenged by Mr Tolson when she was talking about the
President of The United States. Henry told her how she could have one this position. What was
the source and why could she have won her point or example.
She spoke of personal experience of the grief the american population mothers suffer in the
country. There is no counter against such an experience.
4. Give some examples on how James Farmer Jr quotes or cites his father during the movie.
We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.
"An unjust law in no law at all.' Which means I have a right, even a duty to resist. With violence or
civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter.
5. What type of Debate format is used for the debaters?
Unlike today's practice where the forensic fraternity Pi Kappa Delta selects one subject per year,
in the 1930s there were a number of possible topics. The two coaches would agree on a subject
prior to a debate, then flip a coin to see which team would begin with the affirmative side, which

with the negative. For example, in 1933 debate coaches were given four questions among which
to choose. Top vote getter was "Resolved: that the nations should agree to prevent the
international shipment of arms and munitions." The second most popular question and one that
would also have been debated in 193435 concerned limiting the income of the presidents of
corporations. The remaining two 1933 questions considered whether comprehensive medical
services should be provided at public expense, and if the federal government should provide a
policy of social planning. Debaters would have needed to be prepared on all four topics.

source http://www.humanitiestexas.org/news/articles/wiley-colleges-great-debaters
6. Is this type of debating still in use? Justify your answer.
From my experience it is not, the teams are forwarded which side they will be defending and are
given equal amounts of time to do they research and right their arguments. I have been in many
debates during the years and have always followed this type of circumstances.