Extra Credit Debate

Marissa Perszyk

January 17, 2011

Professor Gillespie

COMM 1212

Extra Credit Debate

Friday January 14, 2011 7:30pm

            I attended the Harvard vs. Northwest University debate held on Friday, January 14, 2011. The debate was split into two opposing sides. Each team had four speakers that were allotted seven minutes each to speak on their side of the issue. The topic of the evening was about if social networks, facebook for this debate, are good or bad. Northwest University represented the side that was against social networks, such as facebook, and the visiting team, Harvard, took the stance that facebook is good for all people. It was shocking to me to hear that Harvard, our opposing team, won the debate. This is shocking to me because I feel that Northwest University was more convincing as to why I should delete my facebook account rather than to keep it, which is what Harvard was trying to persuading me to do. Even though I have a facebook, and do not plan to ever delete it, I feel that Northwest University had more convincing, factual, and fundamentally valid points as to why one should delete their facebook account. Perhaps I do not know how the speaker’s performance was evaluated, or how the different criteria for public speaking are to be considered, but I feel that the opposing side did not give solid points. Additionally, the comments and questions Harvard asked while the Northwest speakers were speaking were sarcastic—said to get a reaction from the audience. Out of all the speakers, the opening speaker for Northwest University did a particularly wonderful job introducing his side, teaching the audience what the structure of the debate would look like. It was both informational and enjoyable. He spoke with confidence, carried his voice well, and I both followed and agreed with what he was saying, even though I do not plan to delete my facebook at all. But the judges saw it differently. I guess I have a lot to learn.