2025 (Current Year) Special graduate degree programs Specially Offered Degree Programs for Graduate Students Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
Strategic Debate A
- Academic unit or major
- Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
- Instructor(s)
- Mariko Anno / Academic Supervisor
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Thu
- Class
- A
- Course Code
- TAL.C601
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Experienced instructors use a textbook designed for this course to teach key expressions useful for debate and discussion. Students will learn how to organize their thoughts, state them in a logical and persuasive manner, and argue for or against opinions effectively. In each class, specific skills are introduced and practiced, and students perform debate on a given topic.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. organize their thoughts, state them in a logical and persuasive manner, argue for or against effectively, and thereby discuss and debate smoothly.
2. improve their English proficiency.
Keywords
English, intercultural communication, discussion, debate
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures are conducted based on the textbook. Homework assignments are given in almost every week.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Proposition & Opposition Speaking | Students must complete pre-class assignments for Class 2. |
| Class 2 | Responding and Rebutting | Students must complete pre-class assignments for Class 3. |
| Class 3 | Connecting and Stressing Ideas | Students must complete pre-class assignments for Class 4. |
| Class 4 | Using Rhetorical Questions | Students must complete pre-class assignments for Class 5. |
| Class 5 | Using and Interpreting Facts | Students must complete pre-class assignments for Class 6. |
| Class 6 | Review Presentation and Discussion | Students must prepare for the final exam. |
| Class 7 | Final Exam and Feedback | Students must be able to debate and discuss a given topic by making full use of the skills taught in the course. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
A free textbook is distributed.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None required.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' grades are based on (i) pre-class assignments (40%), (ii) active participation in discussion and debate with independent use of the speaking skills introduced in the course (35%), and (iii) the final examination (25%).
Related courses
- TAL.C402 ： Global Communication
- TAL.C602 ： Creative Discussion
- TAL.C603 ： The Psychology of Leadership
Prerequisites
Students are encouraged to have taken Global Communication (TAL.C402) or other related courses before taking this course, but this is not a strict condition.
Other
Students planning to take this course must attend the first class. Due to the small class size of approximately six students, the number of students enrolled may be adjusted in the first class.