Descriptif

Debating is a characteristic feature of higher education in English-speaking countries, where students develop their critical thinking, persuasive, and public speaking skills in university debating societies such as the famous Oxford Union. Students value the transferable skills regular debating enables them to develop, and the opportunity it gives them to reflect on important contemporary issues and problems. It has become an increasingly popular and widespread activity in universities around the world, culminating in an annual world championship attended by hundreds of teams. 

In France the French Debating Association (FDA) also has an annual tournament in which a team from Ensta participates. Members of that team have their own dedicated debating class. This class, by contrast, is for students wishing to practise debating and develop the associated skills without taking part in the FDA tournament.  

In this class, students working in teams will prepare and deliver speeches proposing or opposing a controversial proposition (a "motion") which they’ve researched in advance or discovered on the day of the class. The motion may be on a topical issue, or some more philosophical question, and may be deadly serious or wacky and light-hearted. With each successive class, students will sharpen the spontaneity and persuasive force of their spoken discourse, gaining confidence speaking in public. The research they undertake will help them broaden their lexical resources. Students will receive guidance in rhetoric and argumentation, and intermittently take part in other communicative activities. They will also hopefully enjoy themselves.