Proposed List of Debate Topics

This list was created by the members of the team and is by no means final or binding. Students are welcomed to add topics regularly and choose to debate what they wish.

Are disposable goods more trouble than they are worth?
Teachers should not use candy as a reward.
Cigarettes should be banned.
Korea should end the use of the 10 won coin.
Single sex education is better than co-ed education.
Celebrities should not be role models.
Beauty pageants do more harm than good.
Size 0 fashion models should be banned.
Plastic shopping bags should be discontinued.
Home schooling is better than public schooling.
GMO foods should be banned.
Television is a bad influence.
Schools should not use standardized testing.
Violent video games should be banned.

Debate Update

On Friday October 23, the members of the Bundang High School Debate Club took part in their first debate of the term. The students actively debated if students should be permitted to use mp3 players in school. The proposition side stated that students should be permitted to use mp3 players in school, while the opposition side argued that they should remain banned. Both sides argued strong points for their case, including those listed below.

Proposition Arguments:
1. Mp3 players relieve stress.
2. Mp3 players help students to concentrate during self-study time.
3. Mp3 players improve the quality of life for students due to rights.
4. Mp3 players can be used for academic purposes.

Opposition arguments:
1. Mp3 players are a distraction.
2. Mp3 players are too valuable to bring to school.
3. Mp3 players are bad for your ears.
4. Mp3 players will be used inappropriately.

For the second class meeting, students choose a light hearted topic and debated the merits of Peppero Day.

Propositon arguments:
1. Giving peppero on Peppero Day allows people to express their feelings when other times, they might be too shy.
2. Giving the gift of peppero can help people extend friendships and improve relationships.
3. The increased sale of peppero is good for the GNI.

Opposition arguments:
1. It is unfair and stressful for the students who do not receive peppero on Peppero Day.
2. Peppero is not healthy.
3. The large sale of peppero on Peppero Day is a waste of resources, produces too much trash, and is bad for the environment.

Discussion and Debate Syllabus Fall 2009

Fall 2009

Debate is a formal contest of argumentation between two teams or individuals. More importantly, debate is an essential tool for developing and maintaining democracy and open societies. Debate embodies the ideals of reasoned argument, tolerance for divergent points of view, and rigorous self-examination. Debate is a way for those who hold opposing views to discuss controversial issues without descending to insult, emotional appeals, or personal bias. A key trademark of debate is that it rarely ends in agreement, but rather, allows for a robust analysis of the question at hand. Perhaps this is what French philosopher Joseph Joubert meant when he said: “It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle a question without debating it."


Debate teaches advanced critical thinking, effective communication, independent research, and teamwork. Once students have learned how to debate, they are better able to critically examine the pronouncements of their political representatives and to make informed judgments about crucial issues. Debate also gives us the opportunity to examine ways to improve our community, country, and the world!
- IDEA

Fall semester 2009 Discussion and Debate

Syllabus TBA...

Discussion and Debate postponed

Discussion and Debate has been postponed until the October 2009 elective season. Arthur E. Michalak will instead do physics with Bundang and Bucheon students as part of a province-wide government science cooperative.

Spring 2009

Sooji Um

My name is Sooji and I am 16 years old. My interests are shopping and watching movies. My disinterests are solving math problems and exercising. Debate is about expressing thoughts about a topic and giving reasonable responses. The qualities of a good debater are conviction about one's side and telling the truth with personal thoughts. One should respect other debaters with different viewpoints. I joined the class because I feel like I am forgetting English and I really miss people who speak it because I cannot talk on the phone with friends (e.g. phone bill). I want to improve my writing, speaking, and reading skills (vocabulary maybe). So, basically, everything. I do not have certain things I want to debate.

Jaehyun Park

I am Jaehyun Park and I lived in the USA five years. I like to play the flute, do karaoke with friends, and shop. I joined the class because I feel I am forgetting English. I would not want to forget English for the rest of my life since it was extremely hard to learn English in America. I personally do not like debating but for my English skills, I will try my best to debate. I wish to improve my speaking because it is hard for me to speak in public. I would like to discuss any issues in the school, or big topics of the world. A good debater should be able to move a person's mind easily and should always have a great opinion. I am planning to be a good debater, and I hope to become one in the future.