Presentation Guide

PRESENTATIONS

Be sure to look at the judges and TALK to them as if you are conversing with them.

1. Once given the case and question: In the 2 minutes you are given to collect your thoughts together for the presentation, write down the outline of your case in the following format. If you have this outline your presentation will flow nicely and coherently.
Remember: STRUCTURE is very important.

2. PRESENTATION: OUTLINE

A. Thank the judges and Team X for participating in the Ethics Bowl

B. In answer to the question [restate the question given] UNC will take the position that [give the position we are taking]

C. In support of our position, I will

a. First give a brief outline of the case

b. State the main moral dimensions of the case

c. I will support our position by looking at:

--who is being affected

--what are the consequences

--what and whose rights are involved

--whose autonomy is being affected

-- duties and imperatives—universalizability & using persons as means

D. I will then give a few objections to our position.

E. And will conclude by answering those objections and wrapping up our position.

F. Then do just as you say you are going to do, then conclude by restating the question or gist of the question and your position.

REBUTTALS

UNC would like to thank Team X for their thoughtful, interesting, argument. We would like to address their position first pointing out: [choices: they didn’t address the question, they missed the essential moral dimensions of the case, or their arguments were unconvincing…]

RESPONSE

UNC would like to thank Team X for their thoughtful critique of our position, however, we feel that Team X misrepresented, misunderstood our position—show how. Team X did bring up a new argument, but UNC believes that it misses the real moral issues or is irrelevant to the question or case.

ANSWERING JUDGES QUESTION

1. That is a good question. Thank you for asking it as it gives us the opportunity to clarify our position even further.

2. Thank you for that very interesting question, which has no easy answer. Our position [state is in one sentence] so our answer to this would be…

REMEMBER: After the initial presentation, anyone can speak, but be unified and everyone participate. Take time to think before you answer; Be articulate, speak clearly, distinctly and slowly.