Learning from home can be a big adjustment after time spent in public schooling. Every family has a different reasoning for exploring home schooling as an option, too, and each has a different experience of it.
After all, these changes aren’t just about preferential treatment anymore. Sometimes, the case for homeschooling can be as important as protecting a child and their well-being. Whatever your situation might be, there could be ways to make the change easier on you.
So, how can you better transition from school to home school? We’ve provided a few tips below that might help.
Know Your Circumstances
Jumping from one experience into another goes more smoothly when you have a better idea of what you’re in for. It’s impossible to map everything for an experience you haven’t had yet, but you can set some standards.
Have an open discussion with your parents if you haven’t already. Make notes on the information they share with you. A few questions you can ask and answer together are:
- Will I follow the national curriculum, or a different one?
- Are we going to spend more time together, and how might that change things?
- Which services and resources will I use for learning and tutoring?
- What time window will I be studying in?
- Is the home school arrangement permanent or temporary?
- Can I receive any help for any anxiety I might be feeling?
You can also set personal expectations of yourself. Expect that you won’t use television, video game consoles, or your smartphone all day just because you’ll be home. The sooner you come to terms with that, the better!
Explore Social Media
Many people roll their eyes at the mention of influencers. However, if you do want an insight into the homeschooling lifestyle ahead of time, it may be a good idea to seek a few out!
Obviously, reputable sources matter greatly here. Not every influencer is to be heeded. The most reputable influencers will acknowledge their own set of circumstances and have a good head on their shoulders. They’ll seek to keep you informed, rather than ‘look cool’.
Furthermore, not all websites are safe, either. So, even if you find a homeschooling content creator you like, double-check that they’re posting content on a reputable platform.
There are also Facebook groups for homeschooled kids in local areas. They are usually run by a community of parents. You and your parents could see if there’s one for your area and try to connect with your peers. Perhaps you’ll make new friends, get recommendations for suppliers and resources, and get a better sense of what to expect.
Be Kind To Yourself
It’s not guaranteed that you’ll feel like you’ve landed on your feet during the first day, week, or potentially even month of home schooling. There’s a lot to account for and acclimatise too.
However, you can be kind to yourself. Just because there may be some struggle here and there, it doesn’t mean homeschooling isn’t for you. It’s not uncommon to fear change in any context, so give yourself the time to push through that feeling if you’re experiencing it.
Learn your rhythm. The entirety of your routine is about to change, but with homeschooling, there may be more room for flexibility when it comes to start times and the duration and frequency of breaks between study. If homeschooling doesn’t come easy at first, stay hopeful, and patiently work with your family to find out which learning strategies work best for you.
We’ve all found ourselves staring at a book that part of us wishes we never picked up. However, that doesn’t always mean we should put the book down!
Some people claim that not finishing a book gives them a sense of joyous freedom, but in truth, that’s probably a short-term sensation and a hollow victory. It’s not always an option, either. After all, there are many reasons you might need to power through a book you don’t like. Perhaps you need to get through the book as part of your academic study? Or could it be a friend recommended a text to you, and you’re trying to be a good pal by seeing it through? Whatever the reason, it’s important to have a few techniques at your disposal that will help you finish the books you don’t like. We’ve suggested some for you below!
Open Your Mind
Even books you don’t like can tell you something about yourself. After all, knowing what you don’t like can define you just as much as the things you do like! What are your tastes when it comes to reading? What genres don’t appeal to you? Which writing styles grab your attention or bore you to tears? There can be a lot of intrigue where criticism is concerned, and it’s worth exploring further.
You could also consider the wider context of the book to keep you engaged. Who is the text for? Has it had a cultural impact? What have other people said about it? Sometimes you need to step outside of yourself when reading a book and view it through another person’s perspective.
Keep A Reading Journal
It’s hard to read something you’re not enjoying. However, it can be even harder to read something you’re not enjoying in a passive, isolated silence.
No one likes a serial complainer. Although, that doesn’t mean you can’t complain at all! Keeping a reading journal may help you air your frustrations with a book in an introspective, healthy way. You can leave no stone unturned, and better understand the source of your grievances.
Of course, it’s not just about venting negativity, either. Keeping a journal of any kind can bring perspective in tough times, and help you look at things in a different way. Maybe a reading journal could help you understand the book on a deeper level, and thereby enjoy it more than you otherwise might have done.
Either way, the overarching point here is to be an active reader, rather than a passive reader. Consuming a book you’re not enjoying can feel mind numbing, but with a reading journal, you’re keeping your thoughts churning and sharp. If nothing else, you may give yourself extra fuel in the tank to actually finish the book!
Beating Your Elders
No, we’re not suggesting anything violent here. Instead, we’re referring to you developing better reading habits than the generations that came before you. As of July 2024, it’s estimated that half of UK adults are no longer reading regularly. Even the grown-ups who made reading a key pillar of their identity have let the written word fall by the wayside. Consequently, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to your generation’s interest in reading. You might ask yourself, ‘if adults aren’t reading, why should I?’. Well, the truth is that interest in books is objectively waning. Libraries run by hardworking experts and volunteers are closing down left and right.
For every book you read, you have an opportunity to keep the love of them alive and course correct something terrible that ‘so-called adults’ have let happen. The goal of every generation is to do things better than the ones that came before and knowing you can do that with your reading may motivate you to finish those books!
Schedule Your Book Reading
If you’re not enjoying a book, you may make excuses to put off reading it. Consequently, it could be a good idea to give yourself a strict reading schedule that you can commit to. Once your reading time is mapped out, you can feel more motivated to see things through, rather than leaving it up to ‘vibes’. Finishing your book becomes a mission, rather than just an idle way of passing time when you have nothing better to do.
Set alarms on your phone, mark your calendar, or even set voice note reminders for yourself. There’s no shame in needing an extra push to finish a book… or several.
If you’re interested in studying English or English Literature, Oxford Home Schooling offer the chance to do so at several levels, listed below. You can also Contact Us.
English Literature GCSE and IGCSE
Studying is no longer just about retaining information. It’s also about staying safe online.
There are new laws being implemented to keep children safe on the internet. However, the first lines of defence should always be your own precautions.
There can be a lot of anxiety around using the internet for looking up information today. AI has further muddied the waters. How do we know everything we’re viewing is trustworthy?
To help you feel safe online during your studying, an understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO) can be useful. So, without further ado, here’s a brief introduction to SEO.
A Quick Definition
SEO is a guiding set of principles outlining how content creators and marketers can optimise their content for search engines. It’s a literal term.
The more content creators utilise SEO, the higher their sites will rank on a search engine like Google, Bing, and a plethora of lesser-known variations. ‘Rank’ is the operative word, there.
SEO is quality assurance – an endorsement from search engine overlords that the content you’re about to view matches your search query and won’t harm your or your computer. If you feel comfortable clicking the first few links in a search engine results page, SEO has done its job.
SEO isn’t about who is shouting the loudest. It’s anti-clickbait. The informed voice of David Attenborough in a sea of Logan Pauls.
How Does SEO Work?
There’s a lot of voices out there. From an outsider’s perspective, the sheer volume of content might seem impossible to filter.
However, businesses (including those you study with) will typically hire expert SEO specialists and content writers to map all things SEO. Their roles will involve basic duties like:
- Tracking changes to search engine algorithms to better understand how poor content is defined and flagged by search engines; for example, Google’s algorithm was tweaked to combat a rise in slop produced by ChatGPT.
- Monitoring the trends around keywords to better produce content web users want to engage with. Keywords must be integrated into text naturally, and not be deemed spam.
- Studying analytics for the content that peers and competitors produce. Which site has the highest visibility, and how did they achieve it?
- Categorising and tagging their content appropriately, and not misleading readers.
- Taking all the information learned and producing high-quality content.
SEO is an ever-evolving field – one requiring specialist oversight to keep track of each change. Now AI is on the scene, one can probably expect faster algorithmic tweaks and changes to occur in future too.
Websites can be penalised for producing content that is unoriginal, unnatural, repetitive, or badly written. Every site you see at the top of a results page shouldn’t have content that suffers from these problems.
Why Should You Care?
If you’re a homeschool student, you may think that SEO is only for adult marketing professionals. However, this information certainly pertains to you.
Understanding SEO means you can put more trust in some types of content you see online. That while there’s a breathtaking amount of misinformation on the web, there are pockets of cyberspace where you can generally feel at ease. We hope that helps!
If you aspire to create your own business one day, knowing all about SEO will be essential too. Many successful entrepreneurs make a go of things in their teens, so understanding how to be seen as reputable online can give you a head start.
Conclusion
This quick overview of SEO should help you better understand how web content is produced, published, and assessed for quality. Despite much of the conjecture out there today, there are still areas of the internet you can trust – those with great SEO!
Effective Evaluation For Excellent Essays
Imagine your friend tells you to go and watch a particular film at the cinema, but all they will tell you about the film is that it’s ‘good’. You’d probably want a bit more information, right? You’d want them to elaborate! Let’s delve into this important skill of elaboration and look at how it is the cornerstone of effective evaluation for excellent essays in A-Level Psychology.
If you are doing a Home Study course you will find numerous templates on the internet for effective evaluation. You can PEEL, PEC, or make use of Tutor2u! But what is the key principle underpinning these various templates? If you can crack that then you don’t need to stick rigidly to a template but are free to develop your evaluation skills more organically, which will stand you in good stead if you progress to degree level study! Templates are an incredibly useful tool, but it’s important to also understand the process of evaluation. Imagine you’re in the exam, your mind goes blank and you can’t recall your pre-learnt PEEL paragraph to evaluate the biological approach. If you have developed the skill of evaluation you can think on your feet and still construct an effective paragraph!
The key principle underpinning the various templates is… elaboration! What does that actually mean? A colleague of mine once referred to it as the ‘So what? Effect’ which I think encapsulates it brilliantly. Every time you make an evaluation point in an essay (e.g. give a strength, limitation, research evidence etc.) ask yourself…have you (in any way) left it open for someone (i.e. the examiner!) to be left thinking “so what?”? In other words, have you explained, with detail and examples, the evaluation issue you stated? Have you gone on to discuss why this is a strength or limitation? What does it mean? What are the consequences or implications of this issue? Taking your evaluation skills a step further; is there a counter-argument you could offer to show you have considered the issue from different viewpoints?
Let’s work through an example, taking a common limitation students might give for the biological approach:
A weakness of biological explanations is that they are reductionist (How? So what?). This is a weakness as there could be other factors (Such as?) involved in the development of the disorder (So what? Why is this a problem?).
As you can see there a several ‘So what?’ moments in this evaluation paragraph. Let’s look at how this evaluation issue could be developed more fully:
A weakness of biological explanations is that they are reductionist. This means they reduce complex human behaviours to one level or factor. For example, the dopamine hypothesis explains schizophrenia purely in terms of a chemical imbalance, ignoring psychological and socio-cultural factors. This is a weakness as it oversimplifies the complexities of human behaviour. Some would argue it is important to take a more holistic view of human behaviour. However, it can be argued that reductionism is necessary in order to investigate a factor scientifically. For example, if one factor is isolated it can be operationalised and tested, producing results which are high in internal validity.
In summary, elaboration is ‘going the extra mile’ – fully explaining why something is a strength or limitation. As a general rule you are probably ‘elaborating’ if your sentence starts with a phrase such as… This suggests…/ Therefore…/On the other hand… etc.
So while completing your Oxford Home Schooling Psychology GCSE course, or A level course, have a go at using these tips to create effective evaluation for excellent essays! You can also Contact Us.
Field Trips For Home Schooling Students
Everyone enjoys good field trips. However, for homeschooled pupils, the opportunity to get out of the house and see the world can be very exciting.
Field trips are amazing. Depending on the nature of the trip, you may get to see how all your textbook learning bares relevance in the real world. From witnessing the application of your academics to better understanding the context of your wider learning, it can all bring with it a fresh perspective that revitalises your motivation to study. As with all things, how you approach these circumstances can influence your enjoyment of them. So, we’ve prepared a few tips below to help you make the most of a homeschool field trip!
Have Your Say
While it’s not right to say that you can ‘demand’ where you go on field trips, it’s likely your parent or guardian will take your input into consideration. More so than a school would let their pupils influence the trip destination, at least!
So, perhaps start things off by presenting a few ideas to your parent or guardian. If they know you’re passionate about visiting a relevant place for your studies, they may well be more inclined to choose it for the field trip. It may also be a good idea to tap into how your parent or guardian feels about travelling. After all, some adults travel while teaching their kids, letting them see the world as they learn about it. If your parent or guardian is more adventure-inclined, the choice of your preferred field trip could play into that. Don’t despair if your parent or guardian doesn’t choose your preferred choice of trip. It’s still quite likely they’ve valued your input and chosen a destination that ticks your boxes and theirs.
Keep A Record
If you’re being homeschooled, your parents or guardians are probably more prepared to relax ‘no phone’ policies on a field trip. At least during cool or intriguing moments that are worth a quick picture. So, it may be a good idea to have a chat with your parents or guardians. See how they feel about phones on the trip, and if you can negotiate a few strategic snapshots at the least. Or, they may take some pictures or videos on your behalf, if they don’t wish for you to be looking at your phone the whole time.
Once the intriguing parts of the trip have been documented, you can reflect on them in future study sessions. That way, your field trip is more than just a quick flash in the pain experience, like so many trips can be for private and public school pupils!
Plan Future Trips
When pupils embark on field trips with their public or private school, typically they will enjoy one visit only. After all, funding the adventures of an entire class or even year group of pupils will not come cheap. Sadly, cuts to school budgets have been made regarding field trips.
As a homeschooled pupil, however, there’s a good chance you can plan repeat visits with your family. You’re a smaller unit, which means less money will be spent on the endeavour. That can very well open the door to repeat visits over the course of your academic year.
Why begin with this acknowledgement? Well, it can inform your attitude to your field trip. You won’t rush around trying to see and do everything, and you’ll have more time to calmly absorb everything you’re experiencing on the trip. You’ll feel better about things, and therefore more likely to enjoy the field trip.
Conclusion
Making the most of something nearly always involves taking a step back, planning, and seeing the bigger picture. If you do that with your homeschool field trips, it’s highly likely you’ll get so much more out of them. Good luck out there!
If you want to see the range of courses Oxford Home Schooling offer for study, you can find our Home Page here. Scroll to the top of the page and click on Courses.
The final paragraph is paramount to any piece of writing, but is often the last thought on the writer’s mind. Or, it might be the first thought, but actually writing it is often left until last in order to write the sum of the parts already written. At that point, how do you summarise without being repetitive, or underwhelming, and how do you leave a strong lasting impression on the reader? This can be complex, so it’s important to truly understand what a conclusion is.
What Is A Conclusion Not?
Quite simply, the conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay, commonly understood to summarise, recap or finalise your piece. Simple though it sounds, it’s vague, and more importantly, a conclusion should provide an emotive or thoughtful takeaway for the reader. We can learn how to do this by first identifying what a conclusion isn’t.
Your Introduction… Again
While conclusions and introductions are often twinned, their function in an essay is quite different. Thus, simply paraphrasing, repeating, or rehashing your introduction, is really wasting valuable words and attention from your reader, who has already read your introduction and therefore will not gain anything by reading a paraphrased version. Your introduction hooks your reader into your topic, sparking their interest and curiosity to continue reading, while a conclusion convinces them that what they’ve read is worthwhile, so it’s important to make sure your conclusion addresses points raised in your introduction, but doesn’t repeat it.
A Summary Of Paragraphs
There’s no denying that one function of your conclusion is to summarise key points from your essay, and this is particularly important if your arguments are longer, or more complex, but it’s just one part of what your conclusion should do. Recapping your paragraphs is a common trap writers fall into, but it doesn’t necessarily add any value. However, a final commentary on your key arguments offers something more critical, persuasive and enlightening. Rather than summarising, demonstrating the purpose of your arguments and why you made them is more effective.
A Place For New Points
Equally, introducing any new content, which isn’t related to your existing arguments, can be ineffective and confuse your reader. You can provide your reader with deeper insights into what you have written, but any new points will not be explored in sufficient depth, and your reader may be left unsure. It can also muddy the waters of your existing arguments, instead of finalising with a concise and captivating conclusion.
How To Captivate With Your Conclusion
Use your conclusion to demonstrate the power of persuasion. After all, you’ve spent so many words or paragraphs trying to convince your reader of your ideas, your conclusion should do so in a powerful way. Rhetoric is central here, meaning ‘speech or writing intended to be effective or influence people … using language effectively’ (Cambridge Dictionary, 2024). Presenting your arguments and evidence is one of the basic functions of your writing, but using language to present your ideas in a persuasive way makes the difference between simply informing your reader, and provoking thoughts and feelings in them.
One effective way to do this is through your editing process. Rather than pressurise yourself to write a perfect finishing paragraph first time, you can try simply writing your ideas down as basically as possible first. Subsequently, review your ideas and consider whether your sentences summarise alone, or offer a critical commentary on the arguments you’ve made, too. Why is that argument/evidence important, convincing, or relevant? Tell your reader in the conclusion. Using language to successfully do so will help your writing to convince, captivate and inspire.
References
Cambridge Dictionary
If you are interested in studying English or English Literature, Oxford Home Schooling offer you the chance to do so at several levels, listed below. You can also Contact Us here.
English Literature GCSE and IGCSE
Celebrating Youth And Young People: International Youth Day: 12 August
You are midway through the summer holidays – well, in the UK anyway – and you might be getting a little restless, perhaps a bit bored – and you are itching to get back to learning. Well, on 12 August, you could spend time thinking about International Youth Day (IYD) – a day which celebrates young people the world over.
Facing Forward
IYD came about to do two main things: to recognise the role that young people have to play in the future of the world and also to draw attention to issues that young people face every day. This has been running since 1999 when it was decided that such a day needed to exist.
Across the world, there are nearly 2 million young people aged between ten and twenty-four years old. Shockingly, about half of these live in war-torn areas – and lots are affected by lack of education, access to healthcare, suitable jobs and other potential opportunities.
One of the aims of the International Youth Day is to teach young people how to make a better life for themselves – and to help them become equipped with the skills to do this. One example is knowing how to promote peace and having ideas about how this can help for future generations.
How To Be A Part Of It
So, how might you get involved this year? Well, you can participate on social media using #YouthDay and #Transforming Education. You can find out more at https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day – there is a lot more information provided here. This year’s theme is From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development. Technology plays a huge role in how the world works today and young people are often very quick to pick up on new initiatives.
When the 12th of August rolls around, try and get involved with issues that will affect you – and other generations – in years to come. This is how you can make a difference to the world we live in today.
‘Time management’ is a commonly used phrase in educational settings and workplaces, but the phrase itself has somewhat lost its meaning or gravitas for many of us. In part, this may be because most people recognise time management as an important, and sometimes intangible, aspect of our busy lives, and therefore, the need to improve it is somewhat stating the obvious. As the one thing we all have the same amount of, time is actually something which cannot be managed (Michael W. Weiderman, 2023); it’s our behaviours which determine what we do within it. The answer, perhaps, lies not in taking instruction from available information and tools, but to pay more attention to ourselves and the psychology behind what we do with our time. According to Weiderman, there are three psychological tendencies which effect time management:
Task Completion Bias
Psychologists recognise that uncompleted tasks create psychological discomfort, so people are more likely to complete shorter, easier tasks first in order to satisfy a sense of achievement. While any completed task is a success, this usually means that larger, more important tasks are delayed, sometimes continuously, as we get stuck in a cycle of task completion bias.
Multitasking
A highly sought after skill by employers, multitasking demonstrates the ability to manage several tasks at once. However, Weiderman argues that multitasking induces stress, which ultimately compromises one’s ability to complete larger tasks which require closer work and attention.
The Planning Fallacy
Organising ourselves, tasks and time into digestible and quantifiable chunks is common practise, but this habit demonstrates how humans tend to be overly optimistic with estimating the time available and required to complete a given task. We tend to underestimate how distractions and interruptions will inhibit and elongate certain tasks, ultimately rendering our planning futile.
So, what can we do about it, if anything? There’s a deluge of advice available on time management, which is largely agreeable in theory, but putting it into practice is challenging simply due to human nature. In knowing this, how we can begin to better utilise our time?
The Importance Of Impact
Rethinking tasks according to the impact they have can help to achieve it. Ask yourself, which task is likely to reduce the most stress, or have the longest lasting impact, once complete? Organising tasks in this way is more likely to lead to success and help relieve anxiety associated with tasks.
Utilise Your Bias
Use task completion bias to your advantage by deconstructing larger tasks into smaller, achievable steps. This reduces the risk of delaying or ignoring larger, important tasks altogether, and helps to avoid multitasking which can compromise concentration.
Think Real Time
Avoid the planning fallacy by overestimating how long tasks will take and underestimating the time you have to do them. Equally, anticipating interruptions and delays, and planning how you will respond, will streamline your efficiency. These plans are known as implementation intentions, which facilitate task completion.
Ultimately, there is no straight-forward solution to better managing your time. But, when it comes to managing studies, workload, or home life, if you know your own habits a little better and take some time to think about how to change them on a small, realistic scale, you can achieve longer lasting positive outcomes and a higher success rate.
Source Reference: Michael W Wiederman, 2023: The Psychology of Time Management
A GCSE Student’s Guide
Writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae) can be challenging, especially if you’re a GCSE student with limited work experience. However, with the right approach and a few tips, you can create a CV that highlights your strengths and helps you stand out to potential employers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft an impressive CV using British English.
1. Start With A Strong Personal Statement
Your personal statement is your chance to make a great first impression. It should be a brief summary of who you are, your career goals, and what you can offer to an employer. Use buzz words that convey confidence and enthusiasm, such as “motivated,” “eager,” and “dedicated.”
Example:
“Motivated and hardworking GCSE student with a passion for learning and strong communication skills. Seeking a part-time position to gain practical experience and contribute to a dynamic team.”
2. Use Active Tense and Power Words
Using active tense makes your CV more dynamic and engaging. Power words, also known as action verbs, help to convey your experiences and achievements more effectively. Words like “organised,” “assisted,” “participated,” “created,” and “achieved” are essential.
Example:
“Organised a school fundraising event, raising £500 for charity.”
3. Tailor Your CV to the Job
Customise your CV for each job application. Highlight the key skills and experiences that match the job description. This shows that you have taken the time to understand the role and how your abilities align with the employer’s needs.
Example:
If applying for a retail job, emphasise your customer service skills, ability to work in a team, and any experience handling money.
4. Highlight Your Key Skills
List your skills in a dedicated section, ensuring they are relevant to the job you are applying for. Include both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (personal attributes).
Example:
– Hard Skills: Basic Computer Skills, Microsoft Office, Social Media
– Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Time Management, Problem-Solving
5. Showcase Your Experience
Even if you have limited work experience, you can include part-time jobs, volunteer work, school projects, and extracurricular activities. Focus on what you have learned and how these experiences have prepared you for the job.
Example:
Volunteer, Local Charity Shop
– Assisted customers with enquiries and purchases
– Organised and displayed merchandise
– Handled cash transactions and maintained a clean shop environment
6. Detail Your Education
As a GCSE student, your education is one of your strongest selling points. Include your school, expected graduation date, and any relevant subjects or achievements.
Example:
Springfield High School
– Expected Graduation: June 2025
– Subjects: English, Maths, Science, History, ICT
– Achievements: Head of Year Award for Leadership (2023)
7. Add Extracurricular Activities
Employers value well-rounded candidates. Include any clubs, societies, sports teams, or other extracurricular activities that demonstrate your skills and interests.
Example:
Member, School Football Team
– Committed to weekly training and matches
– Developed strong teamwork and leadership skills
8. References
You can either list your references or state “References available upon request.” Make sure your referees are willing to vouch for you and are aware they might be contacted.
Example:
“References available upon request.”
Final Tips
– Keep it concise:** Aim for a one-page CV.
– Use a professional layout: Choose a clean, easy-to-read font and use bullet points to organise information.
– Proofread: Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Consider asking a friend, teacher, or parent to review your CV.
By following these tips, you can create a compelling CV that effectively showcases your skills and experiences, helping you stand out in the job market. Good luck!
Debating is a powerful skill that sharpens your critical thinking, enhances your public speaking abilities, and broadens your understanding of various issues. Whether you’re debating face-to-face or online, here are some essential tips to help you excel in your next debate.
Moving From Face-to-Face to Online Debates
Transitioning from in-person debates to online formats can be challenging. From choosing the right platform to navigating its features, online debates can create as much anxiety as presenting in person. However, the only real difference is the screen between you and your audience. Remember, if our eyes are windows to our souls, then a screen is a window into someone’s world. Use this to connect more deeply on a personal and professional level.
Tips For Effective Debating
1. Be Real
As Ivan Sutherland, a renowned computer scientist, stated, “The screen is a window through which one sees a virtual world. The challenge is to make that world look real, act real, sound real, feel real.” This means being authentic. Avoid using virtual backgrounds that can feel artificial. Instead, use your real background, ensuring it’s presentable and clutter-free. Authenticity helps your audience connect with you.
2. Respect People’s Time
Whether debating online or in-person, time management is crucial. Overrunning your time can lose your audience’s attention. Stick to your allotted time, and if you begin to run over, acknowledge it and wrap up swiftly. This shows respect for both your audience and fellow debaters.
3. Stay Hydrated and Comfortable
Have water or a cup of tea at hand to stay comfortable and calm during the debate. Encourage your audience to do the same. This can create a more relaxed and engaging atmosphere, making the debate more enjoyable for everyone involved.
4. Utilise Body Language
Even in online debates, body language is vital. It’s okay to move and use gestures to emphasise points. Think of news anchors who use their body language effectively despite being on camera. Show your arms and gestures to make your communication more dynamic and engaging.
5. Use Cue Cards
Avoid reading directly from your notes as it can be disengaging. Instead, use cue cards with key points to keep you on track. This allows you to maintain eye contact with your audience and appear more confident and knowledgeable. Look into the camera, thinking of it as the eyes of your audience. Direct eye contact helps create a sense of engagement and sincerity.
6. Be Interactive
An effective debate isn’t a monologue. Engage with your audience and fellow debaters by asking questions, eliciting feedback, and encouraging discussion. For online debates, utilise features like breakout rooms to allow smaller group discussions. This not only keeps the debate lively but also demonstrates your ability to think on your feet and interact dynamically.
7. Understand Aristotle’s Art of Persuasion
Aristotle’s modes of persuasion—ethos, pathos, and logos—are fundamental to debating:
● Ethos: Establish your credibility. Show that you have researched your topic thoroughly and present yourself as knowledgeable and trustworthy.
● Pathos: Appeal to the emotions of your audience. Use stories, vivid language, and examples that evoke empathy and connect on an emotional level.
● Logos: Use logical reasoning. Present clear, rational arguments supported by facts, statistics, and evidence.
8. Develop Counterarguments
Anticipate your opponent’s points and prepare counterarguments. This not only strengthens your position but also shows your thorough understanding of the topic. Being able to refute your opponent’s arguments effectively is crucial to winning a debate.
Conclusion
Debating is a skill that goes beyond the study room, preparing you for various aspects of life by enhancing your ability to think critically and communicate effectively. By following these tips, you can become a more persuasive speaker and a more confident debater, whether online or in-person. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey of intellectual exploration.
Happy debating!
