CPISP Preparation Guide #3: Debate and Critical Thinking

As part of the Candidacy Program, CPISP scholars participate in debate activities designed to foster critical thinking and communication skills.

Debate Format: Scholars engage in paired debates on randomly assigned topics. Each pair presents arguments for and against a topic across two rounds.

Although the claim is that this debate is a test of the students' critical thinking, I will take that with a grain of salt because five minutes is insufficient to evaluate someone's critical thinking. And based of my experience, I've seen that elements like clear idea delivery and confidence were more crucial in selecting the winners than the ability to construct critical or advanced ideas.

My Tips for the Debate Activity

Navigating debate effectively can enhance your candidacy for the CPISP scholarship:

• Avoid Advanced Arguments: Use the most straightforward arguments that you can fully construct (which don't have any obvious logical errors) rather than attempting to demonstrate your critical thinking skills by presenting complex ideas

• Confidence and Delivery: Speak slowly and clearly, demonstrating confidence in your arguments and delivery style.

• Flow and Structure: Practice organizing your arguments coherently, ensuring a logical progression of ideas throughout your presentation.

Finally,it's important to maintain perspective on the role of debate within the CPISP selection process. While the debate is a valuable experiecne, it constitutes a small portion of the overall selection criteria. Avoid over-preparing for debate at the expense of the other critical components like the IELTS and SAT tests.

Rememeber that most of your time and effort should be allocated on the IELTS test and the SAT test (especially the MATH section) to maximize your overall performance and candidacy.

Created at: July 11, 2024, 12:57 p.m.