Introduction

How many times it happens that one hears people talking about political issues and then finds himself/herself totally lost in the conversation?

Have you ever agreed with someone without really knowing enough about the subject to make up your own mind?

An important part of being a citizen in the European Union is being a well-informed member of society. This webquest will help you learn how to go about forming opinion and defending it in a cultural way. You will be able to look up information and based on what you read you will be able to support your argument in the debate. The main point is that you will make well-informed statements about your topic!

You have to imagine that you are a member of a debate group at your school and the group is preparing for a debate tournament. Prior to the contest you are notified that the debate will be on “EU Enlargement”. You can find some useful online materials in the Resource section so that you can prepare properly for this great event. You will work with a partner. You and your partner form a"debate team".

Your task is to carry on a discussion, debate on the EU Enlargement. You will have to be either for the enlargement(the affirmative) or you will have to be against it(negative). Your teacher will assign the position you have to take (say by tossing a coin). You will deliver speeches in a format that is unique to debate. The speeches are called constructives. There are affirmative constructives and negative constructives.

In order to accomplish your task well you must do some research and get as familiar with the topic as possible. The first two links in the Resource section should be the starting points for your investigation. The third link gives a detailed description of a possible debate tournament.