Karl Popper debate is focused on relevant claims that often cause deep divisions and emphasise development of the skills of critical thinking as well as tolerance towards different points of view. Debaters working in three-member teams should elaborate both sides of the same issue. Each team has an opportunity to offer their own argument and put direct questions to the opposing team. Judges then provide constructive comments, warning of logical inconsistencies, insufficiency of evidence or overlooked arguments.
This format is developed to be utilised at the secondary school level and in competitions, but it is applied at all educational levels. It is especially popular in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, while in Africa it is becoming ever more popular in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Liberia and Nigeria; it is also applied at annual youth forums of the International Debate Education Association.
Specific features of Karl Popper debate are cross-examination, when four out of six debaters question their opponents, and the preparation time in which the participants can prepare for their speeches. The format emphasises teamwork which is good for beginners as each debater speaks only once and the members of the team can communicate among themselves during the preparation time (International Debate Education Association, 2012).
This type of debate is often in use in Croatia in the work of Croatian Debate Society, which kindly gave us their materials for preparation of this textbook. Prior to the class attendance, the students should read them and prepare for the topic. The materials of Croatian Debate Society on Karl Popper debate (in Croatian) can be found here.
Important
Karl Popper debate standardly includes six debaters divided into two three-member teams. As in higher education it is almost impossible to have the number of students which is multiple of six, this textbook is recorded with total of eight students, adjusting the debate in the practical class to the given conditions.
In order to provide students with correct information on conducting a debate, I did not adjust the number of students in theoretical part of the debate to the conditions in our classroom.
Bibliography
International Debate Education Association (2012). Debate Formats. International Debate Education Association. Text available here.
Croatian Debate Society (2012). Karl Popper debate. Croatian Debate Society. Text available here (in Croatian).