Gifted Tongues (ebook)

Argumento de Gifted Tongues (ebook)

"Gifted Tongues offers a subtle, nuanced examination of a previously unstudied social world. It is well written, persuasively argued, and absolutely fascinating. This book will be of value to social psychologists, sociologists of culture, and to readers concerned about adolescence and education. There are also many debate coaches and legions of former debaters who, like myself, will find it interesting to discover what has happened to high school debate."--Joel Best, University of Delaware

"Alan Fine describes in rich, sociological detail the 'adolescent social world' of the high-school debater in the United States, from the mundane tasks of cutting evidence cards for debate to the highly charged atmosphere of a debate tournament. Most studies of adolescents have focused on such topics as the Columbine shootings, but it is important that we understand the nature of 'normal' adolescents outside the therapeutic or sensationalized settings. Gifted Tongues is a welcome change, one that reveals through an instructive case study some of the everyday dilemmas arising in the socialization of middle-class teens."--Jay Mechling, University of California, Davis

"An illuminating and considered look into the world of competitive high school policy debate that reveal--all at once--the good, the bad, the peculiar, the ugly, and the truly remarkable about high school debate."--Timothy M. O'Donnell, Argumentation and Advocacy

"Gifted Tongues is a judicious, clear, and entertaining read. Fine's story is well prepared with rich anecdotes and tidbits from a youthfully passionate community with intellectual resources beyond their years. . . . Fine exposes the world of high school policy debate with an outsider's fascination and an insider's precision."--Eli Brennan, Controversia

"A well documented portrait of high school debate, exploring its culture and offering theoretical insight about argumentation and adolescence. . . . The clarity, readability, and insight of Fine's writing make the book important and accessible for those who work with adolescents, whether in activities such as debate in a classroom, or in a community setting."--Erik W. Larson, Contemporary Sociology

"Fine very accurately pinpoints the specific task the high school debates take on within the whole range of discourse, but never lets its cultural aspects move far out of sight. It is this combination of keen observations, interpretation and cultural reflection that makes the book a very useful piece of information for anyone interested in American adolescent culture."--Anouk van Aanholt, American Studies International0Preface ix
Introduction 3
One: Learning to Talk 19
Two: Rites of Arguments 38
Three: Evidence and the Creation of Truth 67
Four: In the Round 97
Five: Our Team 133
Six: Debate Culture 162
Seven: Teachers and Coaches 190
Eight: Gifted Leisure and the Politics of Debate 217
Nine: Debate and the Adolescent Toolkit 241
Appendix: Communities of Debate 252
Notes 271
Glossary 297
Index 299