Dear Pat,
I heard that the final of the inter-school debating competition will be held next month. You and your team are going through all the blood, sweat and tears involved in winning the cup. I was surprised yet glad when I received your letter. Knowing how much this contest means to you, I, as your best friend, would love to offer you some of my advice.
Concerning the arguments, you can start by saying why cooperation is better than competition both personally and socially.
Personally speaking, cooperation is beneficial to personal growth and development. People can learn to be tolerant and respectful of others’ opinions. Then you may quote Volatire’s words, “I disapprove of what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” It is especially important when we apply this principle to teaching and learning at schools. Students nowadays are raised to excel and fierce competitions mould most of them to be self-centered and ambitious. They do not have space for different opinions. Instead, they will denounce and dismiss others who disagree with them. By that, you can take the Our Lady’s Localist Concern Group as an example.
Socially speaking, cooperation boosts social development while competition may hinder the city’s growth. When political parties work together to formulate new policies based on the needs of the citizens, the government can patch up the inadequacies and fill the loopholes more efficiently and effectively. On the flip side, by looking at today’s Hong Kong Legislative Council, it best shows how each party’s adherence to their own beliefs and principles stands in the way of the passage of constructions, poverty alleviation policies or technological policies. If both sides try to “win” and talk each other down, holding firm conviction and refusing to put themselves in the opponents’ shoes, then there’ll only be a lose-lose situation.
As long as the thrust of your argument that cooperation is better than competition is emphasized, I think you’re good to go. It is the vigorous defence against your opponents’ arguments which impresses the judges most. There’s a large chance that the opponents will base their arguments on economic development and academic performance.
In the economic aspect, they may claim that competition allows companies to strive to improve product qualities. However, is that the truth? You can contend that some companies, in order to attract customers, would produce subpar products with a lower selling price. Then, you may continue to elaborate your point of view in this aspect. For instance, cooperation between companies in similar business better utilizes existing resources. For example, the co-branding of H&M and Alexander Wang was a huge success.
Regarding the academic performance, the opponents may draw attention to the importance of grades. Without competing for higher ranking, students would not have the incentive to revise. You may attack the point by stating the drawback of this practice – the strong get stronger and the weak weaker. In places with exam-oriented education system like Hong Kong and South Korea, students are under mounting and suffocating pressure. Those with academic results deemed unsatisfactory gradually lose their interest in study, which leads to an even poorer result, forming a vicious cycle. On the other hand, in countries like Norway, they encourage fast learners to assist classmates having difficulties. The fact that the country is considered as having the best education system by many and outstanding performance of Norway students in international exams give proof to why cooperation is better than competition.
I hope that you’ll find the above arguments and rebuttals useful. After you and your team work out the debate speeches, it would be better if you guys can help each other out to proofread and see if there’s anything like examples to add or any contradiction. I strongly suggest that you guys practice together if possible so as to help your teammates count time and remind them of the right tone and speed to deliver the speeches. This can train your confidence during presentation as well.
Last but not least, winning is not everything, but the effort put in is. No matter how it turns out, I’m already proud of your hard work. Keep it up!
Best wishes,
Chris