Machine Learning II (2008/2009)

Machine Learning Debates

May 27: Statistics should be Bayesian, not Frequentist

Wednesday, May 27, 2pm-3pm.

Sources of Information

Participants

  • Affirmative team: Charles, David S, Mani
  • Negative team: Vinayak, Gabi, Jan
  • Rest of you: judges.

Why debate?

  • Firstly, you are not expressing your opinions during a debate. You are assigned a side to take and the task is to formulate a set of logical arguments supporting your side, and to assemble data and references supporting your arguments.
  • Secondly, you will work in teams of three. This will encuorage team work and you will learn how to discuss, formulate strategies, and research for information effectively in a team.
  • Finally, everybody is engaged as the audience should ask questions and keep track of the points of arguments in the debate.

Judging sheet

  • List points that either team makes.
  • Keep track of whether rebuttals address each point or not.
  • Note sources of evidence (data, examples, references).
  • Are these points and evidences sufficiently convincing?
  • Write your decision and explain your choice.
  • Note down presentation quality (to be fedback to teams).
    • Do the arguments follow reasonable logic?
    • Are there gaps in the logic?
    • Are the evidences convincing?
    • How can either team improve their presentation to convince you better?

Schedule

  • Affirmative team member A1 speaks for no more than 7 minutes.
    • Define the central ideas of the debate.
    • Present points in support of the thesis.
    • Each point should be supported by data, examples or references to the literature.
  • Negative team cross-examines for no more than 3 minutes.
    • Ask questions to clarify arguments by affirmative team.
    • Ask questions leading to your own counter-arguments.
    • Be polite and courteous.
  • Negative team confers for no more than 3 minutes.
  • Negative team member N1 speaks for no more than 7 minutes.
    • Define any alternative ideas.
    • Point out flaws in the points raised by the affirmative team.
    • Bring up additional counter-arguments.
    • Each point should be supported by data, examples or references to the literature.
  • Affirmative team cross-examines for no more than 3 minutes.
    • Ask questions to clarify arguments by negative team.
    • Ask questions leading to flaws in counter-arguments.
    • Be polite and courteous.
  • Floor is opened for moderator and audience to ask questions for no more than 7 minutes.
    • Ask questions to clarify any points brought up by either team.
  • Teams confer for no more than 3 minutes.
  • Affirmative team member A2 responds to rebuttal for no more than 4 minutes.
  • Negative team member N2 responds to rebuttal for no more than 4 minutes.
    • Provide additional supporting arguments for points already raised.
    • No new points can be raised here.
  • Affirmative team member A3 presents closing arguments for no more than 2 minutes.
  • Negative team member N3 presents closing arguments for no more than 2 minutes.
    • Emphasize your strongest points.
    • Your last chance to convince the judges that you are right.
  • Total time 45 minutes.
This basic plan is adapted from http://courses.washington.edu/gen47506/debate.htm.