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The writer is interested to propose this topic because she believes that using gambits is one of the ways to develop EFL learners’ speaking skill,
especially in formal situation such as in debate. Since the aim of learning language is to use the target language for communication, it means that the
learners are expected to use it in daily communication, including in discussing a topic. Therefore, by acknowledging the gambits and using them in the formal
speeches, such as in debate, the EFL learners will be able to speak more naturally and more managed.
Since developing EFL learners’ speaking skill is important, English teachers should help the learners acquire the language. The teachers can use
debate as a medium to develop the learners’ speaking skill. Moreover, the learners can also use conversation gambits in their debates. It is because conversation
gambits can help the learners run their debates naturally and to state their idea structurally. It also helps the learners run the debates well when they use
conversation gambits appropriately as their functions. In short, this study is aimed to identify the use of conversation gambits in English debate activities.
B. Research Problems
This research is addressed to answer two research problems. The problems are formulated as follows:
1. Which gambits do the debaters use in English debate competition? 2. What are the functions of the gambits used by the debaters in English
debate competition? PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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C. Problem Limitation
The writer makes some limitations for the problem stated above. In this study, the writer will focus on which gambits the debaters usually use in English
debate activities. Here, the debaters are JOVED participants. The writer will observe and record the English debate activities by being an audience. The writer
uses the recordings to analyze the object of the study.
D. Research Objectives
This research has two objectives to reach. The first objectives is to identify the gambits are used by the debaters in the English debate competition. Secondly,
by doing this study, the writer is going to identify the functions of the used gambits in English debate competition.
E. Research Benefits
By conducting this study, the writer hopes it will bring benefits for the development of English, especially in Speaking and Debating. The writer expects
that it will bring more advantages especially for: 1.
English Debate Trainers The writer hopes that the result of this research will give English debate
trainers more information and activities to encourage the learners to speak in English. By using the gambits, hopefully, the teachers can provide some
introductory phrase or sentence for the learners to state their idea in English PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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especially in debate. Since debate is one of activities in Communicative Language Teaching, English teachers can use this result of research to encourage learners in
learning English through debate. 2.
English Debate Participants The writer hopes that the result of this study can give more information on
the various gambits that they can use for making the speech more natural. Moreover, the debaters can use the gambits to vary their expressions in stating
arguments. Also, the result of the study can encourage the English debate participants to be more confident in doing debate.
3. EFL Learners
The writer hopes that the result of this study will encourage the EFL learners to be more confident to speak in English. In addition, this result of the
study can give them various expressions to start, respond to statement, and link the ideas of the topic. In short, it helps the EFL learners to be able to manage
conversation and to communicate in English with others both inside and outside classroom.
4. Other researchers
This research can be a stepping stone for the future researchers to conduct a similar study. Hopefully, the future researcher can develop the idea of this study.
The writer hopes that the future researcher will conduct a similar study so that the result of the research can be discussed deeper and be useful for the language
learners and also teachers. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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F. Definition of Terms
