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DEBATE TRAINING
By: English Debating Community UNP
EDeC
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What is debate?
Debating is a form of formalised
argument where the winner is the
team that most effectively
persuades the adjudicator.
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FORMAT
Two teams of 3 speakers each
Each team is assigned a side (the Affirmative, who
argue in favour of a topic, and the Negative, who
argue against the topic.)
The team that supports the topic is called the
Government and the team that opposes the topic is
called the Opposition.
A topic is decided for each debate
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• Teams are given 15 minutes for case building
• Each speaker speaks for maximum 7 minutes
• Speakers alternate between the teams, from 1st Affirmative through
to 3rd Negative
• Each reply speaker has 3 minutes to speak.
• Points of Information (POI) are allowed between the 2nd and 6th
minute of the speech .
• Electronic equipment is prohibited
• Printed material permitted
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Three skills to be assesed
• Matter (40%) – The logic and relevance of your arguments
• Manner (40%) – The style with which you present yourself
• Method (20%) – The structure and clarity of your speech
Modified Asian Parliamentary
AFFIRMATIVE
Format NEGATIVE
1st Speaker 1st Speaker
2nd Speaker 2nd Speaker
3rd Speaker 3rd Speaker
Reply Speech Reply Speech
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The Roles of The Speakers
In a debating team each speaker has
specified roles that they must fulfill to play
their part in the team.
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The Roles of The Speakers
1st Affirmative must:
Define the topic.
Present the affirmative's team line.
Outline briefly what each speaker in
their team will talk about.
Present the first half of the affirmative
case.
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The Roles of The Speakers
1st negative must:
Accept or reject the definition. If you don't do this it is
assumed that you accept the definition.
Present the negative team line.
Outline briefly what each of the negative speakers will
say.
Rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative
speaker.
The 1st negative should spend about one quarter of
their time rebutting.
Present the first half of the negative team's case.
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The Roles of The Speakers
2nd affirmative must:
Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.
Rebut the main points presented by the
1st negative.
The 2nd affirmative should spend about
one third of their time rebutting.
Present the second half of the
affirmative's case.
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The Roles of The Speakers
2nd negative must:
Reaffirm the negative's team line.
Rebut some of the main points of the
affirmative's case.
The 2nd negative should spend about
one third of their time rebutting.
Present the second half of the
negative's case.
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The Roles of The Speakers
3rd affirmative must:
Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.
Rebut all the remaining points of the
negative's case.
The 3rd affirmative should spend about two
thirds to three quarters of their time
rebutting.
Present a summary of the affirmative's case.
Round off the debate for the affirmative.
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The Roles of The Speakers
3rd negative must:
Reaffirm the negative's team line.
Rebut all the remaining points of the
affirmative's case.
The 3rd negative should spend about two
thirds to three quarters of their time
rebutting.
Present a summary of the negative's case.
Round off the debate for the negative.
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MOTIONS
Motion is a topic which will be debated:
open motions
e.g. “this house believes the glass is half full”
semi-closed motions
e.g. “this house would alter its genetic code”
closed motions
e.g. “this house would bomb Iraq”
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This House believes university education should be free
This House believes homosexuals should be able to adopt.
This House would legalize the sale of human organs
This house would allow gay couples to marry
This House believes that the United Nations has failed
This House would go nuclear
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DEFINITIONS
The definition must:
(a) have a clear and logical link to the motion
(b) not be self-proving /truistic
(c) not be time-set : all debates must take place in present time
(d) not be place-set unfairly
(e) Case is within the spirit of the motion
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Affirmative
Status
Urgency
Quo
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Negative
Availability Visibility
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Definitional Challenge
the leader of the opposition may challenge the definition if it violates
one of the four criteria above, and he should clearly state that he’s
doing so.
NOT RECOMENDED!
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How to build an
argument???
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AREL
A Assertion : Statement
R Reasoning : Why? How?
E Evidence : Example.
L Link Back : So what now?
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Important!
Identify the actor
in the motion!
Who will be
involved??
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Points of Information
POI can only be offered from 1st to 6th minute
of speech, and not in the replay speech
The speaker who speaks can choose when to
accept the POI. Moreover, it is okay to refuse
the POI by saying ‘no’, ‘no, thanks’
The opponent who are going to give a POI must
rise up and say something like ‘point of
information’. Do not speak until the speaker
accept your POI!
The POI may only take maximum 15 seconds
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WHAT IS REBUTTAL???
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Do not only
destroy. Build
your own!!
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Rebuttal
In debating each team will present points in favor
of their case. They will also spend some time
criticizing the arguments presented by the other
team. This is called rebuttal. There are a few
things to remember about rebuttal:
1. Logic - to say that the other side is wrong is not
enough.
2. Pick the important points - try to rebut the most
important points of the other side's case.
3. `Play the ball' - do not criticizes the individual
speakers, criticize what they say.
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DO NOT KNIFING!
A closing team, or even a partner on the same team, bluntly disagree
on the previous idea given by their banch.
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Good luck debaters!
