Basic Debating Skills

What is a Debate?

• A debate is formalized public speaking in which participants prepare and present speeches on opposite sides of an issue to determine which side has the stronger arguments.

• It is a means of decision making that can go all the way back to the ancient Greeks.

What is Debate?

• Today, debate is an essential element of the democratic process in the United States.

• In legislative assemblies, courtrooms, and other public forums, debates have led to decisions on personal freedoms, civil rights, and war and peace.

• In the past thirty years, presidential debates have also played a prominent role in elections.

What is NOT considered a debate?

It is not an undisciplined shouting match It is not an undisciplined shouting match between parties that passionately between parties that passionately believe in a particular point of view. believe in a particular point of view.

In fact the opposite is true. In fact the opposite is true.

Debating has strict rules of conduct and Debating has strict rules of conduct and quite sophisticated arguing techniques quite sophisticated arguing techniques and you will often be in a position and you will often be in a position where you will have to argue the where you will have to argue the opposite of what you believe in. opposite of what you believe in.

What Can Debating Do for You?

It • cultivates your leadership skills• Consolidates your investigation & analysis skills• Trains your critical listening/thinking skills• Enriches your open-mindedness• Equips you with better organization & speaking skills • Builds your self-confidence• Boosts your teamwork & cooperation ability• Provides you the fun when wits match with competition

What is a topic?The TOPIC is something to argue The TOPIC is something to argue

about. They are often about current about. They are often about current issues of public importance (“Dress code issues of public importance (“Dress code should not be as stringent at ACHS") should not be as stringent at ACHS")

It could be about general It could be about general philosophies or ideas ("That beauty is philosophies or ideas ("That beauty is better than brains"). better than brains").

All topics begin with the word "That". All topics begin with the word "That". As in other arguments there are two sides As in other arguments there are two sides to any topic. The team that agrees with to any topic. The team that agrees with the topic is called the the topic is called the AFFIRMATIVEAFFIRMATIVE and and the team that disagrees with the topic is the team that disagrees with the topic is called the called the NEGATIVENEGATIVE..

Proposition

• Debate begins with a controversy expressed in a proposition.

• A proposition is a statement that asserts a fact, makes a value judgment, or recommends a policy.

• A proposition must deal with a controversial question – one that has valid evidence for both sides to argue.

Propositions, Cont’d.

A proposition is a statement that is open to interpretation

It shall be – controversial, – significant, – debatable, – durable, and most importantly, – with a single idea

Propositions: Examples

In a debate, the affirmative proposes to change the status quo with a carefully argued resolution with justification, plan, and advantages. – RESOLVED: That six years of English in high

school is adequate for a basic education.– RESOLVED: That modern art lacks artistic

skill and creativity– RESOLVED: That sex education shall be

introduced at elementary school level.

Status Quo

• Status Quo • Status quo is a Latin phrase meaning the

existing state of affairs, particularly with regards to social or political issues.

• To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are. "Same old same old" 

• EX: The driving age in KY is 16…

The DefinitionIf a debate is going to take place then it If a debate is going to take place then it

must be agreed in advance what the debate must be agreed in advance what the debate is going to be about. Deciding and explaining is going to be about. Deciding and explaining what a topic means is called what a topic means is called ‘defining the ‘defining the topic’.topic’. The job of defining begins with the The job of defining begins with the AFFIRMATIVE. The first speaker of the AFFIRMATIVE. The first speaker of the affirmative must explain in clear terms what affirmative must explain in clear terms what they believe the topic means. they believe the topic means.

The negative team may agree with or The negative team may agree with or choose to challenge the definition presented. choose to challenge the definition presented. The negative team should be very careful The negative team should be very careful about challenging as it is difficult to continue about challenging as it is difficult to continue the debate with little evidence/research.the debate with little evidence/research.

The Team Line

Because debating is a team event Because debating is a team event it is important that the speakers work it is important that the speakers work together as a team. The together as a team. The TEAM LINETEAM LINE is is the basic statement of "why the topic the basic statement of "why the topic is true" (for the affirmative) and "why is true" (for the affirmative) and "why the topic is false" (for the negative). It the topic is false" (for the negative). It should be a short sentence, presented should be a short sentence, presented by the first speaker of each team and by the first speaker of each team and used by the other speakers to enforce used by the other speakers to enforce the idea of teamwork. the idea of teamwork.

The Roles of The Speakers

In a debating team each speaker In a debating team each speaker has specified roles that they must fulfill has specified roles that they must fulfill to play their part in the team.to play their part in the team.

The Roles of The Speakers

1st Affirmative must:1st Affirmative must: Define the topic. Define the topic.

Present the affirmative's team line. Present the affirmative's team line.

Outline briefly what each speaker in Outline briefly what each speaker in their team will talk about. their team will talk about.

Present the first half of the affirmative Present the first half of the affirmative case.case.

The Roles of The Speakers

1st negative must:1st negative must:

Accept or reject the definition. If you don't do this it is Accept or reject the definition. If you don't do this it is assumed that you accept the definition. assumed that you accept the definition.

Present the negative team line. Present the negative team line.

Outline briefly what each of the negative speakers will Outline briefly what each of the negative speakers will say. say.

Rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative Rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative speaker. speaker.

The 1st negative should spend about one quarter of The 1st negative should spend about one quarter of their time rebutting. their time rebutting.

Present the first half of the negative team's case.Present the first half of the negative team's case.

The Roles of The Speakers

2nd affirmative must:2nd affirmative must: Reaffirm the affirmative's team line. Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.

Rebut the main points presented by Rebut the main points presented by the 1st negative. the 1st negative.

The 2nd affirmative should spend The 2nd affirmative should spend about one third of their time about one third of their time rebutting. rebutting.

Present the second half of the Present the second half of the affirmative's case.affirmative's case.

The Roles of The Speakers

2nd negative must:2nd negative must: Reaffirm the negative's team line. Reaffirm the negative's team line.

Rebut some of the main points of the Rebut some of the main points of the affirmative's case. affirmative's case.

The 2nd negative should spend about The 2nd negative should spend about one third of their time rebutting. one third of their time rebutting.

Present the second half of the Present the second half of the negative's case.negative's case.

The Roles of The Speakers

3rd affirmative must:3rd affirmative must:

Reaffirm the affirmative's team line. Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.

Rebut all the remaining points of the Rebut all the remaining points of the negative's case. negative's case.

The 3rd affirmative should spend about two The 3rd affirmative should spend about two thirds to three quarters of their time thirds to three quarters of their time rebutting. rebutting.

Present a summary of the affirmative's case. Present a summary of the affirmative's case.

Round off the debate for the affirmative.Round off the debate for the affirmative.

The Roles of The Speakers

3rd negative must:3rd negative must:

Reaffirm the negative's team line. Reaffirm the negative's team line.

Rebut all the remaining points of the Rebut all the remaining points of the affirmative's case. affirmative's case.

The 3rd negative should spend about two The 3rd negative should spend about two thirds to three quarters of their time thirds to three quarters of their time rebutting. rebutting.

Present a summary of the negative's case. Present a summary of the negative's case.

Round off the debate for the negative.Round off the debate for the negative.

RebuttalIn debating each team will present points in In debating each team will present points in

favor of their case. They will also spend some favor of their case. They will also spend some time criticizing the arguments presented by time criticizing the arguments presented by the other team. This is called rebuttal. There the other team. This is called rebuttal. There are a few things to remember about rebuttal: are a few things to remember about rebuttal:

1. Logic - to say that the other side is wrong is 1. Logic - to say that the other side is wrong is not enough. not enough.

2. Pick the important points - try to rebut the 2. Pick the important points - try to rebut the most important points of the other side's case. most important points of the other side's case.

3. `Play the ball' - do not criticizes the individual 3. `Play the ball' - do not criticizes the individual speakers, criticize what they say.speakers, criticize what they say.

The Individual Speaker

There are many techniques that There are many techniques that each speaker can use in their speech each speaker can use in their speech but there are three main areas that you but there are three main areas that you will be marked on and they are matter, will be marked on and they are matter, method and manner.method and manner.

Matter

Matter is what you say, it is the substance of your speech. Matter is what you say, it is the substance of your speech. You should divide your matter into arguments and You should divide your matter into arguments and examples. examples.

An argument is a statement "The topic is true (or false An argument is a statement "The topic is true (or false depending on which side you are on) because of x", where depending on which side you are on) because of x", where the argument fills in for the x . the argument fills in for the x .

Matter cannot be just a long list of examples. You do not win Matter cannot be just a long list of examples. You do not win a debate by creating the biggest pile of facts. Facts are a debate by creating the biggest pile of facts. Facts are like bricks in a wall, if you don't use them, cement them like bricks in a wall, if you don't use them, cement them together properly then they are useless. together properly then they are useless.

Many debates are on currently important issues so it is good Many debates are on currently important issues so it is good for any debater to keep themselves informed of what is for any debater to keep themselves informed of what is happening in the world around them and what are the happening in the world around them and what are the issues involved. issues involved.

Method

Where matter is what you say method is how you Where matter is what you say method is how you organize what you say. There are many pieces of the organize what you say. There are many pieces of the method..... method.....

1. TEAM. Good team method involves unity and logic. 1. TEAM. Good team method involves unity and logic. Unity is created by all members being aware of the Unity is created by all members being aware of the definition, what the other speakers have said and what definition, what the other speakers have said and what the team line is. the team line is.

2. INDIVIDUAL. You must structure your own speech well. 2. INDIVIDUAL. You must structure your own speech well. The first step is to have a clear idea of your own The first step is to have a clear idea of your own arguments and which examples you will be using to arguments and which examples you will be using to support those arguments. support those arguments.

When you are presenting one particular argument When you are presenting one particular argument make sure that the argument is logical and that make sure that the argument is logical and that you make clear links between your team line and you make clear links between your team line and the argument.the argument.

Rebuttal should be organized the same Rebuttal should be organized the same way. Attack each argument that the opposition way. Attack each argument that the opposition presents in turn. Spend a little while on each and presents in turn. Spend a little while on each and then move on to the next. then move on to the next.

Also organize your speech well in terms of Also organize your speech well in terms of time. Adjudicators can pick up when you are time. Adjudicators can pick up when you are waffling just to fill in time ...waffling just to fill in time ...

MannerManner is how you present what you say and Manner is how you present what you say and

there are various aspects of manner that you need to there are various aspects of manner that you need to be aware of. be aware of.

1. CUE CARDS. Do not write out your speech on cue 1. CUE CARDS. Do not write out your speech on cue cards. cards.

2. EYE CONTACT. Is very closely related to cue cards. 2. EYE CONTACT. Is very closely related to cue cards.

3. VOICE. There are many things you can do with 3. VOICE. There are many things you can do with your voice to make it effective. your voice to make it effective.

4. BODY. Your body is a tool for you to use. Make 4. BODY. Your body is a tool for you to use. Make hand gestures deliberately and with confidence.hand gestures deliberately and with confidence.

5. NERVOUS HABITS. Avoid them like the plague. 5. NERVOUS HABITS. Avoid them like the plague.

6. ELOCUTION AND OTHER BIG WORDS. This is not an 6. ELOCUTION AND OTHER BIG WORDS. This is not an exercise in grammar or elocution.exercise in grammar or elocution.

Don't spend your debating life Don't spend your debating life worrying about numbers.worrying about numbers.

Adjudicators are friendly Adjudicators are friendly people who will happily speak people who will happily speak with you after the debate and with you after the debate and tell you about your individual tell you about your individual

performance. performance.