8/3/2019 Malone POL 296N Lecture VIII Debate Discourse

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/malone-pol-296n-lecture-viii-debate-discourse 1/2

 Lecture VIII 

Understanding Presidential DebatesDr. Christopher Malone

I. Functions of Debate Discourse During a DebateWhat candidates say in a debate have three basic functions, each contributing to the goal of accumulatingenough votes to win the election. Elections and debates are inherently comparative: a voter choosesamong two or more candidates, and the candidate who appears preferable (on whatever criteria are mostimportant to each individual voter) will receive that person's vote. Accordingly, the rhetorical situation facingcandidates for political office encourages them in a debate to

1.  enhance their own credentials as a desirable office-holder (Acclaiming),2.  downgrade their opponent's credentials as an undesirable office-holder (Attacking), and,

if their opponents attack them,

3. 

to respond to those attacks (Defending).

 Acclaiming, Attacking and Defending can occur in two different ways during a debate: either on grounds of 

1.  policy/issues, and2.  character/image.

1.  Policy/Issues:a.  past deeds,b.  future plans, andc.  general goals

2.  Character/Imagea.  personal qualities,b.  leadership ability, andc.  ideals

Debate Discourse - Strategy

Policy/Issues Character/Image

 Acclaim Candidates acclaim on pastpolicies, future policies, andgeneral goals

Candidates acclaim on personalqualities, their leadership abilityand their ideals

 Attack Candidates attack opponents onpast policies, future policies, andgeneral goals

Candidates attack opponents onpersonal qualities, their leadership ability and their ideals

Defend Candidates defend themselveson past policies, future policies,and general goals

Candidates defend themselveson personal qualities, their leadership ability and their ideals

8/3/2019 Malone POL 296N Lecture VIII Debate Discourse

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/malone-pol-296n-lecture-viii-debate-discourse 2/2

II. Four Aspects of a Debate

In any debate, there are at least four aspects which students need to be mindful of  – all of which arehappening simultaneously. They are:

1. 

The argumentative,2.  The rhetorical,3.  The journalistic, and4.  The historical.

1.  The Argumentative: questions to be examined here includea.  the clash or lack thereof between candidates,b.  the nature of claims made by the candidates, andc.  the logical coherence of the arguments presented.

2.  The Rhetorical: includesa.  the ways in which debates function as campaign strategies,

b. 

the rhetorical impact of specific stylistic choices, andc.  the rhetorical function of the debates within the broader democratic context.3.  The Journalistic:

a.  yields questions on broadcasting form and techniques,b.  the effect and role of "spinning," andc.  the dissemination of debate information (campaign spokespersons).

4.  The Historical:a.  enables the student to place a debate within the context of an individual candidate’s career 

as well as within the collective context of presidential debates across the decades (for example: past deeds vs. future choices; reference to past presidential debates).