Whip Speeches

China Debate Education Network:

Whip Speakers Basic RolesGovernment Whip Speaker Opposition Whip Speaker

Direct Refutation towards MO extension Direct Refutation toward entire Government Bench

Summary Summary

Criteria of a good whip speech

1. Summarize in an honest and accurate fashion

2. Summarize in a manner that supports your side of the motion

3. Summarize in a manner that supports your team

Issue Selection and Method

• 1) Select the most important issues

• 2) Select the issues at your advantage

• 3) Avoid repeating opponents’ remarks

• 4) Analyze from a higher level or perspective

Summary: Three Methods

• Disagreement and Issue Summary

• Regrouping

• Fundamental Questions

Disagreement and Issue Summary

1. Pick the arguments your side is already winning.

2. Convince the judges that your chosen points are the most important ones.

Disagreement and Issue Summary: Advantages and Disadvantages

1. It’s an easy approach to pick up because by looking at your flow sheet, those points are easily spotted.

2. But it’s the weakest approach because the fact or arguments you pick up to support your claim are not necessarily the important or relevant issues in this motion.

Eg. Ban of Smoking can reduce risk of fire

Regrouping Method

1. Regroup basic arguments in order to offer a more complete and conclusive picture.

2. Crystallize previously mentioned arguments by regrouping in terms of Disciplines Eg. Economics, Culture, Education, etc.or groups of people. Eg. Smoker, Non-smoker; Adult, Children; Civilians, Soldier ; Men, Women; Beneficiary, Victim

Regrouping Method

3. Which grouping method you choose depends on which side you’re on.

• In the motion of banning smoking, Government prefers children-adult regrouping

• Opposition prefer tobacco famers and tobacco industry employees.

Regrouping Method

4. Regrouping method should not be obviously unfair.

eg. In the motion of banning smoking, If Opposition just regroups all people involved in

smoking into 3 groups , tobacco famers , tobacco industry employees and doctors who cures patients subject to smoking-induced disease, it will be unfair because this regrouping method fails to include all people.

Fundamental Questions Method

• Raise fundamental questions and answer them to show the good grip of cornerstone and deep-seated issues in particular motion.

Fundamental Questions Method

If you have the answers to fundamental questions, you will be much more likely to be winner in debate than others.

1. What is the nature of ……. ?

2. What is the role of …… ?

3. What is the purpose of …..?

Fundamental Questions MethodThe Fundamental Questions of This House would ban smoking in China. Q: What’s the role of a Government? (a rhetorical question) The fundamental role of the government. is to

protect its citizens’ health. Citizens’ appeal to health is the most basic, which far outweighs other request. As a responsible government, here we have shown you our plan on how to protect citizens from being harmed by smoking.