Basic Debating Skills

What is a debate? A debate is basically an argument. A debate is basically an argument.

That is not an undisciplined shouting That is not an undisciplined shouting match between parties that match between parties that passionately believe in a particular passionately believe in a particular point of view. In fact the opposite is point of view. In fact the opposite is true. Debating has strict rules of true. Debating has strict rules of conduct and quite sophisticated conduct and quite sophisticated arguing techniques.arguing techniques.

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. All topics issues of public importance. All topics begin with the word "That". As in other begin with the word "That". As in other arguments there are arguments there are twotwo sides to any sides to any topic. The team that agrees with the topic. The team that agrees with the topic is called the AFFIRMATIVE and the topic is called the AFFIRMATIVE and the team that disagrees with the topic is team that disagrees with the topic is called the NEGATIVE.called the NEGATIVE.

The Definition

If a debate is going to take place then it must If a debate is going to take place then it must be agreed in advance what the debate is going to be agreed in advance what the debate is going to be about. Deciding and explaining what a topic be about. Deciding and explaining what a topic means is called ‘defining the topic’. The job of means is called ‘defining the topic’. The job of defining begins with the AFFIRMATIVE. The first defining begins with the AFFIRMATIVE. The first speaker of the affirmative must explain in clear speaker of the affirmative must explain in clear terms what they believe the topic means. In terms what they believe the topic means. In deciding this the affirmative team should always try deciding this the affirmative team should always try to use the "person on the street" test. to use the "person on the street" test.

..

The Team Line

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

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 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

1.Matter is what you say, it is the substance of your 1.Matter is what you say, it is the substance of your speech. You should divide your matter into arguments speech. You should divide your matter into arguments and examples. and examples.

2.Matter cannot be just a long list of examples. You do not 2.Matter cannot be just a long list of examples. You do not win a debate by creating the biggest pile of facts. win a debate by creating the biggest pile of facts. together properly then they are useless. together properly then they are useless.

3.Many debates are on currently important issues so it is 3.Many debates are on currently important issues so it is good for any debater to keep themselves informed of good for any debater to keep themselves informed of what is happening in the world around them and what what is happening in the world around them and what are the issues involved. are the issues involved.

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

The Marking Scheme

Every adjudicator marks to a Every adjudicator marks to a standard. You will get a mark as follow:standard. You will get a mark as follow:

40 for matter. 40 for matter.

40 for manner. 40 for manner.

20 for method.20 for method.

100 total. 100 total.

The average for any speaker is 75.The average for any speaker is 75.

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.