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High School Debates: An Overview

By: Christina Weber

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What is Debating?

Formal and persuasive public speakingIs usually improvised or researched

Investigates two sides of an issueUsually nuanced and refined- not polarized

Arguments are evaluated and weighed by

audience or judgeTwo forms: 1) Parliamentary; 2) Policy

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Parliamentary Debate

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Components

Modeled on the Canadian ParliamentImpromptu style of debate which requires nobackground knowledge or researchEmphasis on rebuttal and cogent thinking

Ability to think under pressure and reactFour players: PM, MC, MO and LO

Resolution presented: 10 min. preparationStructured and timed debate: 34 minutes

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Rules and Pointers

Respect all members of the debateRefrain from talking to your partner whiledebate is in process pass notes onlyDo not make personal attacks or commentsTake copious notes during debate and numberyour points of argumentation and rebuttal

Address the speaker Mr. or Madame Speaker Speak clearly and confidentlyMake eye contact!

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Setting a Resolution

Students will only have 10-15 minutes toprepare for the debateResolution topics usually focus on world issues,pop-culture, media etc.Government (PM and MC) define and refineresolution Be it resolved that

Opposition has to anticipate Governmentarguments and resolution

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The Players

The Speaker

The Government:

PM stands for Prime Minister MC stands for Minister of Crown

The Opposition: MO stands for Member of Opposition LO stands for Leader of the Opposition

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The Speaker: impartial judgeModerates

Takes notes

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The Prime Minister

Speech 7 minutesOpens the debateDefines the resolution

at beginning of speechStates Governmentsside and main points

of its argumentForeshadows MCspeech

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Member of Opposition

Speech 7 minutes Fast thinker Rebuts PMs points Clarifies resolutionCountersGovernments case

Presents two or threeopposition arguments

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Minister of the Crown

Speech 7 minutesSecond Speaker of Government

Refutes Oppositionscase respectfullyReconstructs PMs

arguments Adds constructivearguments

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Leader of the Opposition

Speech 10 minutesIdentifies debatesfundamental

philosophicalprinciplesStrengthensOppositions case

No new arguments inlast 3 minutes- onlysummary

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After the Debate

Speaker thanks the debaters for the debateDebaters exit the room to allow speaker toreflect or speakers to confer- debaters called in

Speaker provides debaters with generalcomments and feed-back Debaters should not debate speakerscomments or become defensive

Speaker discloses winning team N.B. during formal competitions, results notdisclosed until formal period at end

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Find a Debate near you!

Universities across Canada host High SchoolDebating Competitions go and watch!

Volunteer your time as a competition judge

Local High Schools organize competitionsRegional Debating Competitions take placeannually

Start a Debating Club at your school: get theDrama, English or Law teacher involved!

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SourcesMcGill University Debating Union:www.ssmu.mcgill.ca/debate

Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate:www.cusid.ca

For Policy Style i.e. US style Debate:

Columbia Universitywww.columbia.edu/cu/debate/oldsites/2002/styles.htm

http://www.ssmu.mcgill.ca/debatehttp://www.cusid.ca/http://www.columbia.edu/cu/debate/oldsites/2002/styles.htmhttp://www.columbia.edu/cu/debate/oldsites/2002/styles.htmhttp://www.cusid.ca/http://www.ssmu.mcgill.ca/debate

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The End