Conversational or

Informal Debating

1•Ask questions to gradually

reveal an argument.

2•Clearly understand the other person's position or ask them to clarify any confusing areas.

3• Introduce your

counterargument.

4•Offer rebuttals to the other

person's argument.

5•Respond to any of the other person's rebuttals.

6•Pay attention to some informal (and unspoken) conversational etiquette.

Remember to:1.Not hog the conversation. It's a debate, which should mean a free-flowing exchange of ideas, not you rambling on and on about why you're right and s/he's wrong.2.Assume the other person means well. S/he might misspeak or the debate could get unintentionally heated. It's best to assume that the other person is coming at the debate expecting only some friendly verbal sparring, and isn't out to hurt you.3.Don't raise your voice or let things get heated. Try not to get so wrapped up in the debate that you lose your cool. A debate should be civilized and enlightening, not a lesson in browbeating.

7•Don't rehash the same arguments over and over

again.

8•Wrap things up amicably.