Basic Information about Debate

Khoirunnisa Damayanti
1306407306
English for Nursing III

Debate is one of formal discussion which usually use in parlement and

university. Debate is important to develop our softskills, especially we as a
student college. In this assignment i would like to deliver about basic
information about debate: definition, style of debate, benefit of debate,
forms good argument, manner of deliver argument, and rebuttle.
According to Neill (2011), debate is particular form of argument which is
not a way of reconciling but a way of arbitrating between differences.
Debate recognizes that people are capable of disagreeing on everything
about which it is possible tohold an opinion. Usually, in common debate
there are two teams: one team is required to argue that topis is true is
called affirmative or proposition, and the other team is required to argue
that the topic is not true is called negative or opposition (Quinn, 2005).
Debate has two style: Asian style or we can called it three on three
style and British parliamentary (BP) Debating. According to schultz
(2012), In three on three style has the following key features:
1. There are two teams, and each teams has three speakers
2. Each team is assigned a side: affirmative teams which argue that
the topic is true, and the negative team which argue that the topic
3.
4.
5.
6.

is not true
A topis is set for each debate
Teams are given on hour to prepare their argument
Each speaker speaks for a set period of time
Speakers alternate between the teams, from the first affirmative
through to third negative.

Source: Schults, Madeline.(2012). Monash association of debaters guide to debating: Tips, tactics
adn first principles.

Each speaker have the different role in order that the speakers must
know about their role before they deliver the argument.
1. Fisrt affirmative: contextualise the debate and define any unclear
parts of the motion. Then introduce a model if necessary. Describe
outline a team split. The last, make two till three arguments in
favour of the motion.
2. Fist negative: Re-contectualise

the

debate

and

resolve

any

definitional issues. Then introduce a counter-model if necessary.

Describe a team split. Third, rebut the arguments made by the first
affirmative. The last, make two till three arguments in favour of the
motion.
3. Second affirmative: first, resolve any definitional issues if necessary.
Second, rebut the arguments made by the first negative. The last
make two till three arguments in favour of the motion.
4. Second negative: first, rebut the arguments made by the affirmative
so far. The last, make two till three arguments in favour of the
motion.
5. Third affirmative: Rebut the negatives arguments and summarise
the debate. While third affirmative is technically allowed to
introduce new material, this is frowned upon and generally
consideres to show poor team planning
6. Third negative: rebut the affirmatives arguments and summarise
the debate. Third negative is not allowed to introduce any new

material, although this should not prevent them from rebutting

arguments in new or different ways (Schultz 2012).

Second style is British Parliamentary debating. This style was nearly

exlusively the domain of university-level competitions. In British
Parliamentary debating features eight speakers to adebate: there are
two teams of two

speakers

on

each

side.

The two governmetteams acts as a sort of coalition, called a bench as

do the two opposition teams. The speakers deliver their argument in an
alternating oreder between government and opposition speakers, but
each speaker has a different name for the purpose of the debate.
Speakers speaek in the following order:
1.
2.
3.
4.

First speaker, first proposition team (Prime Minister)

First speaker, first opposition team (Leader of the opposition)
Second speaker, first proposition team (Deputy prime minister)
Second speaker, first opposition team (Deputy leader of the

5.
6.
7.
8.

opposition)
First speaker, second proposition team (Member of government)
First speaker, second opposition team (Member of the opposition)
Second speaker, second proposition team (Government whip)
Second speaker, second opposition team (Opposition whip)

When you want to make

an

argument,

you must be carefully of the type of argument. Argument has five types.
Types of argument are problem, policy, principles, practicalities, and
consequences.

Source:

Harvey- Smith, Neill. (2011). The practical guide to debating, world style, british

parliamentary style.

Usually, many people still confused to make arguments well accidentally

and specifically for beginner. According to Johnson (2009), there are few
step to make the arguments well. The first step is to state the point
clearly, the second step it to explain the point clearly. So, we can quickly
understand the point that is being made and the reasoing that backs up
the point (Johnson, 2009).
Remember that our argument is the most important part of our speech
and our research should back it up, but from the right source. We can
research our debate from: internet, library, books, journal room, television,
radio, and brainstorming.

As i have said before, that debate have benefit for us. Benefit of debate
are increasing the ability to think rigorously and critically, improving the
academic skills for student include we as a students college, engaging
serious subject matter in a mature and professional environment, and lead
students to notable academic and occupational achievement. Usually,
debate students tend to become leaders in their communities because
they develop strong listening skills, self-confidence, and often take on
strong leadership role within their teams. (Snider & Edwin, 2011)
The next information is about manner of deliver our argument. Good
manner can be taught and so it must be possible to describe it. There are
three things combination about good manner: persuasiveness, credibility,
and conviction (Schultz, 2012).
1. Persuasiveness is about making our message attracting to our
audience. It incorporates all of the certain things which choaches
teach you, such as making eye contact, and project our voice. This
part about matching our manner tou our material in such way that we
seem completely serious about what we are proposing and make our
audience to same consideration

of our argument. So we can say,

that perrsuasiveness is about making an audience agree with us.

2. Credibility is about making audience trust with our argument. Take it
seriously

and

dont

undermine

ourself.

And

please

dont

do

everything that emphasise how inexperience we are because it just

counterproductive. So dont ever talk our speech down when we
delivering it. We can sound like we know what we are talking about. It
means, actually we know what we are talking about by learning first
principles as well as specific knowledge, or sound like we know what
we are talking about, so we just be confident when we deliver our
argument although you do simple mistakes.
3. Conviction is probably the most underrated facet of manner (Schults,
2012). We must be confindent of our argument although we dont like
about the topic, we just make the debate engaging and appealing so

audience include the adjudicators think that we are sure about what
we say and i probably it can make they agree with us. Trying to
persuade means appealing in the issues first and foremost, and then
we could be trying to project the image that we care about them and
we certainly want people to believe us. So the point of this about
manner, that we could say Im here to persuade not Im here to win
the debate.
To deliver our argument, we can use choose our speaking style. Speaking
style is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects fo debating to attempt to
teach. But there are several things that can be noticed when we delvier
our argument (Flynn, n.d).
1. We must speak clearly and loudly enough so that pur voice can be
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

heard by everyone.
Try to avoid monotone
Keep eye contact with the audience and dont stare at the podium
Use our body languange to back up our speech
We dont have to stand strictly behind the podium
Dont be too complicated, just be simple when we deliver it
Use humor to help win over audience and make your speech stand
out

However the real way to develop our good speak style is to try harder to
speak on a regular basic, listen the advice from adjudicators, and often
watch more experinced debaters.
The last basic information about debating is rebuttal. According to South
Australian Debating Association (n.d) rebuttal involves refuting the case
presented by the opposition team. Every speaker must rebut except the
first affirmative speaker. Speakers must listen carefully in order to rebut
effectively. Rebuttal must respond to the actual points raised by the
opposition speaker. When we will rebut, we must explained why the point
is wrong. Because is like substantive arguments, rebuttal should be
explained in detail and examples should be used where appropiate. An
argument that delivered by opposition team can be rebutter for any
number of reason: an exaggeration or misleading; irrelevant; factually

incorrect; and inconsistent with, or contraditcts another part of an

opposing teams case (SADA, n.d).
In summary, that debate is important to develop our softskills, especially
we as a student college. we as abeginner
know about the basic

before do the debate, must

information about debate: firstly, they are

definition, style of debate, benefit of debate, forms good argument,

manner of deliver argument, and rebuttle.

References:

Flynn, Colm. (N.d). sDebating tutorial handouts. World debating website.

Available on http://flynn.debating.net/handbook.pdf

Harvey- Smith, Neill. (2011). The practical guide to debating, world style,
british parliamentary style. New york: International debate education
Association.

Available

on

http://idebate.org/sites/live/files/9781617700163-web.pdf
Johnson, Steven L. (2009). Winning debates: a guide to debating in the
style

of

the

International

world

universities

debates

debating

education

champions.

Association.

Amsterdam:

Available

on

http://idebate.org/sites/live/files/9781932716511.pdf
South Australian Debating Association. (n.d). Guide rebuttal. Austalia:
South

Australian

Debating

Association

Inc.

Available

on

http://www.sada.org.au/assets/Uploads/Guide-to-rebuttal.pdf
Schults, Madeline.(2012). Monash association of debaters guide to
debating: Tips, tactics adn first principles. Australia: Freehills. Available on
http://www.monashdebaters.com/downloads/Schools%20Training
%20Guide.pdf
Snider, A., Edwin. (2011). Debate: Important for everyone. New York:
University of Vermont. Available on https://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/DEBATE%20Important%20for%20Everyone.pdf
Quinn, Simon. (2005). Debating. Australia: Simon Quinn. Available on
http://www.learndebating.com/DEBATING.pdf