Schools & colleges resource:

Setting up a debating club

Created by 2012 Wales Schools Debating Championship Champion,

Rhys Steele of Bishop of Llandaff High School.

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Contents

Debating games 3

1. Just a minute 4
2. I couldn’t disagree more 5
3. The Point Of Information game 6
4. Argumental 7
5. Balloon debates 8

Formal debates 9

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Debating games: Introduction
Debating games are the staple diet of any successful debating club. They require little
or no preparation and nothing more than a bell or pair of hands to signal the end of
speeches. They are also far more approachable to new speakers than formal debate,
which can often be quite intimidating.

In this section are the rules for four debating games that despite their impromptu
nature provide enjoyable mechanisms for improving the main skills required for
debating.

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Debating Game 1: Just a Minute
Rules
In this game, speakers choose a subject from suggestions made by the floor (normally
3 suggestions is a good number). It is important that these topics aren’t motions as
would be set in an actual debate as in Just a Minute the aim is to be interesting and
entertaining rather than persuasive; instead nouns are often the best topics.

Speakers then attempt to speak on their chosen subject for a minute without
hesitating or deviating from the topic.

Speakers should be given a score out of ten at the end of their minute and possibly
some feedback on how to improve.

Advice
Experienced speakers will likely find it relatively easy to complete a minute speech
with no preparation; however this can be quite a challenge for new speakers.

The main difficulty is a lack of structure as topics can vary wildly. A good general
structure is to spend 10-20 seconds introducing the topic, then 30 seconds giving a
short anecdote or providing more information and then finally concluding by
answering the question “what would the world be like without the subject?”

Feedback for this game should focus on the style of the speech. For example:

 Is the speaker making eye contact?

 Do they hesitate or often use filler words such as “like” or “umm”?
 Do they vary their tone and pace to emphasise important parts of their
speech?

Skills Developed
The main focus of Just a Minute is on developing confidence to give speeches in front
of an audience however it also is a great tool for developing style, especially use of
humour, and also the ability to think on your feet.

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Debating game 2: I Couldn’t
Disagree More
Rules
In this game two speakers take part in competition with each other. The goal is to be
incredibly argumentative and disagree with everything the other speaker says!

Speaker A makes a statement, the statement can be serious or silly however where
possible it’s good to encourage currently topical statements. Speaker B must then
start their sentence “I couldn’t disagree more because…” and give a reason why you
might disagree with the statement. If speaker B can’t do this and speaker A can give a
good reason to disagree with the statement then speaker A wins.

However if speaker B successfully disputes the statement then it is their turn to make
a statement of their own and speaker A’s turn to disagree.

If this game goes on for 10 to 15 statements then it’s best to call it a draw, as for
strong speakers or for those who are just argumentative there is always a good reason
to disagree!

Example
Speaker A: I think that everyone should shop in local small stores rather than
supermarkets.

Speaker B: I couldn’t disagree more because supermarkets offer a number of

advantages to the consumer. For example they tend to be far cheaper than small
shops. For a large number of people with limited income this is an important factor.

Speaker B: I think that politics is a waste of time for the average person

Speaker A: I couldn’t disagree more because politicians make decisions that deeply
affect the life of the average person every day.

Skills Developed
I couldn’t disagree more is a good way to start speakers thinking about rebuttal,
though the reasons given need not be as in depth as rebuttal would be in an actual
speech.

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Debating game 3: The Point of
Information Game
Rules
In this game though there will only be one speaker at a time everyone will be
involved. The speaker chosen should be reasonably confident as they will be asked to
propose a controversial topic whilst the audience offer points of information by
standing up, which may be accepted by pointing and saying “accepted” or declined by
saying “no thank you”. Also the speaker may say “in a moment” allowing them to
finish a brief point before accepting.

If accepted, the floor member may offer a brief point (which should be less than 15
seconds) in contrary to the speaker’s point. The speaker should then attempt to
incorporate their answer to this into their speech.

The speaker should aim to speak for 4 to 5 minutes, having 30 seconds of protected
time at either end of the speech in order to introduce and conclude their speech.
They should aim to accept more than the usual 1-3 points of information as this is the
driving point of the game.

Example Topics
 This house thinks that terrorism is sometimes justifiable
 This house thinks that dictatorships are the best form of government
 This house would legalize the sale of human organs

Skills Developed
The point of information game, as the name would suggest, is primarily aimed at
helping speakers gain confidence in offering and dealing with points of information.
However it also offers the main speaker a chance to encounter many of the themes
found in a speech, especially those in first proposition due to the lack of rebuttal.

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Debating game 4: Argumental
Rules (For one speaker)
In this game a speaker chooses a topic from three topics suggested by members of
the floor. These topics should be topics with two sides for the speaker to argue,
normally topics of the format A versus B or motions that would be suitable for formal
debates work well.

The speaker starts their speech by trying to convincingly argue for the proposition (or
for side A) however after 30 seconds or so a bell is rung or the chair claps their hands
to signal that the speaker should change sides. Now the speaker has to vehemently
give reasons that you might think that in fact the opposition (or side B) is the side
deserving of your support.

The speaker is then made to change sides at roughly 15 second intervals, though
often this game is most effective if the speaker is made to switch sides at awkward
moments such as halfway through the sentence “you absolutely couldn’t support this
motion because…”.

Speakers should aim to speak for 2 to 4 minutes.

Rules (For two speakers)

At the start of this game, speakers should decide between them who will choose the
topic and who will choose which side to defend. Once this has been decided the
audience suggests three topics to be chosen from.

Each speaker then has to defend one side of this topic, starting with the proposition
(or side A). The game proceeds much as in argumental for on speaker however
whenever the bell rings the speaker who is currently talking must stop and the
speaker for the opposite side takes over.

Skills Developed

Argumental develops almost all of the skills necessary for formal debate in an
informal format. It allows speakers to start attempting to generate arguments,
present them persuasively and then engage in rebuttal of their opponent’s arguments
in a fluid and entertaining structure.

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Debating game 5: Balloon Debates
Introduction

Balloon debates are a good introduction into the world of prepared debating. They
allow speakers to start thinking about preparing speeches and structuring arguments
whilst avoiding the level of difficulty of motion that can occur in formal debating.

Balloon debates should be introduced once speakers have begun to gain an initial
level of confidence from participating in debating games to allow them to become
familiar with prepared, structured speeches.

Rules

In a Balloon debate, the floor is asked to imagine a hot air balloon flying over an
ocean. However because of the weight it contains it isn’t flying very well and is
rapidly losing height. The weight is made up of various prominent figures from
history, fiction or from modern culture. All but one of these figures must sacrifice
themselves and throw themselves out of the balloon, taking all of their achievements
during their life with them, so that one may survive. Conveniently these figures have
decided to elect who should sacrifice themselves by audience vote!

Speakers must take on the role of these figures from history and convince the
audience that they are worth saving and that someone else should be sacrificed. The
important point is that their speeches shouldn’t aim to be biographical but should
instead aim to argue that if they hadn’t existed the world would be a far worse place.

Each debate should be between four speakers, each with their own choice of
character. They should be given 4 minutes to give their speeches, with 30 seconds of
grace at the end of the 4 minutes. Points of information should not be allowed.

An audience vote should be taken at the start of the debate to judge the floor’s initial
bias and then at the end of the debate to decide who has won. Speakers should be
encouraged not just to focus on who survived the audience vote but also on how
many people they persuaded to vote to save them during the course of the debate.

Feedback Advice

Speakers should aim to meet the usual stylistic goals (i.e. making eye contact, varying
tone as appropriate). However their main goal should be to structure arguments
correctly. Arguments should fit to the REAL structure. Speakers should begin an
argument by briefly stating what it will be about or giving a tagline (Reason), they
should then proceed to give an example or some form of evidence (Evidence). Thirdly
they should interpret the evidence they have given in a clear manner (analysis) and
finally they should link this back to why they should stay in the balloon (Link).

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Formal Debates
Introduction
The goal of any debating club should be to introduce its members to formal debate,
though this can be quite difficult due to the time constraints of the average club
session. In this section are rules for a debating doubles format suitable for half hour
long debates, as well as some example motions.

Format
Speakers should be divided into two teams, with two speakers proposing the motion
and two speakers opposing the motion. Speakers should be given 4 minutes speeches
with 30 seconds grace starting from the first proposition and then moving to the first
opposition speaker and then returning to the proposition and then finally the last
opposition speaker.

Speakers should have 30 seconds at the start of their speech and 30 seconds at the
end protected from points of information however between these times points of
information may be offered and can be accepted or declined in the normal manner.

An audience vote should be taken at the start and at the end of the debate to show
which team persuaded the audience more strongly during the debate however if you
are attempting to organise a competition then it is vital that the debate is decided on
the basis of judges scores as audience votes often reflect a strong initial bias.

Example motions
 This house would legalise performance enhancing drugs in sport
 This house would abolish the monarchy
 This house would reinstate capital punishment
 This house would ban animal testing
 This house believes that assisted suicide should be legalised
 This house would censor violent video games
 This house would ban gambling
 This house would legalise all drugs
 This house would give up its nuclear weapons capability
 This house would make voting in elections mandatory

More motions can be found at idebate.org/view/top_100_debates