BENEFITS OF

DEBATING
Cultivates quick and multi-dimensional,
logical thinking.
Enhances the ability to develop
reasoned opinions.
Gives a better understanding of the
current events and the world around
us.
Improves self-confidence, speaking
style and command of language.
Enriches your overall leadership
qualities.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

GOOD DEBATERS
POSSESS
Good knowledge of current issues.
Ability to generate ideas.
Ability to think critically and logically.
Ability to present the ideas
systematically.
Ability to handle culturally diverse
and challenging situations with great
ease and to ones their (own)
enjoyment.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DIFFERENT FORMATS OF
DEBATES
Parliamentary & Non-parliamentary

Parliamentary debates allow Points of Information

(POI) while Non-Parliamentary debates do not.

Malaysian Conventional
3 members to a team
Topics given in advance
POIs not allowed

American Parliamentary
2 members to a team
POIs are allowed

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DIFFERENT FORMATS OF
DEBATES
Royal Malaysian/ Asian
3 members to a team
POIS are allowed.

British Parliamentary (World

Debates)
Speaker/
Chairperson

Parliamentary
Format of
Debate

Audience

2 member to team and

4Gov.
teams
in aGov.
Closing
Opening
Set up indebate
a
British POIs are allowed

Closing Opp. Opening Opp.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

A DEBATE IS JUDGED
ON THE BASIS OF:
1. Matter:
What you present (i.e. the
content)
2. Manner:
How you present (i.e. the style)
3. Method:
Organisation/ structure of your
presentation
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ELEMENTS OF
MATTER

1. Definitions:
4. Rebuttals:
- Set up of the debate
- Must be logical
- Must be relevant
2. Arguments:
- Must be prompt
- Must be logical
- Must be relevant
3. Evidences:
- Must be relevant
- Evidential value (strength)
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DEFINING A
TOPIC

Explain the key-words in

the topic.
Identify what you want to
prove and what is your
stand. This is called the
theme of your team.
If there is a measurement
involved, set up the
yardstick or criteria for
such measurement.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

RULES OF
DEFINITION
Characteristics
of a Proper
Definition:
It must bear a close relation to the motion.
It must not be truistic.
It must not employ time or place setting.
It must not be based on overly specific knowledge

Kinds of
Definitions:
Literal with key-words definition.

Metaphorical definition.
Issue based &/or specified definition (different
from time-place setting).

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

CHALLENGE OF
DEFINITION
Grounds for
Challenge:
You can only challenge a definition if it violates any of the criteria
stated earlier. Frequently used terms in challenging definitions
are: wholly unreasonable, squirrel, time-place set, truistic.
You cannot challenge a definition simply because you have a
more reasonable or better definition.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

CHALLENGE OF
DEFINITION
Challenge must
come from the leader of the opposition, not

later.
Leader of the opposition must provide an alternative
definition.
In most of the cases, the teams must introduce an 'even if
argument.
An `Even if' argument is not possible in some cases. (e.g.
truistic definition & definition running counter to the
resolution i.e. where govt. has taken the oppositions case).
In a definition debate, all the speakers except the PM argue
the following:
Why challenge?
Validity/ invalidity of the two definitions.
Even if we are to accept the other side's definition, these are the
weaknesses of their case.
Positive case under their own definition.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

GETTING THE RIGHT

ARGUMENTS

First, identify what you have to prove under the topic.

Then, identify what helps you to prove it. Put them in the
format of an argument or a set of arguments.
Not everything that you know on the subject is relevant.
Anticipate the questions that may be raised against your
arguments and see if you have good answers to them.
Block the opportunity for those questions to be raised by
addressing them briefly as you explain the argument.
Present the arguments in order of their strength.
Avoid empty rhetoric and emotionalism - be rational.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ESTABLISHING AN
ARGUMENT
Basic statement
Logical explanations of why and how
the basic statement stands
Proofs/ evidences/ examples that factually
establish your basic statement
Conclusion/ how it proves
your teams theme
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

EFFECTIVE
REBUTTALS
R e b u t t a ls

A tta c k s
(R e b u t th e A rg u m e n ts )

D e fe n c e
( R e b u t t h e R e b u t t a ls )

Do not rebut the example, attack the very premise of

the argument of the other side. Only then contrary
examples can be supplemented.
It is advisable to provide multiple rebuttals to each
argument of the other side.
Rebuttals should also be in conformity with your case.
Rebut the rebuttals of your case by the other side in
order to defend your case.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ELEMENTS OF
MANNER/STYLE
Respectable attitude towards the judges and
the other team.

Vocal style: volume, clarity, pace, intonation

etc.
Use of notes: not to read a written text.
Eye contact.
Body language:
standing etc.

hand

gestures,

pacing,

Impression of sincerity.
Humour,
sarcasm.

wit,

appropriate

and

healthy

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ELEMENTS OF METHOD
- Team structure
-

Continuity of teams theme in all the speeches.

Consistency among all the speakers (no contradictions)
Reinforcement of team members' arguments
Clear & logical separation between arguments.

- Individual Structure
-

Attractive opening/ outline of the speech.

Proper organisation & priority of the arguments.
Organisation of rebuttals.
Appropriate timing of the speech
Summary of the speech.

- Responses to the dynamics of the debate

- Right thing at the right time.

- Ability to follow the progression of and changes in the

debate, and to re-act accordingly.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

MODEL INDIVIDUAL
SPEECH
Definitions/ theme of the
team
Rebuttals (attacks and defence)

Reiteration and defence of your own teams case

Presentation of your own arguments
Conclusion (why your teams case
stands and other teams case does not)
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

TEAMS ROLES: ASIAN/

AUSTRALS
PROPOSITION/
OPPOSITION:
GOVERNMENT:
To support the motion which
involves:
Defining the motion,
Constructing a positive
case in favour of the
motion,
Providing substantive
materials and arguments
in support of the case,
Responding to any
challenges made to that
case by the Opposition.

To negate the motion which

involves:
Responding to the
Government's definition,
Constructing a case in
opposition to the motion,
Providing substantive
material and arguments in
support of the (opposition)
case,
Responding to the arguments
delivered by the
Government.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

TEAM ROLES: BRITISH

PARLIAMENTARY
OPENING GOV.

OPENING OPP.

- Defines

- Responds to the
governments case

- Builds a positive case to

support the motion
- Responds to the Opp.s case.

CLOSING GOV.

- Builds a case to oppose the

motion

CLOSING OPP.

- Supports the Opening Gov.s - Supports the Opening Opp.s

case
case,
- Adds new dimensions,
arguments to further
substantiate the
governments case.

- Adds new dimension,

arguments in Opp.s case

- Responds to governments
case
- Responds
to the Opp.sCommunication
case
Speech & Interpersonal
Enhancement Unit, IIUM

SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/

AUSTRALS PROPOSITION/

1st Speaker /Prime Minister

GOVERNMENT:

GOVERNMENT:
Defines the topic.
Gives the case structure and theme.
Presents own arguments.
Provides a summary of his speech. (What I've given u so far..).

2nd Speaker

Rebuts.
Reiterates and defends his first speakers arguments.
Presents own argument.
Provides a summary of his speech.

3rd Speaker

Rebuts substantially.
Reiterates and defends his own team's case.
Provides a summary of his speech.

Reply Speaker
Presents a comparative overview of the clash points in the debate
proving why his teams case stands

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/

AUSTRALS
OPPOSITION:

1st Speaker /Opposition Leader

Responds to the definition (i.e. Accepts, Rejects or
Clarifies).
Rebuts the Prime Ministers arguments.
Gives the case structure and theme of his team.
Presents own arguments.
Provides a summary of his speech.
2nd Speaker
Same as the proposition 2nd speaker
3rd Speaker
Same as the proposition 3rd speaker
Reply Speaker
Same as the proposition reply speaker

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

POINTS OF INFORMATION
(POIs)
A POI can be in a question or statement form and should
not take more than 15 seconds.
Each speaker should accept at least two POIs.
All three members of the team should try to give POIs,
but they must not be disruptive.
POIs are judged on the basis of:
-

the threat they pose to the strength of the argument of the

debater.
value of its wit and humour.

Responses to the POIs are judged on the basis of:

promptness and confidence in answering.
strength of the response.
value of wit and humour in the response.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM