HOW TO DEBATE

THE BASICS
 BASIC DEBATE STRUCTURE
ROLES OF SPEAKERS
TYPES OF DEBATES
CONTENT OF SPEECHES
HOW TO GIVE A SPEECH
GET EXCITED HOW TO WIN A DEBATE
POINTS OF INFORMATION
FUNDAMENTALS
HOW TO NOT LOOK LIKE A NOOB
 A debate is a
competitive, logical
argument between 2
teams on a given topic
 Two teams one for the motion, one against it
Figure out which one you are and STICK TO IT
LOGICAL argumentation have points, be clear
ARGUMENTATION be persuasive. Your goal is to convince the
audience.
COMPETITIVE you want to beat the other team.
 First speaker
Second Speaker
[Third Speaker]
Replies (Negative always goes first,
Affirmative always ends the debate)
Points of Information
 Adjudicator observes
Decides who wins
Decides who is the best speaker
Gives you feedback
 This is an organised, polite, and ACADEMIC debate
Westminster style
Dont swear
Dont shout
Dont yell out when someone else is speaking
Dont pull the fingers
Wear clothes (and continue to do so throughout the debate)
Dont be drunk
Dont be generally dumb/ridiculous
Respect the institution it is a rich, historical act which has many followers
around the world and stems from a noble tradition of intelligent discussion
and fun. So do that. Not the other thing.
TURNS OUT THERE IS A POINT TO BEING A DIFFERENT SPEAKER
 Each speaker has a different role
First speaker intro and 1-2 points
Second speaker substantive arguments and rebuttal
Third speaker advance some arguments and mostly rebuttal
Reply summarise and cogent analysis

Changes in turn if you are First Negative or First Affirmative speaker

Not a hard and fast rule you just have to make your point the most
convincingly and this formula has historically been the most convincing
break-down of speaker allocations and roles.
 Introduction
Split
Points
Narrative
Facts and analysis
Context and definition

Negative first speaker

Rebuttal
Own context and definition
 Rebuttal
2-3 substantive points
DOES THE MOST IN TERMS OF ADVANCING THE CASE
Facts, arguments
Split

Negative second
More rebuttal
 Usually doesnt have a substantive point
Depends the style of debating you are doing

Focus on rebuttal
BUT
Dont do that thing that school kids do where they read out a list of
points and tell the adjudicator why they are wrong
This is BAD
 Can be first or second speaker
Generally tends to be first speaker
Summarises the debate
Outlines the main points
Outlines the strongest arguments and who won them
Tells the adjudicator why their team won all the important points
TURNS OUT NOT EVERY DEBATE IS THE SAME.
 There is always a point to the debate
We dont just want to sit around and hear all the stuff you know
on a random topic
There is a principled argument at the heart of these debates
Find it
Debate about it
 Debates where something is wrong/bad/not ideal
Saw WHY that thing needs to be changed
Propose to change it
Say HOW you are going to change
Say WHY that model for change will work
Say WHY changing the thing will be good/better/amazing for
the world/the country/a particular group of people/an
institution in question.

If you are in the negative say the opposite of all of these

things
 Debates where you have to evaluate something/say why
something is good/bad
Will be indicated in the wording of the moot
Requires evaluation
Say what is good
Say why it is good
Say what a good x would be, and what about y makes it a
good x

If you are in the negative, say the opposite of all of these things
 This house would vote Republican

This house would legalise Euthanasia

This house would abolish all forms of taxation

This house would criminalize adultery

This house supports the use of force against Syria.

HOW TO SAY STUFF GOOD
 Potentially the most important
Always a rough divide between what you say and how you say
it
Usually comes down to what you say

Be clear
Be slow
Be convincing
 Facts
Analysis
Reasoning
Arguments
Develop points
Rebut other points
Use examples
Dont just make unqualified assertions
Back up what you say
SAY SOMETHING GOOD
 Combination of what you say and how you say it
 Largely covered already
Make sure you FULFILL YOUR ROLE
Do all of the things I said you should do PLUS
Have points
Have a structure
Have numbers
Have a clear introduction
Have a clear conclusion
 Say all the things I told you to say PLUS
Speak clearly
Speak slowly
Look up
Dont read off paper
Look around (dont creepily stare at the adjudicator)
Speak loudly (or at least command attention)
Be engaging
Dont walk around
Dont gesticulate like a crazy person
 All the things you do with your body detract from your
persuasiveness as a speaker
Make sure that you are engaging and interesting and BE
CONFIDENT
IF ONLY IT WAS THIS EASY
 That isnt meant to be a joke literally debate well
Fulfill your role better than the other team does
Respond to all their arguments
Be consistent down your team line
Reiterate points that the other team hasnt responded to
Make points stronger if they have been responded to
Tell the adjudicator why your understanding/conception of
reality is more convincing than the other teams
Persuade the adjudicator that you are correct and the other
team is wrong
 Adhere to the team line
Be clear
Be confident
THE BLACK HOLE OF DEBATING
 THEY ARE NOT
A chat
A chance for you to make a point you forgot about
A chance for you to heckle the other team
An opportunity to crack a joke
A mini-debate within a debate
A conversation about something unrelated to debating
An angry yelling session
A make or break element of debating
A time-filler when you run out of things to say
 You will not lose a debate because of POIs

But it is a way to be exceptionally more convincing than the

other team AND a way to emphasise key aspects of the debate
when the other team is trying to pull the debate onto their
terms.
 Ask a question in the POI
Call out Point of Information or On that point
Stand up
Put your hand out
WAIT TO BE ACCEPTED
Sit down if declined
If standing for more than 30 seconds, ask again
Be polite and respectful
Dont give more than one every 20 seconds
 Dont leave the opposition hanging
Accept or decline as soon as possible
Accept at least two in your speech
Dont accept more than two
Actually answer the question
Tell the adjudicator why it is wrong or doesnt prove anything
 Start off with wouldnt you agree?
But isnt it the case that?
What would you say to ?

They are your arguments phrased as questions in such a way

that the person speaking has to DIRECTLY ENGAGE with a key
plank of your case
It is a way to make your main points continue to seem relevant
throughout the debate, and to hammer home when the other
team doesnt have an adequate answer to your argument.
KEY THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
 Have points
Have structure
Have an argument
Have something your team STANDS FOR
Collaborate in the prep room
FIND THE PRINCIPLE
Debate about that.
 Tips for the prep room

Practice at identifying the principle in debates.

 THW criminalise Holocaust denial
THW criminalise abortion
THS animal testing
TH would legalise necrophilia
THW eat meat
THW abolish religious schools
THW abolish all forms of censorship
THW invade and capture Joseph Kony
THW abolish the permanent seat on the UNSC
THW allow judges to be elected.