DEBATE

DEBATE
Debating skills are an essential part of your professional kit.
The main purpose of a debate is to develop critical thinking skills, tolerance for differing viewpoints, ability to communicate in situations of confrontation. To meet these goals, debaters work together in teams, affirmative and negative, and must research both sides of each issue. Each team is given the opportunity to offer arguments and direct questions to the opposing team. At the end of the debate the judge will offer constructive feedback, commenting on logical flaws, insufficient evidence, or arguments that debaters may have overlooked and announce which team has won.
/after Karl Popper Debate/
To win the debate, you should perform to the best of your abilities, no matter what your real attitude to the issue is.
Before engaging in this fascinating and challenging activity read advice from more experienced debaters.
Useful tips
■ Research the topic thoroughly; read everything available in the Reader; make use of reliable resources in the internet. Don’t focus on your side of the argument only, read articles relevant to your opposition and try to anticipate what they will attack you with.
■ Remember that debate is a team activity. Make sure that you and your partners are going over arguments together so that you can help each other to produce the best arguments.
■ Know your material — if you have well prepared speeches, a strong command of the facts and ideas surrounding the issue, you will find it far easier to respond to counter-arguments and points from the opposition that you may not have considered.
■ If they ask tough questions, take a little time to consider your answer. It is very easy to get wrong footed and say things you later regret. Take your time and address each question without rushing.
Make sure you are sticking to the debate topic.
A tip for the judge
■ The judge’s decision should be based on the content of the debate. A good question for judges to ask themselves is: “At the end of the debate, was the audience left with a clear impression of the team’s arguments?”
Judges should make their decision on which team won or lost the debate based on the performance of the team as a whole. Taking notes of each argument is crucial for making a fair judgment.
Debate format
Team 1 (Affirmative), Team 2 (Negative)
Opening Statements of Two Teams: (1 minute each)
Like an introduction to a formal paper, introduce your team and the topic you will be debating.
State what you are going to argue during the debate (like a thesis statement) and say why your position should win.
1. Team 1: Constructive Statement 1 (2–3 minutes)
In this speech, the affirmative team is expected to offer their argument in favour of the proposition.
2. Team 2: Cross-Examination
The negative debaters are expected to ask 1–2 questions rather than make a speech.
The affirmative debater is expected to answer the questions; he or she should neither make a speech or ask questions in return. Team members should not assist their teammates by answering questions on their behalf.
3. Team 2: Constructive Statement 1 (2–3 minutes)
The negative team is expected to offer their argument against the affirmative position.
4. Team 1: Cross-Examination
Now the affirmative debaters can ask 1–2 questions, and the negative debater is expected to answer them.
The number of constructive statements (i.e. arguments) each team is supposed to present is subject to preliminary agreement between the teams.
5. Team 1: Rebuttal
The affirmative speaker summarizes the team’s refutations of the negative arguments.
6. Team 2: Rebuttal
The negative speaker summarizes the team’s refutations of the affirmative arguments.
7. Team 1: Closing Argument = Summing Up
The affirmative speaker summarizes the key points the team presented concluding with a statement to the effect that their team should win the debate.
8. Team 2: Closing Argument
The negative speaker summarizes the key points the team presented concluding with a statement that their team should win the debate.
RULES
■ No research is permitted during the discussion. Once the debate begins, the participants may
not conduct research via the Internet, nor through electronic or other means.
■ Debaters are allowed to consult whatever research materials they have brought with them
to the debate.
■ Debaters should be able to provide sources for direct citations.
■ Debaters should practice intellectual honesty. Students should cite arguments and statistics truthfully and never fabricate sources or data.
■ As long as the speakers communicate their ideas clearly, it does not matter if they use note cards. No reading of the speech is permitted, though.
Find more in www.ideal.forestry.ubc.ca/…/debate_format.pdf (Modified Karl Popper Debate Format)