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Debating 101

Debating 101. What’s the deal?. 3v3 Affirmative team and Negative team 30 minutes prep Each team comes up with arguments to support or oppose the motion and rebuttal Each speaker speaks for 6-8 minutes, alternating between affirmative and negative. Things debating is not.

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Debating 101

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  1. Debating 101

  2. What’s the deal? 3v3 Affirmative team and Negative team 30 minutes prep Each team comes up with arguments to support or oppose the motion and rebuttal Each speaker speaks for 6-8 minutes, alternating between affirmative and negative

  3. Things debating is not It is not a general knowledge test It is not a public speaking contest It is not a feasibility study

  4. Speaking

  5. Being persuasive Matter Method Manner

  6. Matter • Come up with interesting ideas • Try to frame arguments as “outcomes” (harms or benefits) • Use analysis • What’s going to happen? • Who cares

  7. Matter Eg. On the motion of making voting compulsory, from affirmative “Making voting compulsory will improve political engagement. When people are forced to vote, they are incentivized to go out and research the policies of those whom they are voting for. This is because people often feel like they do not want their actions (in this case, votes) to be wasted, especially when they are forced to go out of their way to make them. We think improving engagement is also extremely important, because a more informed society is going to allow the quality of political discourse (and therefore the quality of policies that are made) to improve.

  8. Matter • Use rebuttal • Why is it factually wrong? • Why is it logically wrong? • Why is it irrelevant? Be practical and comparative • All of the above!

  9. Matter Eg. On the motion of banning prostitution, from negative “When we banned prostitution in the UK, rates of people having toothache went immediately afterwards, implying that this motion will cause more toothaches to occur”

  10. Method Structure Structure (seriously) Figure out what the major ideas of the debate are and then organise your speech accordinglyIntroduce and conclude Timing

  11. Method List multiple reasons for everything you are trying to prove, and use numbers Label as clearly as possible

  12. First Speakers Affirmative Negative Clarify your stance on the debate (~1 minute) Don’t challenge definition Present rebuttal (~3 minutes) Present substantive arguments (~4 minutes) • Clarify the debate (~2mins) • Context • Model • Don’t squirrel or overcomplicate • Present key arguments for your case (~6 mins)

  13. Second Speakers Start speech off with a smartass comment Rebut arguments presented by preceding opposing speakers (~5 minutes) Present additional substantive arguments (~3 minutes)

  14. Third Speakers Start speech off with a smartass comment Listen to the whole debate Figure out what the debate is about or the issues in the debate Address these issues individually and as evenly as possible Come to favourable conclusions about them Make use of rebuttal and substantive

  15. Manner • Everyone is different • Be confident! • General tips • Eye contact • Avoid flippancy • Mix it up

  16. General Tips

  17. Helpful Stuff Use prep wisely – spend the first 3-5 minutes brainstorming quietly! Identify the “clash” in prep as soon as possible – anticipate the opposition’s arguments Give your best arguments to the first speaker From neg, don’t just deny the affirmative’s arguments – prove that there are harms!

  18. How to improve Read stuff (The Economist!) Participate! Go to stuff! Listen to feedback from adjudicators; they are wise Relax and have fun

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