BPD

1. BPD British Parliamentary Debating By Lio Kaufman

2. Introduction • Who am I? • Study at the University of Glamorgan in Wales • I am the 1st Chair of our Debating Society • Agne’s Debating Partner in the Welsh Mace • What am I Going to Tell You? • Present a Basic Introduction to BPD • The Role of the positions and their Structure • Fulfilling your Roles in the eyes of the judge

3. What is BPD? A competitive sport whereby 4 teams in opposing sides try to convince an audience that a point of view regarding a controversial issue is better than the alternative provided. Discuss v Debate • Discuss –Negotiate or compromise conflicting points of view in order to cooperate. • Debate –Highlight the opposing opinions surrounding a topic as a tool for decision making and analysis.

4. Terminology • This House • The British House of Common • The EU (UN?... US?) • Motions • The given topic or subject being talked about. • Potential Areas Covered • Social / Moral • Political • Entertainment (Sports / Art) Speakers Take Turns 5 min – 7 min

5. Debate Structure Proposition Opposition Prime Minister or 1st Speaker 1st Prop. Leader of the Opposition or 1st Speaker 1st Opp. 2 1 1st Prop. 1st Opp. Deputy Prime Minister or 2nd Speaker 1st Prop. Deputy of the Opposition or 2nd Speaker 1st Opp. 3 4 Member of Government or 1st Speaker 2nd Prop. Member of the Opposition or 1st Speaker 2nd Opp. 6 5 2nd Prop. 2nd Opp. Government Chief Whip or 2nd Speaker 2nd Prop. 7 8 Opposition Chief Whip or 2nd Speaker 2nd Opp. Points of Information – P.O.I

6. 3 Types of Debates Factual debate – Is it or is it not the case? Did it or did it not happen? • THBT Germany is to blame for WW2 • THBT the capitalist system is doomed to collapse • THBT our education system is a failure Value debate – What should our values be & why? Is it Better or Worse – for us (and / or Society as a whole?) • THBT the sanctity of life ought to be valued over the quality of life • THBT parents should have the final say over the medical treatment of their children • THBT we should have more freedom Policy Debate – What is the problem and how do we fix it? • THW ban smoking • THW outlaw experimentation on chimpanzees • THW impose democracy

7. 3 Types of Motions • ClosedMotion • THBT there is no such thing as universal human rights • THBT mandatory drug testing of public officials is justified • THBT child labour can never be justified • Semi (Opened / Closed) Motion • This House supports privatisation • This House would adopt a green agenda • This House believes that art is a diversion • Open Motion • THBT we have no reverse • THW gain a burst of knowledge • THB in the more the Merrier

8. 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 Prime Minister • Role: • Setup the Debate • Present the Most Important Arguments (Normally 2) • Structure: • Definition / Introduction • Sign Post • Present 1st Substantive • Present 2nd Substantive • Conclusion

9. 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 Prime Minister • Definition: • Provide Sufficient Background • Define Contentious Terminology • Identify The Problem – (Why is it a problem?) • Provide Policy (Find a Solution) • Explain Who dose What and When, • How does it solve the problem, • Why is this a better situation than before • Who is going to be affected by this and how is that better? (Easiest Solution is to Provide an Existing Model) • E.g.: • THW use children in the front line during war times

10. Prime Minister • Sign-Posting & Conclusions Rhetoric – Rule of 3 • Letting others know what you are going to say. • Explaining & Associating the topic. • Reminding them of what you said. Silly say easy to follow 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8

11. 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 Prime Minister • Substantive: • Title • Premises • Inference • Conclusion • Supportive Statistics / Examples • Link Back • Example: • Legalise Drugs

12. Supporting the Substantive Research on bread indicates that: • More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users. • Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests. • More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread. • Bread is an addictive substance. Subjects deprived of bread and given only water to eat begged for bread after as little as two days. • Bread is often a "gateway" food item, leading the user to "harder" items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter, and even cold cuts. • Primitive tribal societies that have no bread exhibit a low incidence of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and osteoporosis. • Newborn babies can choke on bread. Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html

13. Policy In light of these frightening statistics, it has been proposed that the following bread restrictions be made: • No sale of bread to minors. • A nationwide "Just Say No To Toast" campaign, complete celebrity TV spots and bumper stickers. • A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal ills we might associate with bread. • No animal or human images, nor any primary colours (which may appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage. • The establishment of "Bread-free" zones around schools. Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html

14. 2 1 3 4 6 5 7 8 Leader of the Opposition • Role: • Set the tone of the Opposition • Following the 1st Speaker: • Good / Clear / Structured • Bad / Unclear / Unstructured • No Debate / Truism / Ridiculous

15. 2 1 3 4 6 5 7 8 Leader of the Opposition • Following a Good Prime-Minister: • Structure: • Sign Post • Reiterate • Rebut • Present Substantive • Conclusion

16. 2 1 3 4 6 5 7 8 Leader of the Opposition • Following a Good Prime-Minister: Rebut: • Time line: Now  Action  Then • Won’t work / Impractical / can’t be done • Won’t solve the problem • Outcome / Side-Effects worse than Solution. • E.g.: Co-operations Control The Future • Big Blue Ball • E.g.: Child labour can never be justified • E.g.: Abolish Capital Punishment

17. 2 1 3 4 6 5 7 8 Leader of the Opposition • Bad / Unclear Prime-Minister: Clarify: • No Problem Exists / Factually inaccurate • Suggest Most Logical Conflict • Rebut it as before Must be logical criteria • E.g.: Africa in UN Security Council • Not Relevant to the Debate • E.g.: THW Lift the arms embargo off China

18. 2 1 3 4 6 5 7 8 Leader of the Opposition • Following a Truism / Ridiculous Def: • E.g.: THBT Multiculturalism has Failed • E.g.: THBT the poor will always exist Definition Debate: • Challenge the Definition (Prop it) • 2 debates running in tandem • The Right Definition wins the debate • (Not Necessarily the best arguments)

19. The Deputies • Role: • Develop the Case • Rebut the Opponents • Structure: • Sign Post • Rebut • Reinforce • Add Substantive • Conclusion 1 2 4 3 6 5 7 8

20. Extensions • Role: • Extension: Shift the focus of the Debate • Deeper Analysis • Different Point of View (Global / Local) • Additional (Better) Arguments Must be the same Motion ! • Structure: • Sign Post • Rebut • Extension (Normally 2 Substantives) • Conclusion 1 2 4 3 6 5 7 8

21. Extensions • Deeper Analysis: • Who does it affect? • What can / will they do about it? • Who is going against them? • Is this better or worse – Why? • Different Point of View: • Global / National / Local • National / Conservative / Labour / Liberal • Communist / Socialist / Capitalist Show a deeper understanding of the motion and its issues 1 2 4 3 6 5 7 8

22. Extensions • Additional (Better) Arguments: • PEESTLE: • Political • Economical • Environmental • Social • Technological • Legal • Ecological Why is this point more important? 1 2 4 3 6 5 7 8

23. Summators • Role: Show Your side (Team) won the debate: • Speaker by Speaker • 3 Main Themes • Time line: Now  Action  Then • New Information: • Answer a rebuttal or P.O.I. • Give a new analogy / example (to an existing issue / argument) 1 2 4 3 6 5 8 7

24. Judging Criteria Manner – Matter – Method • Manner – Style: • Confidence, Confidence, Confidence • Tone of Voice: Pace, Pitch & Pause • Body Language: Stand Upright, Eye Contact, Hand Gestures • Energy Level • Matter – Content: • Backup / Support to Argument • Validity of Argument • Level of Analysis / Understanding • Method – Strategy: • Timing • Structure / Signposting • P.O.I (Taken & Received) • Teamwork

25. Thank You. Any Questions?