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What Is A Debate?

What Is A Debate? . General Understanding of Debating. What is a debate?. Organized public argument on a specific topic. With one side arguing in favor and the other team opposing the issue. Organized = Rules Public = Audience Arguments = well-explained opinions

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What Is A Debate?

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  1. What Is A Debate? General Understanding of Debating

  2. What is a debate? Organized public argument on a specific topic. With one side arguing in favor and the other team opposing the issue. Organized = Rules Public = Audience Arguments = well-explained opinions Debate arguments use reasoning and evidence to support opinion.

  3. Common Disagreements Are not organized Have no rules Have no speaking order Does not have a specific time for speakers One speaker may try to shout down another The discussion is for the people involved in the misunderstanding not an audience. May lead to more than one topic

  4. Debating is like a trial It has a narrow topic Similar to arguments made in a court before a jury There are two sides called proposition and opposition Both sides use evidence There is a judge or jury One side has the burden of proof

  5. Proposition Team The proposition team has the same job as the prosecution lawyer. They have the burden of proving their case They select their best reasons and evidence to present The team does not have to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt; it just has to show that the case is more likely to be true than false

  6. Opposition Team The opposition team has the same job as the defense counsel. It must show that the propositions case is wrong. The opposition tries to find holes in the propositions reasoning and evidence The opposition team may introduce its own arguments to prove that the proposition case is incorrect

  7. Judge/Jury In a debate a judge functions as a jury. The judge is the finder of fact. He/she will listen to the arguments and consider the reasoning and evidence from each team. The judge decides which team has won

  8. Debate Topics • Debate topics are usually announced 2-4 weeks before the debate is held • Topics are selected to provide a range of issues: • Personal • Educational • Social • Political • Economic • Cultural

  9. Debate Topics Continued • There are two different types of topics: extemporaneous topics and impromptu topics • An extemporaneous topic is one that you can prepare for. • Topics are given several weeks in advance • Research the main arguments for and against. • Organize some notes about the arguments • An impromptu topic is one that is not known before the debate is ready to begin.

  10. Teams & Debaters • 2 Teams: Proposition & Opposition • About 3 students on each team. • One student is the 1st speaker • One is the 2nd speaker • The 3rd is the teams rebuttal speaker.

  11. Speaking Order & Limits • Speakers make their presentations in the following order: • First Speaker, Proposition Team 5min • First Speaker, Opposition Team 5min • Second Speaker, Proposition Team 5min • Second Speaker, Opposition Team 5min • Rebuttal Speaker, Opposition Team 3min • Rebuttal Speaker, Proposition Team 3min

  12. Speaking Order & Limits Cont. The first four speeches (5min speeches) are called constructive speeches. In these speeches each team will construct or build its arguments. The two final speeches are called rebuttal speeches. In these speeches the debaters make the best case for their side and eliminate the major points of the other team No new arguments are permitted in the rebuttal speeches!

  13. Preparation Period • Before the debate begins teams are given preparation time to review their notes, speak with their coaches and teammates, and copy materials for use. • Extemporaneous topics = 20min preparation • Impromptu topics = 30min preparation

  14. Debate Materials • Students may review any information that would help them prepare for their debate before a competition or during the preparation period. • Materials include: • Books • Magazine/Newspaper Articles • Websites • Class Notes

  15. Debate Materials Cont. Once the debate begins students MAY NOT REVIEW OR USE any materials that were not prepared during the preparation period. Students MAY NOT READ PREPARED SPEECHES in a debate. Using pre-prepared materials is a serious violation of the rules and may mean losing a debate.

  16. Debate Structure

  17. Opening Statement Similar to an introduction to a formal paper. Introduce yourself/team and the topic you will be debating. Tell what you are going to argue during the debate and tell why your team should win.

  18. Arguments Like the body of a formal paper. Present the evidence that proves your position is correct. Argument should be factual and persuasive. Opinions not backed by facts could be used to show the weakness of your case, so be careful!

  19. Rebuttal Presentment of counter evidence that shows: false, inaccurate, misrepresented, or weak points in the opposition’s argument.

  20. Closing Argument Like the closing paragraph of a formal paper. Summarize the key points your team presented. Conclude with a persuasive argument that will win the debate for you even if you are losing based on facts!

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