ALWAYS REMEMBER

1
ALWAYS REMEMBER
Speakers are not born, they are made.
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BENEFITS OF DEBATING

• Cultivates quick and multi-dimensional, logical
  thinking.
• Enhances the ability to develop reasoned
  opinions.
• Gives a better understanding of the current
  events and the world around us.
• Improves self-confidence, speaking style and
  command of language.
• Enriches your overall leadership qualities.

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GOOD DEBATERS POSSESS

• Good knowledge of current issues.
• Ability to generate ideas.
• Ability to think critically and logically.
• Ability to present the ideas systematically.
• Ability to handle culturally diverse and
  challenging situations with great ease and to
  ones their (own) enjoyment.

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DIFFERENT FORMATS OF DEBATES

• Parliamentary Non-parliamentary
• Parliamentary debates allow Points of Information
  (POI) while Non-Parliamentary debates do not.
• Malaysian Conventional
• 3 members to a team
• Topics given in advance
• POIs not allowed
• American Parliamentary
• 2 members to a team
• POIs are allowed

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DIFFERENT FORMATS OF DEBATES

• Royal Malaysian/ Asian
• 3 members to a team
• POIS are allowed.
• British Parliamentary (World Debates)
• 2 member to team and 4 teams in a debate
• POIs are allowed

Opening Gov.
Closing Gov.
Set up in a British Parliamentary Format of Debate
Speaker/Chairperson
Audience
Opening Opp.
Closing Opp.
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A DEBATE IS JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF
1. Matter What you present (i.e. the content) 2.
Manner How you present (i.e. the style) 3.
Method Organisation/ structure of your
presentation
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ELEMENTS OF MATTER
1. Definitions - Set up of the debate 2.
Arguments - Must be logical - Must be
relevant 3. Evidences - Must be relevant -
Evidential value (strength)
4. Rebuttals - Must be logical - Must be
relevant - Must be prompt
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DEFINING A TOPIC

• Explain the key-words in the topic.
• Identify what you want to prove and what is your
  stand. This is called the theme of your team.
• If there is a measurement involved, set up the
  yardstick or criteria for such measurement.

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RULES OF DEFINITION
Characteristics of a Proper Definition

• It must bear a close relation to the motion.
• It must not be truistic.
• It must not employ time or place setting.
• It must not be based on overly specific knowledge

Kinds of Definitions

• Literal with key-words definition.
• Metaphorical definition.
• Issue based /or specified definition (different
  from time-place setting).

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CHALLENGE OF DEFINITION
Grounds for Challenge

• You can only challenge a definition if it
  violates any of the criteria stated earlier.
  Frequently used terms in challenging definitions
  are wholly unreasonable, squirrel, time-place
  set, truistic.
• You cannot challenge a definition simply because
  you have a more reasonable or better definition.

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CHALLENGE OF DEFINITION

• Challenge must come from the leader of the
  opposition, not later.
• Leader of the opposition must provide an
  alternative definition.
• In most of the cases, the teams must introduce an
  'even if argument.
• An Even if' argument is not possible in some
  cases. (e.g. truistic definition definition
  running counter to the resolution i.e. where
  govt. has taken the oppositions case).
• In a definition debate, all the speakers except
  the PM argue the following
• Why challenge?
• Validity/ invalidity of the two definitions.
• Even if we are to accept the other side's
  definition, these are the weaknesses of their
  case.
• Positive case under their own definition.

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GETTING THE RIGHT ARGUMENTS

• First, identify what you have to prove under the
  topic.
• Then, identify what helps you to prove it. Put
  them in the format of an argument or a set of
  arguments.
• Not everything that you know on the subject is
  relevant.
• Anticipate the questions that may be raised
  against your arguments and see if you have good
  answers to them.
• Block the opportunity for those questions to be
  raised by addressing them briefly as you explain
  the argument.
• Present the arguments in order of their strength.
• Avoid empty rhetoric and emotionalism - be
  rational.

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ESTABLISHING AN ARGUMENT
Basic statement
Logical explanations of why and how the basic
statement stands
Proofs/ evidences/ examples that factually
establish your basic statement
Conclusion/ how it proves your teams theme
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EFFECTIVE REBUTTALS

• Do not rebut the example, attack the very premise
  of the argument of the other side. Only then
  contrary examples can be supplemented.
• It is advisable to provide multiple rebuttals to
  each argument of the other side.
• Rebuttals should also be in conformity with your
  case.
• Rebut the rebuttals of your case by the other
  side in order to defend your case.

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ELEMENTS OF MANNER/STYLE

• Respectable attitude towards the judges and the
  other team.
• Vocal style volume, clarity, pace, intonation
  etc.
• Use of notes not to read a written text.
• Eye contact.
• Body language hand gestures, pacing, standing
  etc.
• Impression of sincerity.
• Humour, wit, appropriate and healthy sarcasm.

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ELEMENTS OF METHOD

• Team structure
• Continuity of teams theme in all the speeches.
• Consistency among all the speakers (no
  contradictions)
• Reinforcement of team members' arguments
• Clear logical separation between arguments.
• Individual Structure
• Attractive opening/ outline of the speech.
• Proper organisation priority of the arguments.
• Organisation of rebuttals.
• Appropriate timing of the speech
• Summary of the speech.
• Responses to the dynamics of the debate- Right
  thing at the right time.
• - Ability to follow the progression of and
  changes in the debate, and to re-act accordingly.

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MODEL INDIVIDUAL SPEECH
Definitions/ theme of the team
Rebuttals (attacks and defence)
Reiteration and defence of your own teams case
Presentation of your own arguments
Conclusion (why your teams case stands and other
teams case does not)
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TEAMS ROLES ASIAN/ AUSTRALS
PROPOSITION/GOVERNMENT
OPPOSITION
To negate the motion which involves Responding
to the Government's definition, Constructing a
case in opposition to the motion, Providing
substantive material and arguments in support of
the (opposition) case, Responding to the
arguments delivered by the Government.

• To support the motion which involves
• Defining the motion,
• Constructing a positive case in favour of the
  motion,
• Providing substantive materials and arguments in
  support of the case,
• Responding to any challenges made to that case by
  the Opposition.

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TEAM ROLES BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY
OPENING GOV.
OPENING OPP.
- Defines - Builds a positive case to support the
motion - Responds to the Opp.s case.
- Responds to the governments case - Builds a
case to oppose the motion
CLOSING GOV.
CLOSING OPP.
- Supports the Opening Opp.s case - Adds new
dimension, arguments in Opp.s case - Responds
to governments case
- Supports the Opening Gov.s case, - Adds new
dimensions, arguments to further substantiate the
governments case. - Responds to the Opp.s case
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SPEAKERS' ROLES ASIAN/ AUSTRALS
PROPOSITION/ GOVERNMENT

• 1st Speaker /Prime Minister
• Defines the topic.
• Gives the case structure and theme.
• Presents own arguments.
• Provides a summary of his speech. (What I've
  given u so far..).
• 2nd Speaker
• Rebuts.
• Reiterates and defends his first speakers
  arguments.
• Presents own argument.
• Provides a summary of his speech.
• 3rd Speaker
• Rebuts substantially.
• Reiterates and defends his own team's case.
• Provides a summary of his speech.
• Reply Speaker
• Presents a comparative overview of the clash
  points in the debate proving why his teams case
  stands

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SPEAKERS' ROLES ASIAN/ AUSTRALS
OPPOSITION

• 1st Speaker /Opposition Leader
• Responds to the definition (i.e. Accepts, Rejects
  or Clarifies).
• Rebuts the Prime Ministers arguments.
• Gives the case structure and theme of his team.
• Presents own arguments.
• Provides a summary of his speech.
• 2nd Speaker
• Same as the proposition 2nd speaker
• 3rd Speaker
• Same as the proposition 3rd speaker
• Reply Speaker
• Same as the proposition reply speaker

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POINTS OF INFORMATION (POIs)

• A POI can be in a question or statement form and
  should not take more than 15 seconds.
• Each speaker should accept at least two POIs.
• All three members of the team should try to give
  POIs, but they must not be disruptive.
• POIs are judged on the basis of
• the threat they pose to the strength of the
  argument of the debater.
• value of its wit and humour.
• Responses to the POIs are judged on the basis of
• promptness and confidence in answering.
• strength of the response.
• value of wit and humour in the response.

Speech Interpersonal Communication Enhancement
Unit, IIUM