MODULE 3.

MOTIONS

A. Categories of Motions

A motion is the topic which is the center of discussion in in a debate match. There shall
only be one motion in a debate. The Government side acts as the lobbyist of the stated motion
and proves why it should be accepted by the House. Meanwhile, the Opposition side argues
against the motion and convinces the House to reject it.

In a motion, “This House Believes That a Uniform Policy should be implemented in

schools” the Government should prove that a uniform policy is necessary to achieve certain goals
(ex: school spirit, equality, professionalism, security, etc.) and that without it such goals cannot
be attained, or prove that without it, schools are susceptible to certain risks.

Meanwhile, the Opposition should be able to prove that the motion is unnecessary and
defend that there is nothing wrong with the status quo (present system = no uniform). Opposition
should also highlight the possible downside of implementing a uniform policy (ex: additional cost
for parents, hindrance to self-expression, etc.) and say that the harms of implementing a school
uniform policy outweighs any possible benefit from it.

It is important that debaters study the given motion carefully. A poorly understood motion
could be disastrous for a team because it could result to giving a wrong interpretation or response
to the motion. Some of the basic techniques in understanding a motion is 1) looking at the words
that make up the motion (Can they be easily understood? Can you connect the relationship of
one word to another?) 2) analyzing how it is stated (is it seeking for a plan or wants to measure
the its truthfulness?).

Analyze the motion, “This House would ban boxing.” Choose the important words that
should be explained. If you answer ‘ban’ and ‘boxing’ then you are right. Now, how do you ban
something? If you say by implementing rules, then you are right again. The said rules should
answer the W-H questions to be effective.
 Motions are stated in 2 ways: as a policy or as a fact. A Policy Motion is stated in a way
that the necessitates the Government to state a mechanism or plan. Below are some examples
of a Policy Motion:

• This House Would Legalize the Use of Marijuana

• This House Would Ban Smoking in Public
• This House Would Impose Taxes on Junk Food

Note that the Government’s mechanism should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What is the problem?

2. How can the problem be solved?
3. What is included/ excluded in the plan? Who will implement the plan?
4. Is the plan doable? Plausible?
5. What are the possible benefits of the Plan?

Below is an illustration of how the Government can lay down a mechanism in a motion,
“This House Would Legalize the Use of Marijuana.”

1. What is the problem?
• The use and distribution of marijuana has been
mislabeled throughout history.
• It was deemed dangerous, addictive, and therefore,
illegal.
• It has been branded as the gateway drug for worser
forms of drug like cocaine, methamphetamine,
heroine, and others.
• However, marijuana is known to be all natural, and
there are various evidences of its therapeutic effect to
medical conditions like seizures, pain, inflammation,
and others.
 • Moreover, its addictive level can be compared to what
people experience with cigarettes and alcohol
substances which are in fact, legal and regulated
around the world.
• Marijuana being illegal is unfair and unjust especially
to those who need them medically as well as to those
who want to use them for pleasure because access is
not sanctioned by the government when in fact in can
be regulated much so like cigarettes and alcohol.

2. How can the problem be • The only way to solve the problem is by adopting the
solved? motion and legalize the use and distribution of
marijuana.

3. What is included/ excluded in • Marijuana use will be made legal in the Philippines.
the plan? Who will implement • Anyone above the age of 18 can buy and use
the plan? marijuana.
• Shops where marijuana will be sold shall be far from
schools.
• A daily consumption limit of 5 grams per person will be
imposed.
• The production and distribution of marijuana will be
regulated by DTI.

4. Is the plan doable? Plausible • Yes. There are different countries around the world
which has regulated the use of marijuana and their
models may be adopted fully or adjusted to fit the
social, cultural context of the Philippines.

5. What are the possible • Right to access medical treatment is secured.

benefits of the plan? • Right to choose is granted.
• Additional tax for the government
• Birth of new industry would mean jobs
 Given the same motion, the Opposition should prove that the Government’s case is not
necessary, it will not solve the problem, and will result to further harms. For example: Opposition
can argue that:

1. Marijuana, unlike cigarettes and alcohol, is far more dangerous since it is a gateway
substance to harder forms of drugs like cocaine, heroine, etc.

2. Any therapeutic claims of marijuana is not yet proven, and just like any medicinal plant
has little to no significant effect in terms of curing cancer, epilepsy, and other life-threatening
diseases.

3. Legalizing marijuana will exacerbate the State’s problem in substance abuse, not only
with drugs, but alcohol and cigarette as well.

4. Legalization of marijuana is vulnerable to abuse.

Meanwhile, a motion of fact also known as value-judgement is stated in a way that seeks
for the evaluation of its truthfulness or falseness. The Government side is tasked to prove that the
motion is true and should be accepted. To do that, the government should provide a set of
guidelines called Standard which will serve as the measure of the truthfulness of the motion.

To illustrate, in the motion, “This House Believes That Wild Animals are Better Off in the
Wild than in Zoos,” the Government side has to answer the question to give a suitable set of
Standards: when is something considered better? They can say that something is better when 1)
it results to benefits that are not possible in the status quo, 2) it minimizes the negative impact to
stakeholders, and 3) it is sustainable. Then using the said benchmarks, the Government should
prove that the motion fits the said standards, thus, has to be heeded as true by the House.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has two options: first, they can “accept” the standards given
by the government or second, they can give a different set of standards. Either way, they should
prove that the Government’s case does not prove that the motion is true. To illustrate:

1. Opposition Accepts the standards of the Government on what makes something better:

GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION
 1. It results to benefits that are 1. The benefits that
not possible in the status quo Government want like
preservation of animal instincts,
better population control, safety
and wellness can be achieved
even if the wild animals are in
zoos. In fact, when they are in
zoos, more than their instincts,
their lives are preserved
because they are away from
poachers; their fertility and
reproduction activities are
Standards vs response
monitored; they are better taken
cared of – they have food,
shelter, and medical support

2. It minimizes the negative 2. Transferring animals from

impact to stakeholders zoos to the wild have negative
impact to the animals’ health,
orientation, and survival

3. It is sustainable 3. Protecting animals in the wild

is far more difficult and
expensive than keeping them in
the zoos

Conclusion *Animals are better off in the wild *Animals are better off in zoos
than in the wild

2. Opposition Rejects the standards:

When the Opposition rejects the Standards from the Government, it should provide a new
set of standards and prove that it is better. Below is an example of this strategy:
 GOVERNMENT STANDARDS OPPOSITION STANDARDS
1. It results to benefits that are not possible 1. There is no imminent threat or harm
in the status quo
2. It minimizes the negative impact to 2. The benefits outweigh possible harms
stakeholders
3. It is sustainable
*CONCLUSION: Animals are better off in the * CONCLUSION: Animals are better off in
wild zoos than in the wild

Motions are further characterized into two (2) kinds:

1. Closed or Direct Motions are presented in a straightforward manner. The pertinent

words in the motion could be easily identified and defined. “This House Would allow parents to
monitor their children’s online and mobile communications” is an example of a direct motion. It’s
easy to identify that the words ‘parents’, ‘monitor,’ ‘children,’ and the phrase ‘online and mobile
communications are the pertinent words to be defined and explained.

2. Open or Abstract Motions are phrased in a general and sometimes vague manner which
is open for the interpretation by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s explanation to his/her
interpretation of an abstract motion is called Link. Moreover, the link should lead the audience to
a new motion, a direct one. Below is a guide in interpreting an abstract motion:

This House Believes that carrots are better than sticks

1. What are the pertinent words in the motion? ✓ carrots

✓ better
✓ sticks

2. How are the words related from one ✓ The phrase “better than” seeks for a
another? What is the spirit (core concept) of comparison of the words “carrots” and
the motion? “sticks”

3. How should the words be interpreted? ✓ A carrot is given as a snack or treat or

reward
 ✓ A stick is used to punish
✓ Both treats and punishment are used in
disciplining children.
✓ Treats are used to reinforce positive
behavior to children while sticks are used
to punish negative/bad behavior.

4. Explain the interpretation or link ✓ The spirit of the motion seeks to compare
which is the better form of instilling
discipline to children – is it through reward
or punishment?

5. What is the new motion? ✓ This House believes that children’s

behavior is best formed through rewards
than punishment

To summarize, a motion could fall into four (4) categories: 1) Abstract-policy Motion, 2)
Direct-policy motion, 3. Abstract-value judgement motion, 4) Direct-value judgement motion.

Policy Motion Fact/ Value Judgement Motion

Abstract Motion This House would adopt “eye-for- This House Believes that
an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth” justice Cinderella should not marry the
prince
*Could be linked to death penalty
*Could be linked to women
empowerment

Direct Motion This House Would legalize This House believes that
prostitution advertising does more harm than
good for the status of women in
society

CHECKPOINT C: Identify the category of the following motions. Write the corresponding letter of
your answer in the space provided before the number: A for Abstract-policy Motion, B for Direct-
policy motion, C for Abstract-value judgement motion, and D Direct-value judgement motion.
____1. This House Would adopt green living ____6. This House Believes that UN has failed

____2. This House Would Ban children from ____7. This House Would impose purity
modelling

____ 3. This House Believes that bibingka is ____8. This House Would implement fat tax
better than pizza

____4. This House Would make physical ____9. This House Supports alternative
education compulsory medicine

____5. This House Believes that the world is ____10. This House Believes that state-run
round media is not free press