Being On the Debate Team

Because debate is a competitive activity, participants are members of a team.

The debate team is much like a typical sports team with practices,
meets/tournaments, and coaches. A debate round (one full debate) takes about
an hour. A judge picks a winner in each debate based on which side does the
better job of upholding their position.
Classic debates are argued by teams of two (two debaters on each side for a
total of four in each round of debate). Each member of the two-person team
gives speeches and helps his or her partner the best they can.
Debaters practice each week. Just like a football team runs through plays,
talks about upcoming opposition, and generally sharpen their skills, the debate
team uses practice time to prepare for competition.
How much time does all of this take? The best answer is “it depends.” The
typical debater practices a few nights per week. Each competition is on
Saturday and ends in the mid-afternoon. Time commitment really depends on
each participant’s goals and desires. A team member can choose the
tournaments that he or she wishes to attend. In other words, debaters are able,
for the most part, to set their own schedules. This will vary depending on the
specific requirements of your coach.
The Benefits Of Debate
Competitive debate is a challenging and highly rewarding activity for most who
become involved in it. There are a full range of benefits associated with being
on the debate team.
• Fun: The vast majority of the tens of thousands of students who compete in
debate tournaments each year will tell you that it’s fun. For every person, the
experience is a little different, but generally the thrill of competition, the
camaraderie of teammates and the travel opportunities make debate fun.
• Teammates: An additional benefit of getting involved is building friendships
with teammates who enjoy similar interests.
• Public Speaking Skills: Most people naturally avoid public speaking--debate
provides a nonthreatening environment to practice these skills so that down
the road when you’re called on to speak in college or on the job, you’ll have the
skills necessary to do a great job. This increases your chances of doing well in
important interviews for jobs or scholarships.
• Analytical Skills: The ability to critically analyze a problem and propose
workable solutions is invaluable. This is a skill that debate best teaches and
high-level business people and professionals possess.
• Research Skills: From traditional library research to the Internet, debate
teaches you to become a world-class researcher. Ask any college student and
they’ll tell you how valuable this is.
• Listening & Note taking Skills: Debate requires that you become a careful
listener and good note taker. This helps students get better grades and learn
faster.
Many of this nation’s top lawyers, business executives, doctors, engineers, and
elected leaders were involved in high school debate, and for good reason.
Simply put, debate-related skills help one get ahead and stay there. The power
to persuade is highly respected and there is no better way to master this art
than through debate.
The Resolution
The debate resolution is the focus for the debate. A resolution is a controversial
statement that can be supported or opposed. Resolutions can be statements of
fact, policy, or value. The affirmative team always supports (affirms) the
resolution. The negative team opposes (negates) the resolution.
Resolutions are selected to create good debates. They should be fairly balanced
between the affirmative and negative (meaning that both sides should be able
to make reasonable arguments). Good resolutions focus on topics that are
significant and timely. They also allow students to research the topic without
too much trouble (topics that are obscure or topics that are too broad may
present research difficulties).
Mechanics/Guidelines
A. Format
Three Speakers from each side

1. First Affirmative – Constructive Speech

2. First Negative – Interpellation of the first affirmative Speaker
3. First Negative – Constructive and Rebuttal Speech
4. First Affirmative – Interpellation of the first negative speaker
5. Second Affirmative – Constructive and Rebuttal Speech
6. Second Negative – Interpellation of the second affirmative
7. Second Negative – Constructive and Rebuttal Speech
8. Second Affirmative – Interpellation of the second negative
9. Third Affirmative – Constructive and Rebuttal Speech
10. Third Negative – Interpellation of the third affirmative
11. Third Negative – Constructive and Rebuttal Speech
12. Third Affirmative – Interpellation of the third negative
B. Duration
Constructive Speech and Rebuttal: 4 mins.
Interpellation: 2 mins (Only Categorical Questions)

C. Issues for Debate

 Whether or not it is Necessary? (Necessity)
 Whether or not it is Beneficial? (Beneficiality)
 Whether or not it is practical? (Practicability)

D. Criteria for Grading

 Manner
 Matter
 Interpellation

E. Guides for Constructive Speech

Speech types of Constructive Speech may be:
1. Reading Method
2. Memory Method
3. Extemporaneous
4. Mix Method of memory and conversational or dramatic

F. Rules on Interpellation
1. Questions should primarily focused on arguments developed in the
speech of your opponent. However, matters relevant and material to
the proposition are admissible.
2. Questioner and opponent should treat each other with courtesy.
3. Once the questioning has begun, neither the questioner nor his
opponent may consult a colleague. Consultation should be done
before but as quietly as possible.
4. Questioners should ask brief and easily understandable question.
Answers should equally be brief.
5. A questioner should not comment on the response of his opponent.
6. The opponent may refuse to answer ambiguous, irrelevant or loaded
questions by asking questioner to rephrase or reform his question.

G. Rules on Rebuttal Speech

  Rebuttal Speaker should point out clearly the fallacies committed
by his opponent stating clearly what particular statement or
argument constitute said fallacy.
 If not familiar with the fallacies of logic, the debater may counter
arguments directly by stating what arguments or statement is
incorrect or false.

H. Tips on Interpellation and Rebuttal

H.1 Cross Examination
Cross Examination may serve six objectives:
1. To clarify points
2. To expose errors
3. To obtain admissions
4. To set up arguments
5. To save prep time
Note: Most debaters tend to ignore the value of good cross-examination.
Remember, 30% of the entire debate is spent in cross-examination. It should
be a meaningful and essential part of the debate. If nothing else, debaters tend
to underestimate the importance that cross examination may have on the
judge. Cross-examination will indicate to the judge just how sharp and
spontaneous the debaters are. Invisible bias will always occur in a debate
round and judges would always like the sharpest team to win. Good, effective
cross-examination of the opponents can play an important psychological role in
winning the ballot of the judge.
Be dynamic. Have questions and be ready to go, answer questions actively and
with confidence whenever you can.
H.2 Guidelines for Asking Questions
1. Ask a short Q designed to get a short A
2. Indicate the objective of your Q
3. Don’t telegraph your argument, don’t make it too obvious.
4. Make Q seem important, even if it is just an attempt to clarify.
5. Politeness is a must---emphasize the difference if they are rude.
6. Approach things from a non-obvious direction. Then trap them.
7. Mark your flow/notes as to what you want to question them about.

H.3 Guidelines for Answering Questions

1. Concise A.
2. Refer to something you have already said whenever possible. This is safe.
3. Answer based on your position in the debate so far. Keep options safe.
4. Don’t make promises of what you or your partner will do later.
5. Qualify your answers.
6. Don’t say I don’t know, rather, say I am not sure this time.

I. Rebuttal

Most debaters would agree that rebuttals are the most difficult and yet the
most important parts of the debate. Not only is there less time within each
speech, but each debater has to sort through all of the issues to determine
which ones are the most important ones. What a debater does or does not
do in rebuttals will decide who wins the debate.

Think about these three issues when rebuttals happen:

1. Which arguments have more weight at the end of the round?

2. Which outcomes are more likely given lots of internal links?
3. What about the quality of evidence?

Some other helpful hints:

1. Avoid repetition. Don’t just repeat your constructive arguments. Beat the
other team’s arguments and tell the judge why your arguments are
better.
2. Avoid passing ships. Don’t avoid what the other team said. You must
clash directly with their responses.
3. Avoid reading evidence only. You must be explaining and telling the
judge why these issues win the debate.
4. Avoid rereading evidence that has already been read in the constructive.
You can make reference to it by referring to it, but don’t re-read it.
5. Be organized. Don’t jump from issue to issue at random. Be specific and
logical about winning issues.
6. Don’t be a blabbering motormouth. Speak quickly but not beyond your
ability. If you speak too fast, you will stumble and not get through as
much.
7. Don’t whine to the judge about fairness or what the other team might
have done that you think is unethical. Make responses and beat them.
8. Use issue packages. Organize your arguments into issue packages.
Choose arguments which you want to win. Don’t go for everything.
Extend those arguments that you need to win.
9. Cross-apply arguments. If you dropped an argument in a prior speech
that you think was important don’t act like you’re losing. Cross apply
arguments you made somewhere else in the debate to answer it.
10. Use rhetoric to persuade – consider using the three pillars of
rhetoric:
 Ethos – the ethical appeal
 Pathos – the emotional appeal
  Logos – the logical appeal

Do’s and Don’ts

1. DO plan out your speeches for prepared topics -it is very obvious who
has and hasn’t done research
2. DO make eye contact.
3. DO pass notes to each other during debate if you come up with a good
idea/rebuttal/etc.
4. DO sound serious or passionate.
5. DO pause between arguments: it adds emphasis and makes it easier to
follow your arguments.
6. DO NOT say “and our third speaker will rebut”. We already know that.
7. DO NOTread out your speech: try to memorize the main points.
8. DO NOT mention Hitler or Mother Theresa: come up with some
interesting, more relevant examples.
9. DO NOT attack the other team personally. Criticize the argument, not
the speaker.

 Whether or not it is Necessary? (Necessity)

 Whether or not it is Beneficial? (Beneficiality)
 Whether or not it is practical? (Practicability)

Issue #1: Whether or not it is necessary to amend the Constitution, particularly

the provision referring to choosing the country’s leaders. (May 21)
Affirmative:
1.Sasota
2.Acabal
3.Andes
Negative
1.Herry
2.Avinado
3.Balasan

Issue #2: Whether or not it is proper to legalize the marriage of same sex. (May
21)
Affirmative:
1.Cristobal
2.Boncodin
3.
Negative
1.Camacho
2.Calusor
3.
Issue #3: Whether or not it is proper to legalize abortion of those product of a
crime such as rape. (May 28)
Affirmative:
1.Buen
2.Ceneta
3.
Negative
1.Basilan
2.Demesa
3.

Issue #4: Whether or not it is necessary to struck down the use of the terms
and/or distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. (May 28)
Affirmative:
1.Hajas
2.Navera
3.
Negative
1.Pasco
2.Odoño
3.

Issue #5: Whether or not it is proper to uphold the good relationship with
China over our rights to Scarborough Shoal. (June 4)
Affirmative:
1.Olila
2.Operio
3.Señora
Negative
1.Gacias
2.Santos
3.Silao

Issue #6: Whether or not it is necessary to amend the law regarding Party List.
(June 4)
Affirmative:
1.Defontorum
2.Yao
3.
Negative
1. Jamili
2. Baranquil
3.