DEBATE

A debate is a formal type of argument that has a structure. In a debate you argue a point
of view as a part of a 'motion' or topic.
Usage and Examples of a Rebuttal

Weakening an Opponent's Claim With Facts

A rebuttal takes on a couple of different forms. As it pertains to an argument or debate, the

definition of a rebuttal is the presentation of evidence and reasoning meant to weaken or
undermine an opponent's claim. However, in persuasive speaking, a rebuttal is typically part of a
discourse with colleagues and rarely a stand-alone speech.
Rebuttals are used in law, public affairs, and politics, and they're in the thick of effective public
speaking. They also can be found in academic publishing, editorials, letters to the editor, formal
responses to personnel matters, or customer service complaints/reviews. A rebuttal is also called
a counterargument.
Types and Occurrences of Rebuttals
Rebuttals can come into play during any kind of argument or occurrence where someone has to
defend a position contradictory to another opinion presented. Evidence backing up the rebuttal
position is key.
Academics
Formally, students use rebuttal in debate competitions. In this arena, rebuttals don't make new
arguments, just battle the positions already presented in a specific, timed format. For example, a
rebuttal may get four minutes after an argument is presented in eight.
Publishing
In academic publishing, an author presents an argument in a paper, such as on a work of
literature, stating why it should be seen in a particular light. A rebuttal letter about the paper can
find the flaws in the argument and evidence cited, and present contradictory evidence. If a writer
of a paper has the paper rejected for publishing by the journal, a well-crafted rebuttal letter can
give further evidence of the quality of the work and the due diligence taken to come up with the
thesis or hypothesis.
Law
In law, an attorney can present a rebuttal witness to show that a witness on the other side is in
error. For example, after the defense has presented its case, the prosecution can present rebuttal
witnesses. This is new evidence only and witnesses that contradict defense witness testimony.
An effective rebuttal to a closing argument in a trial can leave enough doubt in the jury's minds
to have a defendant found not guilty.
Politics
In public affairs and politics, people can argue points in front of the local city council or even
speak in front of their state government. Our representatives in Washington present diverging
points of view on bills up for debate. Citizens can argue policy and present rebuttals in the
opinion pages of the newspaper.
Work
On the job, if a person has a complaint brought against him to the human resources department,
that employee has a right to respond and tell his or her side of the story in a formal procedure,
such as a rebuttal letter.
Business
In business, if a customer leaves a poor review of service or products on a website, the
company's owner or a manager will, at minimum, need to diffuse the situation by apologizing
and offering a concession for goodwill. But in some cases, a business needs to be defended.
Maybe the irate customer left out of the complaint the fact that she was inebriated and screaming
at the top of her lungs when she was asked to leave the shop. Rebuttals in these types of
instances need to be delicately and objectively phrased.
Characteristics of an Effective Rebuttal
"If you disagree with a comment, explain the reason," says Tim Gillespie in "Doing Literary
Criticism." He notes that "mocking, scoffing, hooting, or put-downs reflect poorly on your
character and on your point of view. The most effective rebuttal to an opinion with which you
strongly disagree is an articulate counterargument."
Rebuttals that rely on facts are also more ethical than those that rely solely on emotion or
diversion from the topic through personal attacks on the opponent. That is the arena where
politics, for example, can stray from trying to communicate a message into becoming a reality
show.
With evidence as the central focal point, a good rebuttal relies on several elements to win an
argument, including a clear presentation of the counterclaim, recognizing the inherent barrier
standing in the way of the listener accepting the statement as truth, and presenting evidence
clearly and concisely while remaining courteous and highly rational.
The evidence, as a result, must do the bulk work of proving the argument while the speaker
should also preemptively defend certain erroneous attacks the opponent might make against it.
That is not to say that a rebuttal can't have an emotional element, as long as it works with
evidence. A statistic about the number of people filing for bankruptcy per year due to medical
debt can pair with a story of one such family as an example to support the topic of health care
reform. It's both illustrative — a more personal way to talk about dry statistics — and an appeal
to emotions.
Preparing
To prepare an effective rebuttal, you need to know your opponent's position thoroughly to be
able to formulate the proper attacks and to find evidence that dismantles the validity of that
viewpoint. The first speaker will also anticipate your position and will try to make it look
erroneous.
You will need to show:
 Contradictions in the first argument
 Terminology that's used in a way in order to sway opinion (bias) or used incorrectly. For
example, when polls were taken about "Obamacare," people who didn't view the president
favorably were more likely to want the policy defeated than when the actual name of it was
presented as the Affordable Care Act.
 Errors in cause and effect
 Poor sources or misplaced authority
 Examples in the argument that are flawed or not comprehensive enough
 Flaws in the assumptions that the argument is based on
 Claims in the argument that are without proof or are widely accepted without actual proof. For
example, alcoholism is defined by society as a disease. However, there isn't irrefutable medical
proof that it is a disease like diabetes, for instance. Alcoholism manifests itself more like
behavioral disorders, which are psychological.
The more points in the argument that you can dismantle, the more effective your rebuttal. Keep
track of them as they're presented in the argument, and go after as many of them as you can.
Refutation Definition
The word rebuttal can be used interchangeably with refutation, which includes any contradictory
statement in an argument. Strictly speaking, the distinction between the two is that a rebuttal
must provide evidence, whereas a refutation merely relies on a contrary opinion. They differ in
legal and argumentation contexts, wherein refutation involves any counterargument, while
rebuttals rely on contradictory evidence to provide a means for a counterargument.
A successful refutation may disprove evidence with reasoning, but rebuttals must present
evidence.

Debate Etiquette
A debate is an opportunity to formally discuss opposing opinions on a parti

cular topic in public or legislative assemblies. Debaters should

handle themselves with dignity and show respect for their opponents at all times.
I am disappointed to report dignity and respect have been absent in the most recent highly
viewed presidential debates. The behavior of some of the candidates has been appalling and
embarrassing. Our leaders, and potential leaders, at all levels of government should always
display the highest level of conduct when speaking in public. The world is watching. America
is watching. Young people, who are tomorrow’s leaders, are watching.
We cannot continue to accept low standards for the presidential candidate debates. This is not
regularly televised entertainment. This is the future of THE United States of America.
Here are a few basic etiquette tips to follow in any debate setting: (If we’re lucky, a presidential
candidate will stumble upon them and implement them in their next debate opportunity so we are
not subjected to poor behavior again.)
1. Never publicly disagree or argue with the mediator.
2. Never offend, disrespect, or insult another debater or mediator.
3. Do not speak out of turn or interrupt another debater or mediator.
4. Present facts truthfully. Do not falsify or distort the facts.
5. Stay focused on the topic or question up for debate.
6. Do not become emotional in your appeals.
7. Control your tone of voice.
8. Avoid quarreling and bickering. Do not point fingers at anyone.
9. Focus on the topic, not another debater or mediator.
10. Avoid personal attacks.
11. Do not discuss physical attributes or limitations.
There are complete books written on the art of debate. The above tips only brush the surface of
the topic. Always use the Golden Rule. Treat the other person in the same manner you wish to
be treated. Act dignified and show respect.

Participating in debates
Debating has a very long tradition. WW2 Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was a great debater
who once said that 'jaw jaw is better than war war'.
A debate is based around a suggestion or ‘motion’ relating to an idea or opinion. People who are
arguing to support the motion are called the ‘proposers’. and people arguing against the motion
are the ‘opposers’.
An example of a motion is: Children should be allowed to leave school at 14.
Debating order
The order that is followed in a formal debate is:
1. The debate is chaired by a 'speaker', who reads out the motion.
2. The first proposer presents the arguments for the motion.
3. The first opposer presents the arguments against the motion.
4. The second proposer presents further arguments in favour of the motion.
5. The second opposer presents further arguments against the motion.
6. This side-to-side debating of the motion continues until all the people involved have had
their say. The rules of a formal debate are quite strict, limiting each contributor to
speaking only once during the debate.
7. An opposer then sums up the key points of the argument against the motion.
8. A proposer then sums up the argument for the motion.
9. The speaker re-reads the motion.
 10. The audience then votes 'for' or 'against' the motion. In debates in the House of
Commons, once the speeches are over, the doors are locked and the vote is taken by
individual MPs moving to one side or other of the chamber as either 'Ayes' in favour or
'Noes' against. Each side then shouts out 'Aye' or 'No' and the Speaker decides which side
has won the debate.

Less formal debates

In a less formal debate, the rules will probably be much more relaxed, but the following will
probably be a part of it:
 a motion
 a 'speaker' acting as a moderator
 one team of proposers who will all present a speech
 one team of opposers who will all present a speech
 a vote to decide the winner of the motion
If you are going to be a proposer or an opposer of a motion, it is important that you listen well to
the contributions of others. This is so that you are able to do the following:
 summarise what has already been said
 build on what has been said with new points
 counter points made by the opposition with your own points
Being a good listener is as important as being a good speaker when communicating with people.

Listening
 How to show you are listening
You can show you are a good listener by the way you respond during a conversation. The trick is
to know what to say, how to say it – and when to say it.
The following is all quite natural, of course - but a check list of how to be a good listener would
include:
 make natural eye contact with the other speaker
 use body language including facial expressions and nods to show you are following what
is being said
 allow your interlocutor, the person who is speaking, to finish before you take your turn to
speak
 ask helpful questions and, if some of what has been said is complex and important you
could clarify what has been said by summarising their point using different words to what
you have heard
 when your conversational “turn” arrives, consider referring back to comments that have
already been made and build on them
Analysing conversations
If you are asked to analyse a conversation, refer to the people speaking as 'interlocutors' and
know that each time someone speaks, they are taking a 'turn'.
Arguing in a debate
Winning a debate isn't just about being clever or talking loudly. Read these tips on how to be
convincing during an argument or debate.
Tips for successful arguing
 put forward the most convincing points in a persuasive way
  listen carefully to what your opponent says and refer back to their points - this will show
that you have been listening carefully and provide a polite way to show that your own
point is even stronger
Of course, you will need to write your argument in preparation for a debate. Think carefully
about the speaking techniques that you can use to engage your reader and how you will include
them.
In a debate, think carefully about the way that you will deliver your proposing or opposing
speech to help you present it successfully:
 Use pausing and intonation – use silences effectively and add emphasis to key words so
that they stand out and signal your attitude clearly. Think carefully about the key ideas
you want to get across, and adapt your speaking style to ensure that you sound authentic
and authoritative. Sometimes, it is really important to stop and let your audience take in
what you have said, for example, after a rhetorical question. Practise your speech and
think about where pausing and silence will add impact and try to use this as a tool to
engage your listener.
 Adapt and use volume - emphasise key words, eg in a list of three, you can make your
volume louder as you go up through the list. This will ensure that the final thing that you
say – the most important of the three - has a clear, loud emphasis.