Debating develops communication skills

2.Assembling and organizing effective

arguments
3.Persuading and entertaining audience

4.Convincing audience that your argument

outweigh opponnent’s argument
Not: personal abuse, irrational attacks, emotinal
appeals
Affirmative defends the motion, Negative
opposes the motion (provide negation and
proper engagement to the opponents)
 Motion should be define as a whole
 Definition should be equiped with :

 definition of key lexical units (words/phrase)

 room of debate
 how and why the issue emerge
 stance
 parameters/context
 Definition must be reasonable:

 have a clear and logical link to the motion

 debateble (a reasonable opposition exist)
 Negative usually accepts Affirmative’s definition
 A good argument should have A-R-E
 Assertion - statement of the argument
 Reasoning - explanation of the argument
 Evidence – facts, satitistics, analogy, etc
 A good argument should be linked back into

the motion
 Logic and Relevance are required here!

 Do not replace your argument mereley with

facts
REBUTTAL #1
Argument attcking the
 opposition team’s
argument, by showing that it:
1. Is based on flaw evidence (error of fact,
invalid analogy, logically unrealistic,
comes from unrealiable data)
2. Is irrelevant to the proof of topic

3. Stand on the wrong ground or violate

certain principal
4. Illogical, in consistent or has some
missing links
5. Involves unacceptable implications
Some important elements of rebuttal
 apply the principal of A-R-E Link back
 cluster your rebuttals properly, provide
sign posting!
 prioritize to attack main argument
 do not merely question, prove other wise!
 argument is all about how your case is
true while rebuttal is all about how your
opponent’s case is wrong. DO NOT MIX
THEM!
ROLES: 1ST AFFIRMATIVE
Defines themotion
Deliver first
part of affirmative’s argument
Foundation of case
Preemptive argument – how your issue
should be weighed more than other issue
Summarizes/recaps own speech
ROLES: 2ND SPEAKERS
Clarifies/reminds the adjudicators what
the room of debate is and how previous
speakers fulfill their burden of proof
Defends your first speaker argument
(answer the rebuttals given towards your
first speaker)
Attack previous speakers
Deliver second part of argument

Your extension should distinguished from

your foundation. It could be analysis on other
point of view/other actor involved, analysisi on
previous scenario, deeper analysis on wider
perspective, or further implication that may
happen
Watch for: contradiction (your extension
backstabbing your argument and additional
burden of proof)
Importantelements of third speakers:
Your main duty is to attack everything your
opponent stated, especially their essential
argument
Hinder unnecessary repetition. Identify
contradictions in the opposite team, hung case,
and new matter
Be structurized! Always use sign posting
New example is not a new matter
 ROLES: REPLY SPEAKERS
Provides an overview of the debate
What is the clash/point of contention
What your side has given, how you
succesfully provide your burden of proof
What the opposite side has given, how they
failed to provide your burden of proof
Why your team should win the debate
Delivered only between first or second speaker
from each team
Reply speakers must not bring new matter
Reply speech is not rebuttal
This house would ban the use of
uniform in all school
This house should ban physical
punishment towards children
This house should support
homeschooling