Debate (AE) or debating (BE)

Rules of Discussion Style Debate

1) The debate will be presided over by Mr or Madam Chair

2) The affirmative team (side in favour) shall sit on the right hand side of the Chair; the negative (side against) on the left

3) The speaking order:
- the first affirmative will speak, then the first negative
- then the second affirmative then the second negative
- discussion period of 6 minutes
- During this time debaters will ask questions of their opponents
- Debaters wishing to ask questions ought to raise their hands
- The chairperson will call on them, endeavoring to give everyone a fair chance to question and to answer
- If a debater is answering question, he/she may ask a question of the opposing side as soon as he/she has finished his/her answer
- Only if he/she does not ask a question will the chairperson call on the next person who puts up his/her hand
- After the discussion period the first negative will deliver his/her rebuttal
- Finally the first affirmative will deliver the affirmative rebuttal
- There will be no questions after the rebuttals
- There will be an opportunity for debaters to point out any major rules violations by their opponents

4) Speaking times:
- usually 3 to 5 minutes for the major speeches
- 6 minutes for discussion
- 2 to 3 minutes for rebuttals

5) During the rebuttal speech:
- debaters may not bring up any new arguments or new evidence except in direct refutation of material which has already been presented

6) The debater should address “Mr/Madam Chair” in his/her first sentence and may address
others in the audience

7) Other debaters should be referred to in the third person
- Never referred to as “you”
- The only exception to this occurs when asking or answering
questions, in which case you do speak to your opponents directly, e.g. refer to them as
„you“

Debaters will speak only when called upon by the Chair

9) There are no points of order, privilege or heckles
- At the conclusion of the debate, the chair will ask debaters if there were any serious rules violations made by their opponents
- Debaters should not use this opportunity to bring up trivial concerns, however

10) The affirmative must define the resolution
- Their definition must be accepted unless it is undebatable or unreasonable
- If the negative wishes to challenge the definition they must do so in the first negative speech
- The negative must show that the affirmative’s definition is unacceptable and then substitute their own
- They continue to argue the negative side

11) If the debate is a policy debate : (i.e. when the affirmative comes up with a plan
or method of implementing the resolution)
- the negative may choose to propose a counter-plan
- A counter-plan is a significantly different way of carrying out the resolution
- If the negative does this, the debate becomes an argument about which is the better plan

12) Props (e.g. drawings, models) may not be used

13) Courtesy must be shown to all other debaters at all times

14) When questioning, the questioner should ask questions rather than make speeches
- He/she may not insist on a yes or no answer
- He/she may not ask any questions of a personal nature

15) The debater being questioned must answer any questions, regardless of apparent
relevance, as long as the questions are not of a personal nature
- He/she may request that the question be clarified but should not use this as a delaying tactic
- Stalling will be penalized
- Answers should not be longer than a sentence or two

Debate Rules and Suggestions Advice on Debating with Others
Avoid the use of Never. Avoid the use of Always. Refrain from saying you are wrong. You can say your idea is mistaken. Don’t disagree with obvious truths. Attack the idea not the person. Use many rather than most. Avoid exaggeration. Use some rather than many. The use of often allows for exceptions. The use of generally allows for exceptions.	Quote sources and numbers. If it is just an opinion, admit it. Do not present opinion as facts. Smile when disagreeing. Stress the positive. You do not need to win every battle to win the war. Concede minor or trivial points. Avoid bickering, quarreling, and wrangling. Watch your tone of voice. Don’t win a debate and lose a friend. Keep your perspective – You’re just debating.
You need to be very polite when disagreeing with someone in English, even someone you know quite well. With someone you know very well, you can disagree more directly. Return to Debate Idea Choices

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Debate Rules for Use in American English

Argument Agreement and Disagreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- a practical „yes-no“- question

-two sides: opposition/ proponents

-team will be graded as a whole (“you will be as strong as your weakest link”)

-work together

all members should have an adequate background of the positions,arguments that you will be proposing

For Proponents

• choose a definitive formulation of the thesis you are proposing
• communicate this formulation to your opponents at least several days beforehand
• proponents and opponents should be clear about the thesis that is being debated
• State this formulation at the beginning, the end of your presentation, and several times in the middle
• The audience should be clear about the thesis that is being debated
• Make it clear what the theoretical background of your argument is
• Attempt to trap your opponent, by anticipating his arguments beforehand and showing what is wrong with them.
• Do not be afraid to use visual aids (blackboard, handouts, overhead projector) to make your point

For Proponents and Opponents

• • Include a conclusion in which you demonstrate how you have established or refuted the thesis
  • Avoid lengthy and repetitive presentations of facts or stories
  • Avoid mouthing a familiar party-line
  • Concentrate on arguments and on thinking through to basic presuppositions
  • Use notes
  • If you attempt to write out every word of your presentation beforehand it will sound wooden
  • Speak loudly and clearly
  • address your remarks to the audience
  • Speak confidently; always sound as if you believe absolutely in what you are saying
  • Always prepare more notes than you think you will need
  • If you think you have said enough, move directly to your conclusion
  • Do not leave the audience with the impression that you have not said enough
  • Leave your personal views and your personal experiences out of account; what is important is exclusively the quality of your arguments
  • Never concede that you agree with the other side or suggest compromise positions
  • Preserve a clear opposition between the views of proponents and opponents throughout

• • Use radical and imaginative gambits to keep the attention and sympathy of your audience
  • For example: pretend to agree with almost everything the opposing side says, but then reveal how what your opponents say implies that they are in fact quite wrong

Or use the method of reductio ad absurdum (i.e. show that, if the opposing side were correct, then this would have absurd consequences)

~ von mi am März 9, 2009.