What is Debating?
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Debating is not just having an argument. It involves skills such as research, preparation, teamwork, speaking skills, and persuasion. There are rules for the way the debate is organised, and the kind of arguments you may use.
Topic (Moot)
A debate is about a topic, usually called the moot. The moot is a claim that something is true.
There are two teams with three speakers each. One team agrees with the moot (the Affirmative) and the other team disagrees (the Negative).
Usually you are given the topic and told whether your team is affirmative or negative. This means you may be debating a position you personally don't agree with. This is the skill of debating, and it helps you understand that there are two sides to most questions.
Affirmative and Negative
Each team divides up the job of researching the evidence and preparing the case. Each team member writes speech notes. The first people to speak use their notes more, while the later speakers will be answering what their opponents have said (rebuttal).
The teams speak in this order: 1. Affirmative leader Define moot, introduction
2. Negative leader
3. Affirmative second speaker Further arguments, rebuttal
4. Negative second speaker
5. Affirmative third speaker Mostly rebuttal
6. Negative third speaker
7. Negative leader Summary (no new arguments)
8. Affirmative leader
Purpose
What is the point of the debate? Each team is trying to win by doing the best job of arguing their case. This does not mean that one team must be right and the other one wrong. There are two sides to any debate, and either side could win.
Adjudication
A debate is judged by an adjudicator. This is a list of features that adjudicators will look for
Matter:
Subject knowledge
Relevance
Logical Reasoning
Quoted Authorities
Definition
Refutation
Manner:
Personality
Persuasiveness
Language
Appearance
Stance / Gestures
Use of Notes
Method: Speech Structure
Introduction
Peroration
Technique
Strategy
Teamwork :
Compare teams as a whole
Collective presentation of case
Continuity of argument
Reply
Summary and Refutation
Individual Assessment
Your team doesn't have to win the debate for you to achieve a credit. You will be assessed on your own debating skills. If the debating skills of all six debaters are high enough they can all achieve credits, regardless of who won.
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