Transcript of The respectable way proper persons should debate.
- Slide 1
- The respectable way proper persons should debate
- Slide 2
- Parliamentary debate Modeled after the British House of
Parliament Extemporaneous two-on-two debate Teams will debate
resolutions that they receive 15 minutes (1 day) before the round
Limited prep time sets the stage for a competitive forum that
emphasizes: rigorous argumentation logical analysis quick thinking
breadth of knowledge rhetorical ability over preparation of
evidence.
- Slide 3
- Two Teams: Team 1: Government Prime Minister (PM) Member of the
Government (MG) Team 2: Opposition Leader of the Opposition (LO)
Member of the Opposition (MO)
- Slide 4
- Prime Minister Constructive: 7 minutes Leader of the Opposition
Constructive: 7 minutes Member of the Government Constructive: 7
minutes Member of the Opposition Constructive: 7 minutes Leader of
Opposition Rebuttal: 5 minutes Member of the Government Rebuttal: 5
minutes (not in competitive debate) Member of the Opposition
Rebuttal: 5 minutes (not in competitive debate) Prime Minister
Rebuttal: 5 minutes Note: No prep time during the round
- Slide 5
- Critical thinking skills kick into high gear! Less evidential
research Logical analysis of issues rather than reliance on
evidence. Breadth of knowledge Combination of policy and value
skills best of both worlds! Rhetorical ability
- Slide 6
- First speaker, proposition The opening speaker establishes the
framework for the debate and a logically complete case for the
proposition.
- Slide 7
- Interpretation of the motion. The motion should mean the same
thing to all participants in the debate. To that end, the
Government team has the responsibility to: clarify the ground for
debate defining any distinguishing, technical or ambiguous terms of
the resolution.
- Slide 8
- Providing Opposition ground The duty of the Government team is
to provide the basis for a good debate. The first speaker must
accordingly present a case that is highly debatable. Burden of
proof In most debates, the Prime Minister supports the motion by
advocating something new, challenging established ideas, or
attempting to settle an issue in public controversy.
- Slide 9
- The case. The first proposition speaker should establish
interest in the motion and case through an introduction. The
introduction should demonstrate the timeliness of the case, perhaps
by recounting a recent story or contemporary context for the
controversy.
- Slide 10
- First speaker, opposition The duty of the opposition is to
provide clash (burden of rejoinder) a choice between the proposal
advanced by the Government team and some other course of action or
position. The Opposition should make clear why the motion before
the house should be defeated.
- Slide 11
- weaken or nullify the case for the proposition direct
refutation refuting the main points of the case. pointing out
logical fallacies pointing out factual inaccuracies or
inconsistencies in the main lines of proof.
- Slide 12
- Second speakers, Government and opposition The second (also
called member") constructive speeches for each side have similar
responsibilities. effectively refute the important arguments of the
opposing side amplify the strong arguments initiated by their
colleagues. The member speeches are the last for each side in the
debate in which new arguments and issues may be introduced.
- Slide 13
- Rebuttals Most good debates are won or lost in the rebuttals.
summary speeches for each side of the debate last opportunity each
side will have to explain why they should win. Rebuttals are a
final opportunity to contrast the major positions and philosophies
of the Government and opposition.
- Slide 14
- New arguments may not be introduced in the rebuttal. Arguments
presented in the rebuttal must have a foundation in the
constructive speeches. The first Government rebuttalist is entitled
to answer new arguments made in the second opposition speech
- Slide 15
- The opposition has the first rebuttal speech. effective
summation of the main issues of the debate important points for the
opposition undermine support for the motion carry through important
issues from the constructive speeches illustrating the significant
dimension of each issue in qualitative or quantitative terms
- Slide 16
- Points of order Used when a member of the other team has
violated the rules for debating There are very few rules in
parliamentary debate so a point of order is called only when : an
opponent has introduced a new argument in rebuttals an opponent has
gone significantly over time. Addressed to the Speaker of the
House
- Slide 17
- Points of Personal Privilege Raised during an opponent's speech
when his or her position has been seriously misrepresented by the
opposing speaker Raised in instances of extreme hostility or
slander Addressed to the Speaker of the House A point of personal
privilege is not debatable.
- Slide 18
- Points of information Raised during the speech of the person
questioned It must be a concise statement or a pointed question. A
point of information is also sometimes used for purposes of
clarification. Directed to the person speaking rather than to the
Speaker of the House. Rule of thumb no more than 4 per speech
- Slide 19
- Points of information are not permitted during rebuttals.
Points of information are not allowed during the first or last
minute of any constructive speech. The timekeeper should signal
these times. Points of information are permitted only between these
two signals.
- Slide 20
- Two types of motions are commonly used parliamentary debating;
straight or linkable 1. Straight motions are meant to be debated
literally 2. Linkable motions need not be debated literally, but
may instead be linked to a specific proposal selected by the
government team.
- Slide 21
- Straight Resolutions cover many different subjects They may be
drawn from current events "Be it resolved that the United States
should lift its economic sanctions against Cuba "This House would
support the admission of Russia to N.A.T.O. Or they may be broader
statements of historical judgment or philosophy "Be it resolved
that the American dream has become an American nightmare This House
believes that the United States has been more sinned against than
sinning Some motions require value comparison "This House believes
that the local is preferable to the global "This House despises
flattery more than slander The proposition itself is always the
focus of the debate not the examples you use
- Slide 22
- Linkable motions offer the debaters a large degree of
flexibility in the debate, generally linking the abstract motion to
some specific controversy through the use of metaphors. A linkable
motion may be drawn from a pithy quotation "B.I.R.T. It is better
to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees Can be linked to
the case statement that "the United States should not extend Most
Favored Nation status to China," arguing that America should "stand
up" for its principles rather than remaining on its knees to
placate China A song lyric B.I.R.T. freedom's just another word for
nothin' left to lose Can be linked to a case statement in favor of
restoring the eligibility of legal immigrants (who came here
seeking "freedom") for welfare benefits (without which, they have
"nothin' left to lose
- Slide 23
- Current national or international policy controversies Russia
should be admitted to N.A.T.O. The U.S. should end its embargo of
Iran. Nepal should close Mt. Everest to climbing. Local
controversies of broader interest Dade County, Florida should
permit concerts by Cuban musicians. The Eye of the Needle (a
200-foot natural sandstone arch in Montana destroyed by vandals)
should not be repaired Sports and popular culture disputes Baseball
should eliminate the designated hitter. Vinyl records are better
than compact disks.
- Slide 24
- Literary cases You're Cinderella. Don't marry the prince.
You're Dorothy. Don't go back to Kansas. Personal decisions You
should not eat meat. You're the parent of a five year-old boy.
Don't buy toy guns for him. Time-space cases Time-space cases
stipulate an alternative identity for the adjudicator (as a
specific person, group, or Organization) and an alternate time
and/or place at which the debate is conducted. It's August 6,1945,
and you're Harry Truman. Don't drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
It's June 1936 and you're Franklin Roosevelt (or, alternatively.
the U.S. Olympic Committee). Boycott the Berlin Olympics.
- Slide 25
- This House believes that Latin America's move left will do more
harm than good. This House believes that society has an obligation
to guarantee a basic quality of life to its members. This House
believes that social justice is a moral obligation. This House
believes that academic rigor is disproportionately valued over
wellness in American K-12 education. This House should prosecute or
release Guantanamo Bay detainees. This House should sanction Iran.
This House believes that The Arab League members should intervene
to stabilize Yemen.
- Slide 26
- TH would take from the rich to give to the poor TH would hold
the media responsible THBT labor unions have outlived their
usefulness THBT political correctness does more harm than good THBT
the government has forgotten its role TH supports campaign finance
reform TH regrets the decline of conventional morality TH would use
taxation to regulate behavior THBT the exploitation of animals is
immoral TH would kill all the lawyers