DEBATERS’ BRIEFING

DEBATERS’ BRIEFING

Dato’ C Q Teo Debate Challenge 2013

HOUSE RULES

• Prep time: You'll be given 30 minutes to prepare after the motions are released: You may only use printed materials to aid you with the debate, STRICTLY no access to internet allowed. You may get disqualified if found in breach of this rule

• During debates: Turn off your phone and any other electrical devices that may interrupt the debate. You may however use your phone to time yourself (must be put on silent mode). • The tournament: Be PUNCTUAL. Teams that arrive late will be dropped from the tabs for that particular round.: Be respectful of other teams. Any equity violations will be treated with serious consequences.


THE FORMAT

• Asian Parliamentary

•Two teams in each round of debate; three speakers on each team. NO RESERVES! •Government:

- Prime Minister- Deputy Prime Minister- Government Whip

•Opposition:

- Leader of Opposition- Deputy Leader of Opposition- Opposition Whip


THE FORMAT

•Six preliminary rounds; teams MUST debate ALL six rounds! •The skills of debate are formally broken down into three categories: Matter (40%) : The logic and relevance of your arguments Manner (40%) : The style with which you present yourself Method (20%) : The structure and clarity of your speech •Top 16 teams with highest number of wins and subsequently team score will proceed to the break rounds. •Break rounds are done on knockout basis.


SELECTING THE MOTION

Three motions are released for each round where teams can select which motion they want to debate. Eg. for Round 1:-•THW Legalise Prostitution•THW Abolish the Death Penalty•THW Abolish Trial by Jury

• Teams should rank the motions in order of priority and compare their rankings with their opponent for that round. Details of how this is done will be explained during briefing.


TEAMS' ROLE AND SPEAKING ORDER

• Gov: Support the motion - define the motion, construct a positive case in favour of the motion, provide substantive materials and arguments, respond to Opp's challenges/case.

• Opp: Negate the motion - respond to Gov's definition, construct a case against the motion, provide substantive material and arguments, respond to Gov's challenges/case. CLASH with Gov.

• Seven minutes is given for each speech EXCEPT for the reply speech which is given four.

• Over/under time speeches will NOT be penalised


TEAMS' ROLE AND SPEAKING ORDER


SPEAKERS' ROLES

ROLE of 1st Speakers: Establish the grounds on which the debate will be fought Prime Minister:

• Introduction • Context/Status quo • Definition• Team’s Substantives • Model (if any) • Personal Split • Argument(s)• Conclusion


SPEAKERS' ROLES

ROLE of 1st Speakers: Establish the grounds on which the debate will be fought Leader of Opposition

• Introduction • Accept/Reject/Clarify Gov's definition (definition

challenge, if any)• Rebuttal(s)• Team’s Substantives• Counter-model (if any)• Personal Split• Argument(s)• Conclusion


SPEAKERS' ROLES

ROLE of 2nd Speakers: Move the debate forward by developing analysis of existing arguments and introducing new lines of argument Deputy Prime Minister/Deputy Leader of Opposition

• Summary of debate so far• Rebuttal(s)• Defend PM/LO• Personal split• Argument(s)• Conclusion


SPEAKERS' ROLES

ROLE of 3rd Speakers: Organise the debate into clear questions/themes to make understanding it easier - then show why you won all of them! Government Whip/Opposition Whip

• Introduction - core clash• Rebuttals• Defend team's case line• Summary and conclusion


SPEAKERS' ROLES

ROLE of Reply Speakers: Review and summarise the debate by playing a biased adjudicator Government/Opposition Reply Speakers

• Review team's case• Review major arguments and responses


DEFINING MOTIONS

Motions can be:• Open - THB In The Force• Closed - THW Allocate Funds to Schools Based on Examinations

Results The purposes of the definition are to:• Identify the issues to be debated• clarify the meaning of words in the topic e.g THW Legalise Euthanasia The most reasonable definition should take into account:• Context• Spirit of the Motion. Set the debate up clearly and explain the relevance of the definition; explain the context, status quo


DEFINING MOTIONS

Definitions SHOULD NOT be:• a squirrel i.e without a clear and logical link to the topic• self-proving or truistic• time set• unfairly place setAn Opposition team may ONLY challenge the definition if any one of the four occurs! EVEN THEN, WE ADVISE YOU TO ENGAGE AS YOU WILL BE CREDITED.Challenging the definition:• CLEARLY state the challenge• JUSTIFY the reason for doing so• give an ALTERNATIVE definition Points to remember:• Definition/definition challenge can only be made by PM/LO• In case of a definition challenge, provide 'even if' arguments/rebuttals


NEW MATTER RULE

Whip speakers are NOT ALLOWED to bring in new matter into the debate. What is new matter?

• A new argument that was never forwarded by first two substantive speakers• New examples/evidence/analysis is NOT new

matter


POINTS OF INFORMATION

•Offered anytime during a speech from the 1st minute to the 6th minute EXCEPT during reply speeches •Speakers can OFFER as many POIs as they want, subject to the approval of the debater currently speaking. •Each speaker should ACCEPT a minimum of 2 POIs. •Each POI should be ONLY 15 SECONDS LONG. •Don't heckle.


REPLY SPEECHES

•Reply speeches are given by either the first or second speaker on each team •The aim of reply speeches is to give each team a brief opportunity to consolidate its ideas and review the debate, in order to present the debate in the most favourable light for each side •There is no set structure for a reply speech •Step back and explain how your team won the debate whilst constructively criticising your opponents' approach, explaining why they lost •Less confrontational, and more analytical


ADJUDICATION

• Manner (40%)

• Matter (40%)

• Method (20%)


ADJUDICATION

MATTER (40%)

•Definition

•Arguments/substantive matter

•Analysis

•Evidence

•Examples

•Rebuttals

•Points of information (given & taken)


ADJUDICATION

MANNER (40%) It's all about conveying a message to the audience: Persuasiveness, Credibility and Conviction. Includes : - confidence

- body language (eye contact, hand gestures, stance, etc)- vocal style (volume, pace, tone)- clarity and the use of language- humour

AVOID : - fillers

- reading from notes- being TOO fast/slow/loud/soft


ADJUDICATION

METHOD (20%) Team method:

- cohesion- logic; prioritisation- fulfilment of speaker roles

Individual method

- structure- dynamics- management of speaking times


SCORING

•Matter (40%) Min 27 % Max 33 %

•Manner (40%) Min 27 % Max 33 %

•Method (20%) Min 15 % Max 17 %

•Total – (100%) Min 67 % Max 83 %

•Range - 67 % - 83 %


Margin• Close - 0.5 – 4.5 • Clear - 5.0 – 9.5 • Very Clear Win - 10.0 – 15.0

• Decimal points for speakers can only be awarded to Reply Speeches.

THANKYOU

DEBATERS’ BRIEFING

Documents

round of debate

skills of debate

teams role

speakers rolesrole

deputy leader of opposition

break rounds

particular round

arguments manner