Steps of a Debate
- Thank You’s: Thank the judge, opponent and your partner. Remember: “Thank you + 1”
- Introduce Self & Speaker position: Say your name and what Speaker you are (PM, MG, LO, MO).
- State the Topic: Say the topic exactly as it was announced.
- State your Side: “Government” or “Opposition”. Explain what that means. You either agree or disagree with the topic.
*NOTE: If you are the Government team, give your definition (Def); if you are Opposition, then this is your one chance to agree or disagree with the Government’s definition. - Fact, Policy or Value: State what type of round it is and explain to the judge what that means.
- Explain your Goal for the Round: What are you going to do to win? Remember: Criterion (Crit) and Weighing Mechanism (WM)
- Begin your Arguments:For a “Fact” round prove the topic is true. Your arguments are called your “Contentions” (Cont).For a “Value” round explain why you value (why it is good or useful) something. In a value round you will often have to compare two things; make sure to explain why your value is “better” than the other. If there is no second thing, explain why what you value is better than “not having it”.For a “Policy” round it is a bit more complex. Go through the following steps:
- Explain the problems that exist now: “Harms”
- State your plan to try and fix them: “Plan”
- Say why your plan works: “Solvency”
- Explain that your plan is new and not already being done: “Uniqueness”
- Show that your plan will actually make a real difference (Impact): “Significance”
- Show good things that will come from your plan, BESIDES solving your problems: “Advantages”
- Be careful that your plan does not make BIGGER problems than the ones you fix: “Disadvantages”
- Repeat your Partners arguments! Remember: “Dead Argument”
- “Off-Case”: Both teams, AFTER the first Government speech make sure to use “Off-Case” (saying why the other side is not correct).
- Explain Everything!
- “VOTERS”: On your team’s final speech, give “Voters” (Reasons for the judge to pick you).
Debate Tips
- Use a Flow Chart!
- Listen to your Partners & Opponents arguments. Write them down using Short-Hand (1, 2, 3, 4 or maybe 5 words).
- Remember to use some P.O.I.s (Points of information) during your opponent’s speech. Make sure to be smart in taking P.O.I.s!
- Remember this is a battle for Respect and Control.
- Delivery does matter!
- The quality of your arguments matters more than anything else. Good logic, examples and IMPACTS win rounds!
- Be respectful, speak well, use “High Level Thinking” and “Ripples” to win your debate rounds!
- Remember to “Weigh-out” arguments (explain why yours matter more). You don’t have to win every argument to win a debate round!
- Again, do not forget: IMPACTS lead to VOTERS, one of the key way to win a debate round!
- Have fun! Two of the most important goals of debate are: to learn skills to make the world a better place and to have fun while doing it.
Debate Preparation
- The more you read before the tournament, the better. Focus on local issues and major current events.
- Watching the news and listening to informative radio, are also excellent ways to prepare.
- Good sources are: The NY Times, the Economist, the Washington Post, Time Magazine, BBC, PBS, NPR and KQED. Just to name a few of the many wonderful sources available to you.
- Practice with your partner, family, friends, classmates or by yourself!
- Pick a topic and prepare both sides (gov/opp).
- Pick an argument and use “Ripples” to explain why/how it matters (i.e. We need rules).
- Pick an argument and use a “Story” to show why/how it matters (i.e. Sleep is important).
- Practice “Short-Hand” verbally (i.e. Research shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as it jump-starts your brain and gives it the needed resources to function effectively. Breakfast = effective brain).
- Talk with your partner and have your parents communicate with theirs, to make sure you are ready!
- Come to the Debate Practices!