DEBATING STRATEGY

Strike a balance between presenting your team's point(s) and rebutting the
opponents' point. Since teams take turns debating, it's always possible to
ofer rebuttals unless you are the frst afrmative speaker. Here is a
rundown of how both teams might organize their debate strategy:
1st afrmative:
Defne the topic (optional) and present the team's main line.
Outline, in brief, what each afrmative speaker will talk about.
Present the frst half of the afrmative's argument.
1st negative:
Accept or reject the defnition (optional) and present the team's main line.
Outline, in brief, what each negative speaker will talk about.
Ofer a rebuttal of a few of the points presented by the frst afrmative.
Present the frst half of the negative's argument.
2nd afrmative:
Reafrm the afrmative's main line.
Ofer a rebuttal of a few of the points presented by the frst negative.
Present the second half of the afrmative's argument.
2nd negative:
Reafrm the negative's main line.
Ofer a rebuttal of a few of the points presented by the second afrmative.
Present the second half of the negative's argument.
3rd afrmative:
Reafrm the afrmative's main line.
Ofer a rebuttal of any of the remaining negative's arguments.
Ofer a summary of the afrmative's case.
Conclude debate for the afrmative team.
3rd negative:
Reafrm the negative's main line.
Ofer a rebuttal of any of the remaining afrmative's arguments.
Ofer a summary of the negative's case.
Conclude debate for the negative team.
DEFINING THE MOTION
Defning the Motion is the frst task of the 1st Speaker of the Proposition
Team. The defnition clarifes the Motion and is intended to tell the
Audience, Adjudicators and Opposition Team exactly what the Debate will
be about. It gives a clear description of boundaries to the Motion, thereby
limiting the Debate to a focused area of discussion. This prevents the
Debate from turning into a vague and confusing series of unrelated
arguments and diferent interpretations from both Teams of what is
actually being Debated between them.
Defning Words: The defnition should take the Motion as a whole. You
should defne individual words or phrases only if they have a key role.
Keep in mind that the defnition should not be a lengthy recitation of
dictionary quotations but rather a logical and concise enunciation which
gives a clear understanding of the issues that will be discussed in the
Debate.
Reasonable Defnitions: The defnition should be a clear and simple line of
argument which addresses the Motion fully and creates a fair ground for
Debate. The Judges will expect a relevant, intelligent, straightforward and
reasonable defnition, which:
Has a clear and logical link to the Motion - this means that an average
reasonable person would accept the link made by between the Motion and
the defnition.
Is debatable (i.e. there are two sides to it). A reasonable Opposition to the
defnition must exist and specialist knowledge should not be required to
understand and argue it.
Is not a self-proving (tautological) or a truistic assertion.