Debate

Debate, also Debating outside the USA and Canada, is a formalized system of (usually) logical argument. Rules governing debate allow groups and individuals to discuss and decide issues and differences. Debate is a common process in deliberative bodies such as parliaments, legislative assemblies, and meetings of all sorts. Outcomes of debates may be decided by voting, by judges, or by combination of both.

Competitive Debate in education

Competitive debate is popular in English-speaking universities and high schools around the world, most notably in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Many different styles of debate occur under a variety of organizations and rules.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Ireland - Australia - New Zealand - Asia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Parliamentary Debate

:Main article: Parliamentary debate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Parliamentary debate (sometimes referred to as "Parli") is conducted under rules derived from British parliamentary procedure. It features the competition of individuals in a multi-person setting. It borrows terms such as "government" and "opposition" from the British parliament. It is commonly used in Canada.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Throughout the world, parliamentary debate is what most countries know as "debating", and is the primary style practiced in the United Kingdom, Australia, India and most other nations. The premier event in the world of debate, the World Universities Debating Championship, is conducted in the British Parliamentary style.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Australia - India - World Universities Debating Championship

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the U.S. the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) is the oldest national parliamentary debating organization, based on the east coast and including all of the Ivy League, although the more recently founded National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) is now the largest collegiate sponsor. The National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL) is the umbrella organization for all debating at the secondary school level in the United States. And in Canada, the Canadian Universities Society for Intercollegiate Debating (CUSID) is the umbrella organization for all university-level debating.

Related Topics:
American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) - East coast - Ivy League - National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) - National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL) - Canadian Universities Society for Intercollegiate Debating (CUSID)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

British Parliamentary Debate

This style of parliamentary debating is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe and Africa and for the World Universities Debating Championship. Speeches are 7 min in length at Worlds and some other competitions, but frequently 5 minutes in length - in either case, the first and last minute of each speech is "protected" time in which the speaker may not be interrupted by points of information. Four teams (two on each side) use the following positions:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Opening Government:
• Prime Minister or First Government member and
• Deputy Prime Minister or Second Government member;
• Opening Opposition:
• Leader of the Opposition or First Opposition member and
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition or "Second Opposition member;
• Closing Government:
• Member for the Government or Third Government member and
• Government Whip or Fourth Government member;
• Closing Opposition:
• Member for the Opposition or Third Opposition member and
• Opposition Whip or Fourth Opposition member.

Speaking order is

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Prime Minister
• Opposition Leader;
• Deputy Prime Minister;
• Deputy Opposition Leader;
• Member for the Government;
• Member for the Opposition;
• Government Whip;
• Opposition Whip.

:Members will deliver a substantive speech of five or seven minutes duration and should offer points of information while members of the opposing teams are speaking.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Depending on the country, there are variations in speaking time, speaking order, and the number of speakers. For example, in New Zealand, both the leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister offer a short summary as the last two speakers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

American Parliamentary:

Parliamentary debating in The United States uses two teams who have the following positions:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Government
• Prime Minister (PM)
• Member of the Government (MG)
• Opposition
• Leader of the Opposition (LO)
• Member of the Opposition (MO)

Parliamentary debate is offered by a number of United States organizations at the tertiary and secondary level. The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) are all organizations that offer colleigiate parliamentary debate and use the following speaking and timing order:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Prime Minister (7 min)
• Leader of the Opposition (8 min)
• Member of the Government (8 min)
• Member of the Opposition (8 min)
• Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (4 min)
• Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)

The California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) and the National Parliamentary Debate League (NPDL) offer high school parliamentary debate, and use the following timing structure:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Prime Minister (7 min)
• Leader of the Opposition (7 min)
• Member of the Government (7 min)
• Member of the Opposition (7 min)
• Leader of the Opposition Rebuttal (5 min)
• Prime Minister Rebuttal (5 min)

In all of the above United States formats except CHSSA, questions can be asked of the speaker during the first 4 speeches, except during the first and last minute of each speech. Under CHSSA, questions are permitted in all six speeches.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In rebuttals, the speaker can be interrupted by the other team for two reasons. First, for Points of Order, which are used when a speaker is making a new argument or when they are grossly mischaracterizing arguments. Second, for Points of Personal Privilege, which are used when the speaker makes offensive claims, or personal attacks. Points of Personal Privilege are almost never seen. CHSSA does not allow for either Points of Order or Points of Personal Privilege. APDA and NPDL do not allow Points of Personal Privilege.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

World Schools Style

World Schools Style (or WSS) is a debating style which is fairly easy to learn. This is a combination of the British Parliamentary and Australian formats, designed to meet the needs of the World Schools Debating Championships tournament. Each debate comprises eight speeches delivered by two three-member teams (the Proposition and the Opposition). Each speaker delivers a six-minute speech; then both teams deliver a "reply speech" lasting four minutes, with the last word being reserved for the Proposition

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Each team has three speakers and this is the order in which they speak:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• First speaker of the Proposition (speaks for 6 minutes, presents the case of the Proposition, defines the motion, gives 2/3 of the arguments of the Proposition)
• First speaker of the Opposition (speaks for 6 minutes, may accept the definitions or contest them and give an alternative, rebuts Proposition arguments, presents the case of the Opposition, gives 2/3 of the arguments of the Opposition).
• Second speaker of the Proposition (speaks for 6 minutes, further develops the case of the Proposition, rebuts the arguments of the first speaker of the Opposition, gives 1/3 of the arguments of the Proposition)
• Second speaker of the Opposition (speaks for 6 minutes, further develops the case of the Opposition, rebuts the arguments given by the second speaker of the Proposition, gives 1/3 of the arguments of the Opposition)
• Third speaker of the Proposition (speaks for 6 minutes, rebuilds the case of the Proposition, rebuts the arguments of the second speaker of the Opposition, concludes case)
• Third speaker of the Opposition (speaks for 6 minutes, rebuilds the case of the Opposition, rebuts the arguments of the second speaker of the Opposition - may not introduce a new argument!)
• Reply speaker of the Opposition (speaks for 3 minutes, outlines clash point, evaluates debate, gives the final appeal) - either the first or the second speaker of the Opposition, usually the first. It is not the third as there is not enough time for the third speaker to write a new speech
• Reply speaker of the Proposition (speaks for 3 minutes, outlines clash point, evaluates debate, has the last word in protected time!) - either the first or the second speaker of the Opposition, usually the first. It is not the third as there is not enough time for the third speaker to write a new speech

During main speeches, members of the opposing team may offer Points of Information to express a question or brief remark, these shall not exceed 23 seconds or three sentences. First and last minutes of main speeches as well as the entire duration of reply speeches are protected, that means, no Points of Information may be offered.

Related Topics:
Points of Information - Second - Protected

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is no cross examination. The Proposition has to prove the motion for a reasonable majority of cases, while it is not enough for the Opposition to present reasonable doubt.

Related Topics:
Cross examination - A reasonable majority of cases - Reasonable doubt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Policy Debate

:Main Article: Policy Debate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Policy is a style of debating where two teams of two students advocate or oppose a resolution calling for a change in policy by the government. Switching sides every round, the affirmative team must propose a policy (plan), while the negative must explain why the policy won?t solve the problems that it intends to, or will cause more problems than good things.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the US, high school Policy Debate is overseen by the NFL and the NCFL. Inter-Collegiate policy debate is overseen by the National Debate Tournament (NDT), the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), the National Educational Debate Association, and the Great Plains Forensic Conference.

Related Topics:
NFL - NCFL - Inter-Collegiate policy debate - National Educational Debate Association - Great Plains Forensic Conference

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The debate consists of eight speeches, four affirmative and four negative, with each debater giving two speeches, one constructive (eight or nine minutes) in which new arguments may be raised and one rebuttal (four, five, or six minutes) in which new evidence, but no new arguments, may be raised. Any issue which goes unaddressed by the opposite side is generally considered to be conceded. The negative team represents the status quo, and so has presumption: in theory, if neither side won the round, the negative team would win. In practical terms, presumption seldom has a role in the debate, but the sequence of speeches reflects the role of presumption.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One member of each two member team is designated as the first or the second speaker. Generally, the first speaker is concise, a quick thinker, and a quick speaker, and the second speaker is more rhetorical, and able to frame the debate in the big picture.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sequence of speeches is as follows:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1AC: First affirmative constructive: sets out the affirmative team's plan to address the issue in the resolution. The 1A is cross-examined for 3 minutes by the 2N while the 1N prepares for hir speech.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1NC: First negative constructive: sets out the negative team's case against the affirmative plan. Cross examination is by the 1A.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2AC: Second affirmative constructive: addresses the negative team's arguments. Cross examination is by the 1N

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2NC: second negative constructive: develops half of the arguments from the 1NC. While new arguments are allowed in the 2NC, introducing them at this point is considered to be sneaky or a sign of a bad initial strategy. Cross-examination is by the 2A.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1NR: first negative rebuttal: strategically, this speech can be used to develop substantially one of the arguments from 1NC.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1AR: first affirmative rebuttal. This speech may be extremely fast, as each minute must address about 3 minutes of negative time. Any argument which goes unaddressed in this speech may be considered to have been conceded.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2NR: second negative rebuttal: wraps up the negative case.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2AR: second affirmative rebuttal: wraps up the affirmative case. The affirmative team speaks last because presumption rests with the status quo, as represented by the negative team.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lincoln-Douglas debate

:Main article: Lincoln-Douglas Debate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lincoln-Douglas debate, is a US format of debating named after the famous series of Senate debates between the two candidates, has two participants who compete against each other. The arguments center around philosophy or abstract values, and thus it is also called a value debate. Lincoln-Douglas debate tends to require less evidence than policy debate, and thus emphasizes logic and reasoning. Most LD cases center around a core value and a value criterion, with the value representing the highest concept that can be achieved under a given resolution and the criterion being the best way to achieve or measure the value. While there are regional variations, most good LD debates occur when both sides agree on a set value, and then must argue their criteria on the best way to achieve or measure that core value. Lincoln-Douglas debate differs markedly on the national circuit from the local circuit. The national circuit is based more on the argumentation itself (known as "the flow") and hard evidence (called "cards"), while local circuits usually focus on rhetoric and encourage a more holistic approach to the topic.

Related Topics:
Famous series of Senate debates between the two candidates - Value debate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Simulated legislature

High school debate events such as Student Congress, Model United Nations, European Youth Parliament, and the American Legion's Boys State and Girls State events are activities which are based on the premise of the contestants acting as representatives in a mock legislative body.

Related Topics:
Student Congress - Model United Nations - European Youth Parliament - American Legion - Boys State - Girls State

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Moot court

Moot court (simulating appellate advocacy) and Mock trial (usually simulating criminal trials) competitions for law school, undergraduate, and (in some regions) high school students are held throughout the United States.

Related Topics:
Moot court - Mock trial

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~