Joining POWERtalk gives you many opportunities to develop confidence in speaking and thinking on your feet. The one I really enjoyed was organised formal debates. Unfortunately, this has not been part of our programmes lately, partly, I think, because you need quite a number of people to have a really “ding-dong” event.
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A
debate can be between two people or any number of people. A formal
debate is usually between two teams. The teams can have any number of
speakers. Our country is governed by debates — the House of Commons is
a debating chamber.
It is also an exercise that demands
self-discipline. First, you have to do quite a lot of research to
gather facts, figures and quotes from authorities to reinforce your
arguments when putting your case and secondly, you must decide what
arguments your opponents will use to refute your points so that you in
turn counter your opponents' arguments.
Then you have to determine your strategy. Who is going to lead your team, who is in a supporting role, and who says what.
The
formal debates where I used to take part usually had two teams of two
people in each. The teams can be called Positive and Negative,
Affirmative and Negative, Proposer and Opposer, or simply For and
Against.
The order of speaking is: First Speaker: Speaker No. 1 of Positive;
Second Speaker: Speaker No.1 of Negative;
Third Speaker: Speaker No. 2 of Positive;
Fourth Speaker: Speaker No. 2 of Negative.
At that point, the event could be open to comments or arguments from the audience.
Then the Summing Up speeches are presented:
Fifth Speaker: Speaker No. 1 of Negative,
and lastly Sixth Speaker: Speaker No. 1 of Positive team.
A debate motion is usually presented in the form: “This House believes that … .”
The
wording of the Motion is important. It should be short, simple and
positive, a subject that can be debated, not one that most people would
agree with anyway, such as “Reading widely is beneficial”. And
certainly it must be positive, not negative. You cannot prove a
negative.
The first speaker, the leader of the Affirmative,
should define the motion. But the definition must give the opposition a
realistic chance of arguing the point.
Consider: “All citizens
should carry a national ID card”. “All” ? Every country in the
world? Do you mean your own country? Citizens? What about
Subjects? In Britain you can be one or the other. What about foreign
students studying here?
The first Affirmative Speaker should
also explain what points he/she will cover and what points the other
Affirmative speakers will use. A debate is team work, not a series of
separate speeches.
The Negative team has to accept the Motion as defined, even if they do not agree with it.
Points
of Information should be used throughout, but debaters should know the
difference between Points of Information and Points of Order.
Points of Information
These can be used to seek or provide information.
They should be clear, short, succinct — definitely not a mini speech.
Speakers may accept or refuse at their discretion.
A competent, judicious use of the ability to accept or reject impresses judges and audience.
But they must not be used during the first and last minute of speeches and not at all during summing-up speeches.
Points of Order
A Point of Order is used when a participant believes that the rules of procedure are not being followed.
The clock is stopped for a Point of Order.
Qualities expected in a debate
Relevance
Speeches should be germane to the motion. Persistent irrelevance will be penalised by the judges.
Refutation
The
skill with which a speaker counters or undermines the arguments of
opponents. This is particularly demonstrated in the handling of
Points of Information.
Analysis
Analysis of the issues contained in the motion and of the points made in opposing arguments.
Delivery
The
speaker's ability to gain and hold audience attention, including wit,
plausibility, use of gesture and ability to deal with Points of
Information, as well as tone modulation and audibility. Judges should
discriminate against blatant gimmickry.
Evidence
The relevance of the authorities cited and the fluidity with which they are adduced.
Teamwork
The extent to which speakers work as a team, complementing and supporting their partners.
Participation
Each debater should make judicious use of Points of Information and, if necessary, Points of Order.
PROTOCOL
Always
respect your opponents. Good manners should prevail throughout.
Lack of courtesy to them will be penalised by judges. Don't belittle
them or their ideas.
Don't try to be too clever or gimmickry. Both judges and the audience will be offended by a “Clever Dick”.
Nancy Sanderson
nms//23.3.25