Debating Debating Rules, Roles & Rules, Roles &

RegulationsRegulations

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RecapRecap

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• 4 teams of 2 people, with 2 teams in favour of each 4 teams of 2 people, with 2 teams in favour of each sideside•15 minutes prep time15 minutes prep time

• 5 minute speeches5 minute speeches• During opposition speeches you can (and During opposition speeches you can (and shouldshould) ) offer POI’s (Points of Informationoffer POI’s (Points of Information

• You are trying to convince the You are trying to convince the judgejudge that your view that your view on the particular social policy is correcton the particular social policy is correct

• Each different position on the table has different Each different position on the table has different roles associated with itroles associated with it

Table DiagramTable Diagram

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11stst PropProp

22ndnd PropProp

11stst OppOpp

22ndnd OppOpp

Constructing a SpeechConstructing a Speech

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• In prep time, you and your partner should attempt In prep time, you and your partner should attempt to come up with as many points in support of your to come up with as many points in support of your argument as you canargument as you can• If you are first half of the table you should then take If you are first half of the table you should then take your 6 strongest arguments and split them between your 6 strongest arguments and split them between you (3 each)you (3 each)• You should then split your speech as following:You should then split your speech as following: State your three points (This is called “signposting”)State your three points (This is called “signposting”) Rebuttal – 30-60 seconds, this should deal with the speeches from the Rebuttal – 30-60 seconds, this should deal with the speeches from the other side that have gone before you, explaining why things your other side that have gone before you, explaining why things your opponents have said were wrongopponents have said were wrong Your three points – lasting 60-90 seconds each – you should aim to Your three points – lasting 60-90 seconds each – you should aim to explain each of your points in a logical fashion with explain each of your points in a logical fashion with as much as much justification as possible justification as possible in order to convince the judge what you’re in order to convince the judge what you’re saying is true.saying is true. Summary of speech – once you’ve run out of material, briefly Summary of speech – once you’ve run out of material, briefly summarise each of your 3 points (if you have any time remaining in summarise each of your 3 points (if you have any time remaining in which to do so)which to do so)

Special Roles on the Special Roles on the TableTable

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• 11stst Prop – 1 Prop – 1stst Speaker Speaker – Must define the motion, – Must define the motion, decide actually what we’re talking about and tell us decide actually what we’re talking about and tell us HOW you are going to do itHOW you are going to do it• 22ndnd Prop/Opp – 1 Prop/Opp – 1stst Speaker – Extension Speakers Speaker – Extension Speakers – These two must aim to bring new material to the – These two must aim to bring new material to the debate, try and come up with arguments that will take debate, try and come up with arguments that will take the debate in a new direction that hasn’t already been the debate in a new direction that hasn’t already been discussed. discussed. • 22ndnd Prop/Opp – 2 Prop/Opp – 2ndnd Speaker – Summary Speakers Speaker – Summary Speakers – – These two must summarise the debate, they do this These two must summarise the debate, they do this by using the three strongest arguments from their by using the three strongest arguments from their side in order to try to persuade the judges that their side in order to try to persuade the judges that their side has won the debateside has won the debate

11stst Prop Prop

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• Identify the problem addressed by the motionIdentify the problem addressed by the motion

• Explain the Mechanism to solve the problemExplain the Mechanism to solve the problem• Explain how society will work with the solution in Explain how society will work with the solution in placeplace

Problem

Mechanism Solution

• For Prop to win the debate, they must prove this For Prop to win the debate, they must prove this process, and prove that the solution world is better process, and prove that the solution world is better than the status quothan the status quo

11stst Opp Opp

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• Deny the existence of the problem itselfDeny the existence of the problem itself

• Identify new, bigger problems that are created in Identify new, bigger problems that are created in the solution worldthe solution world

• Claim that the mechanism itself doesn’t solve the Claim that the mechanism itself doesn’t solve the problemproblem

Problem

Mechanism Solution

For Opp to win the debate, they have to prove For Opp to win the debate, they have to prove that Prop’s model doesn’t work, they can attack that Prop’s model doesn’t work, they can attack this on any one of three fronts:this on any one of three fronts:

• Opp can choose which line of argument to go downOpp can choose which line of argument to go down

An ExampleAn Example

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• Prop: There is a lack of regulation of drugs – leading to people taking poorly Prop: There is a lack of regulation of drugs – leading to people taking poorly manufactured drugs and doing damage to themselvesmanufactured drugs and doing damage to themselves

Problem

Mechanism Solution

This House Would legalise all drugsThis House Would legalise all drugs

• Opp: These people are committing an act that is illegal and immoral, so when Opp: These people are committing an act that is illegal and immoral, so when they come to harm as a result it is their own faultthey come to harm as a result it is their own fault• Prop: We will legalise all drugs, with sellers having a licence and supplies being Prop: We will legalise all drugs, with sellers having a licence and supplies being given strict instructions as to what can go into the drugsgiven strict instructions as to what can go into the drugs• Opp: The state won’t want to sell drugs that are particularly strong, so people Opp: The state won’t want to sell drugs that are particularly strong, so people will still use unregulated back street drug dealers.will still use unregulated back street drug dealers.• Prop: People will not be taking drugs with unknown content, and will be much Prop: People will not be taking drugs with unknown content, and will be much more aware of the specific effects of each individual drug, what’s more, doctors more aware of the specific effects of each individual drug, what’s more, doctors will be able to know exactly what people have taken will be able to know exactly what people have taken • Opp: Knowing that the drugs are safe is going to make more people more likely Opp: Knowing that the drugs are safe is going to make more people more likely to take drugs, which will turn us into a society full of drug addicts!to take drugs, which will turn us into a society full of drug addicts!

ExtensionExtension

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• You & your partner should come up with as many You & your partner should come up with as many different points before the debate as you can, think different points before the debate as you can, think about all the wider implications of the motion and the about all the wider implications of the motion and the different groups of people affected.different groups of people affected.• During the debate cross off the arguments as they During the debate cross off the arguments as they come up in the first half of the table, look for things come up in the first half of the table, look for things that you think have been missed by your side – or that you think have been missed by your side – or arguments of the other side that need taking downarguments of the other side that need taking down

Let’s go back to the drug debate...Let’s go back to the drug debate...

An ExampleAn Example

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• Prop: There is a lack of regulation of drugs – leading to people taking poorly Prop: There is a lack of regulation of drugs – leading to people taking poorly manufactured drugs and doing damage to themselvesmanufactured drugs and doing damage to themselves

This House Would legalise all drugsThis House Would legalise all drugs

• Opp: These people are committing an act that is illegal and immoral, so when Opp: These people are committing an act that is illegal and immoral, so when they come to harm as a result it is their own faultthey come to harm as a result it is their own fault• Prop: We will legalise all drugs, with sellers having a licence and supplies being Prop: We will legalise all drugs, with sellers having a licence and supplies being given strict instructions as to what can go into the drugsgiven strict instructions as to what can go into the drugs• Opp: The state won’t want to sell drugs that are particularly strong, so people Opp: The state won’t want to sell drugs that are particularly strong, so people will still use unregulated back street drug dealers.will still use unregulated back street drug dealers.• Prop: People will not be taking drugs with unknown content, and will be much Prop: People will not be taking drugs with unknown content, and will be much more aware of the specific effects of each individual drug, what’s more, doctors more aware of the specific effects of each individual drug, what’s more, doctors will be able to know exactly what people have taken will be able to know exactly what people have taken • Opp: Knowing that the drugs are safe is going to make more people more likely Opp: Knowing that the drugs are safe is going to make more people more likely to take drugs, which will turn us into a society full of drug addicts!to take drugs, which will turn us into a society full of drug addicts!

What can our extension speakers talk about?What can our extension speakers talk about?

Prop ExtensionProp Extension

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• Bring drugs into discussion in mainstream Bring drugs into discussion in mainstream cultureculture• Lifting taboo on drugs takes away some of the Lifting taboo on drugs takes away some of the “enjoyment” of doing drugs – no longer rebellion “enjoyment” of doing drugs – no longer rebellion against the state against the state • People will take drugs in visible areas, which People will take drugs in visible areas, which means crime is easier detects, and “drug means crime is easier detects, and “drug ghetto’s” don’t ariseghetto’s” don’t arise• Freedom to Choose, drugs do more harm to Freedom to Choose, drugs do more harm to the individual themselves therefore it should be the individual themselves therefore it should be there decision to engage in destructive there decision to engage in destructive behaviour or notbehaviour or not• There’s nothing wrong with taking drugs, There’s nothing wrong with taking drugs, stigma attached just stems from a historical fear stigma attached just stems from a historical fear of the unknownof the unknown• We can monitor those who are taking drugs – We can monitor those who are taking drugs – abusers will be easier to identify and therefore abusers will be easier to identify and therefore easier to treateasier to treat

Opp ExtensionOpp Extension

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• Drugs are bad, people trust the government and will Drugs are bad, people trust the government and will interpret this as the government telling people taking interpret this as the government telling people taking drugs is okdrugs is ok• The state has a duty of care to look after it’s The state has a duty of care to look after it’s citizens, drugs are harmful and therefore we must citizens, drugs are harmful and therefore we must protect them from itprotect them from it • Drugs being tucked away in their own mini-crime Drugs being tucked away in their own mini-crime zones is a good thing – keep it all in one place away zones is a good thing – keep it all in one place away from the law abiding citizens from the law abiding citizens • Increased drug consumption as a society would Increased drug consumption as a society would lower efficiency, those that are addicted to drugs lower efficiency, those that are addicted to drugs often become apathetic to other things (career, family often become apathetic to other things (career, family etc.)etc.)

SummarySummary

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• During prep time, the summary speaker simply has During prep time, the summary speaker simply has to help his partner (the extension speaker) come up to help his partner (the extension speaker) come up with argumentswith arguments• During the debate he should note down what each During the debate he should note down what each speaker on both his, and the opposing side say speaker on both his, and the opposing side say • When it comes to his speech he should choose the 3 When it comes to his speech he should choose the 3 strongest argument’s from his side and re-analyse strongest argument’s from his side and re-analyse themthem• Ideally, this should deal with the strongest Ideally, this should deal with the strongest arguments from the opposing side (the arguments arguments from the opposing side (the arguments should “clash”), but if not, it may be useful to also should “clash”), but if not, it may be useful to also take them down during your speechtake them down during your speech• Summary speakers shouldn’t bother with rebuttal, Summary speakers shouldn’t bother with rebuttal, their speech should deal with pretty much anything their speech should deal with pretty much anything that’s of importance to the debate that’s of importance to the debate • Remember, it’s a biased summary, you’re trying to Remember, it’s a biased summary, you’re trying to convince the judge that your side won the debate.convince the judge that your side won the debate.

MotionMotion

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THW Bring Back THW Bring Back the Death Penaltythe Death Penalty