DEBATE BASICS

By Sarah Zaman

Table of Contents

 Introduction to Debate
 Types of Debates
 Structure of a Debate
 Roles in a Debate
 How to Prepare for a Debate
 Characterization and structuring etc
 Common Debate Terminology
 Motion types in debate

1. Introduction to Debate

Debating is the art of structured argumentation where two or more sides present
opposing viewpoints on a specific issue. It’s not only about arguing but
presenting well-reasoned and evidence-backed arguments in a civil manner.
Debates help you develop critical thinking, public speaking, and listening skills.

2. Types of Debates

There are several formats of debate, but here are some common ones:
Parliamentary Debate: Modeled after the British Parliament, this debate has two
teams: the government or gov (proposing) and the opposition or opp (against).
Each team presents speeches in a structured format.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: A Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD Debate) is a one-on-one

debate format that focuses on values, philosophy, and ethics. It is named after
the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas during
their 1858 Senate race, where they debated important moral and political issues,
especially slavery.

Policy Debate: This format revolves around policies and typically involves two
teams debating the effectiveness of a proposed policy, considering its practicality
and evidence.

Public Forum Debate: This involves two teams and is designed for general
audiences. The focus is on clear communication and the topic often addresses
current events.

3. Structure of a Debate

Most debates follow a common structure, which can be broken down as follows:

Opening Speeches: Each side presents their case. This is the foundation of the
debate where you introduce your arguments.
Rebuttals: In this section, debaters refute the points made by the opposing team.
The aim is to dismantle their arguments and defend your own.

Cross-examination or POI’s: This is an opportunity for debaters to ask direct

questions to the opposing team. It tests the strength and depth of their
arguments.

Closing Statements: In the final stage, each side summarizes their arguments and
explains why they have won the debate.

4. Roles in a Debate

Each debate format has specific roles. In a team debate, these are common roles:

First Speaker: Introduces the case, defines the topic, and presents the first set of
arguments.

Second Speaker: Rebuttals the opposition’s arguments and builds on the team’s
case with additional evidence and reasoning.

Third Speaker: Focuses primarily on rebutting the opposition’s points and

strengthening the team’s arguments.

Rebuttal Speaker: This is usually the final speaker who summarizes the debate
and provides the most compelling reasons why their team should win.

5. How to Prepare for a Debate

Understand the Topic: The first step is to clearly understand the debate topic.
Research both sides of the issue to be well-prepared. To understand the debate
properly first try to understand all the key-points in the motion. For example:
“THBT International tourism does more harm than good”

Key points-

 International tourism
 Economical factors
 Environmental factors
 Over tourism and strains on infrastructure

Research: Gather evidence, facts, statistics, and expert opinions to support your
arguments. Credibility is key in debate. Try to learn as much as you can because
during a debate, the more knowledge you have, the better your chances of
attracting the judges.

Structure Your Case: Organize your arguments logically. Make sure you have
strong reasoning behind your claims and prepare for potential counterarguments.

Practice: Rehearse your speeches. Practice delivering them clearly and

persuasively, and anticipate the questions or challenges your opponents might
raise.

6. Characterization, structuring etc

 Characterizing the Debate:-

Characterization in a debate involves framing the key elements of the debate—

such as the issue, actors, and context—in a way that supports your side. By
characterizing these elements effectively, you shape how the judge and audience
perceive the debate. This strategy influences the moral or logical weight of your
arguments.

Key Elements to Characterize:

The Issue/Problem:

How you describe the topic or the problem at hand.

Example: In a debate about surveillance vs. privacy, one side might characterize
the issue as a fight for security, portraying privacy concerns as secondary. The
other side might characterize it as a fundamental rights issue, highlighting
government overreach.

The Actors:

How you describe the individuals or institutions involved.

Example: In a debate about government regulation, you could describe the

government in two different ways: either as helpful because it protects people
and ensures fairness (positive), or as harmful because it limits personal freedom
and slows down progress (negative).

The Stakeholders:

Who is affected, and how do you want them to be seen?

Example: In a debate about minimum wage, the affirmative might characterize

workers as exploited and in need of financial stability. The negative might
characterize business owners as job creators who would suffer under higher
costs.

The Context:
Place the issue in a historical, social, or economic context to explain why it
matters.

Example: In a debate about climate change, characterizing the context as a

“global emergency with irreversible damage” adds urgency and importance to
your arguments for strong environmental policies.

 Structuring the Debate:-

Structuring your debate means organizing your ideas clearly so the judge and
audience can easily follow. A good structure has a smooth flow from one point to
the next, with each argument logically building toward a strong conclusion.

Introduce the Debate:

At the beginning, both sides should clearly introduce the resolution or

topic.Define any key terms to make sure both teams are on the same page.

Example: "The debate before us is: 'Resolved: Social media platforms should be
legally responsible for user-generated content.'"

Outline the Structure:

Let the judge know the roadmap of your speech so they can follow along. This
means briefly stating the points you'll cover.

Example: "In this debate, I will present three arguments: First, that regulating
social media is necessary for public safety; second, that platforms have the
capability to moderate content effectively; and third, that without accountability,
misinformation will continue to spread unchecked."

3. Presenting Arguments (Using the Claim, Warrant, Impact Model):

As discussed earlier, present each argument in a clear, structured way:

Claim: State your argument.

Warrant: Provide reasoning, evidence, or examples to back up your claim.

Impact: Explain why this argument is important or the consequences if your

argument is true.

Example of Structure for Each Argument:

Claim: "Regulating social media is necessary to ensure public safety."

Warrant: "Studies have shown that unregulated platforms can be used to incite
violence and spread dangerous misinformation."

Impact: "If social media platforms are not held accountable, these dangers will
continue to escalate, leading to real-world harm."

Build on Arguments acc to the first one:

Each argument should logically build on the previous one, forming an organised
case. Ensure that your arguments are connected.

Example: "Not only does social media pose a public safety risk, but it also has the
tools to address the problem, as shown by their existing moderation policies."

Address Counterarguments:

Anticipate the arguments your opponent may present and proactively address
them in your constructive speech or during your rebuttals.

Example: "The opposition might argue that making platforms responsible could
limit free speech. However, we believe that platforms are already moderating
content, and legal accountability would not restrict free speech; it would simply
help ensure that harmful content is properly managed."
Summarize Key Points and Restate Your Position:

In the final part of your structure, restate the most important points and explain
why they outweigh the opposition’s arguments.

Example: " In conclusion, we have shown that the dangers of unregulated content
are much greater than worries about government overreach. Holding platforms
accountable will keep the public safe while still protecting free speech."

7. Common Debate Terminology

Affirmative (or Proposition): The side that supports the debate resolution or
topic.

Negative (or Opposition): The side that opposes the resolution.

Resolution: The statement or topic being debated.

Cross-examination or POI’s: A part of the debate where debaters ask their

opponents questions.

Status Quo: The current state of affairs that one side may argue to maintain

8.Motion types in debate:-

1. THBT (This House Believes That)

When you see "THBT," it means the debate is centered around a belief or opinion
that the house is taking a stance on. It’s often about what the house thinks should
be true or accepted.

2. THW (This House Would)

This motion suggests a specific action that the house would take. It’s about
proposing what should be done in a given situation.
3. THBT (This House Believes)

Similar to the first THBT, this motion focuses on beliefs, especially about values or
moral issues. It emphasizes what the house believes to be right or wrong

4. THR (This House Regrets)

When you see "THR," it indicates that the house is expressing regret over
something that has happened in the past. It reflects a sense of disappointment or
acknowledgment that something should not have occurred.

5. THS (This House Supports)

This motion shows that the house is in favor of a particular policy or action. It’s a
supportive stance, often more enthusiastic than just stating a belief.

(Can’t think of anything else atm :D)