BPD
British Parliamentary Debating
By
Lio Kaufman
Introduction
Who am I?
Study at the University of Glamorgan in Wales
I am the 1st Chair of our Debating Society
Agnes Debating Partner in the Welsh Mace
What am I Going to Tell You?
Present a Basic Introduction to BPD
The Role of the positions and their Structure
Fulfilling your Roles in the eyes of the judge
What is BPD?
A competitive sport whereby 4 teams in opposing
sides try to convince an audience that a point of view
regarding a controversial issue is better than the
alternative provided.
Discuss v Debate
Discuss Negotiate or compromise conflicting points
of view in order to cooperate.
Debate Highlight the opposing opinions surrounding a
topic as a tool for decision making and analysis.
Terminology
This House
The British House of Common
The EU (UN?... US?)
Motions
The given topic or subject being talked about.
Potential Areas Covered
Social / Moral
Political
Entertainment (Sports / Art)
Speakers Take Turns 5 min 7 min
Debate Structure
Proposition Opposition
Prime Minister Leader of the Opposition
or or
1 2
1st 1 Speaker 1st Prop.
st 1 Speaker 1st Opp.
st
1st
Prop. Deputy Prime Minister Deputy of the Opposition Opp.
or 3 4 or
2 Speaker 1st Prop.
nd 2 Speaker 1st Opp.
nd
Member of Government Member of the Opposition
2nd
or
1st Speaker 2nd Prop.
5 6 or
1st Speaker 2nd Opp. 2nd
Prop. Government Chief Whip Opposition Chief Whip
Opp.
or 7 8 or
2nd Speaker 2nd Prop. 2 Speaker 2nd Opp.
nd
Points of Information P.O.I
3 Types of Debates
Factual debate Is it or is it not the case? Did it or did it not happen?
THBT Germany is to blame for WW2
THBT the capitalist system is doomed to collapse
THBT our education system is a failure
Value debate What should our values be & why? Is it Better or Worse
for us (and / or Society as a whole?)
THBT the sanctity of life ought to be valued over the quality of life
THBT parents should have the final say over the medical treatment of their
children
THBT we should have more freedom
Policy Debate What is the problem and how do we fix it?
THW ban smoking
THW outlaw experimentation on chimpanzees
THW impose democracy
3 Types of Motions
Closed Motion
THBT there is no such thing as universal human rights
THBT mandatory drug testing of public officials is justified
THBT child labour can never be justified
Semi (Opened / Closed) Motion
This House supports privatisation
This House would adopt a green agenda
This House believes that art is a diversion
Open Motion
THBT we have no reverse
THW gain a burst of knowledge
THB in the more the Merrier
Prime Minister
Role:
Setup the Debate
1 2
Present the Most Important
Arguments (Normally 2)
3 4
Structure:
Definition / Introduction
5 6
Sign Post
Present 1st Substantive
7 8 Present 2nd Substantive
Conclusion
Prime Minister
Definition:
1 2 Provide Sufficient Background
Define Contentious Terminology
Identify The Problem (Why is it a problem?)
3 4 Provide Policy (Find a Solution)
Explain Who dose What and When,
How does it solve the problem,
Why is this a better situation than before
Who is going to be affected by this and how is
5 6 that better?
(Easiest Solution is to Provide an Existing Model)
7 8
E.g.:
THW use children in the front line during war times
Prime Minister
Sign-Posting & Conclusions
1 2
3 4 Rhetoric Rule of 3
Letting others know what you are going to say.
5 6 Explaining & Associating the topic.
Reminding them of what you said.
7 8
Silly say easy to follow
Prime Minister
Substantive:
Title
1 2
Premises
3 4 Inference
Conclusion
Supportive Statistics / Examples
5 6 Link Back
7 8 Example:
Legalise Drugs
Supporting the Substantive
Research on bread indicates that:
1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users.
2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming
households score below average on standardized tests.
3. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24
hours of eating bread.
4. Bread is an addictive substance. Subjects deprived of bread and
given only water to eat begged for bread after as little as two
days.
5. Bread is often a "gateway" food item, leading the user to "harder"
items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter, and even cold cuts.
6. Primitive tribal societies that have no bread exhibit a low
incidence of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and
osteoporosis.
7. Newborn babies can choke on bread.
Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html
Policy
In light of these frightening statistics, it
has been proposed that the following
bread restrictions be made:
1. No sale of bread to minors.
2. A nationwide "Just Say No To Toast" campaign, complete
celebrity TV spots and bumper stickers.
3. A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the
societal ills we might associate with bread.
4. No animal or human images, nor any primary colours
(which may appeal to children) may be used to promote
bread usage.
5. The establishment of "Bread-free" zones around schools.
Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html
Leader of the Opposition
1 2 Role:
Set the tone of the Opposition
3 4
Following the 1st Speaker:
5 6 Good / Clear / Structured
Bad / Unclear / Unstructured
No Debate / Truism / Ridiculous
7 8
Leader of the Opposition
Following a Good Prime-Minister:
1 2
Structure:
3 4 Sign Post
Reiterate
5 6 Rebut
Present Substantive
7 8 Conclusion
Leader of the Opposition
Following a Good Prime-Minister:
1 2 Rebut:
Time line: Now Action Then
3 4
Wont work / Impractical / cant be done
Wont solve the problem
5 6 Outcome / Side-Effects worse than Solution.
E.g.: Co-operations Control The Future
7 8
Big Blue Ball
E.g.: Child labour can never be justified
E.g.: Abolish Capital Punishment
Leader of the Opposition
Bad / Unclear Prime-Minister:
1 2 Clarify:
3 4 No Problem Exists / Factually inaccurate
Suggest Most Logical Conflict
Rebut it as before
6 Must be logical criteria
5
E.g.: Africa in UN Security Council
7 8 Not Relevant to the Debate
E.g.: THW Lift the arms embargo off China
Leader of the Opposition
Following a Truism / Ridiculous Def:
1 2 E.g.: THBT Multiculturalism has Failed
E.g.: THBT the poor will always exist
3 4
Definition Debate:
Challenge the Definition (Prop it)
5 6
2 debates running in tandem
7 8 The Right Definition wins the debate
(Not Necessarily the best arguments)
The Deputies
Role:
1 2 Develop the Case
Rebut the Opponents
3 4
Structure:
Sign Post
5 6 Rebut
Reinforce
7 8 Add Substantive
Conclusion
Extensions
Role:
Extension: Shift the focus of the Debate
1 2
Deeper Analysis
Different Point of View (Global / Local)
3 4 Additional (Better) Arguments
Must be the same Motion !
5 6 Structure:
Sign Post
7 8 Rebut
Extension (Normally 2 Substantives)
Conclusion
Extensions
Deeper Analysis:
Who does it affect?
1 2
What can / will they do about it?
Who is going against them?
3 4 Is this better or worse Why?
Different Point of View:
5 6 Global / National / Local
National / Conservative / Labour / Liberal
7 8 Communist / Socialist / Capitalist
Show a deeper understanding of the motion and its issues
Extensions
Additional (Better) Arguments:
PEESTLE:
1 2
Political
Economical
3 4
Environmental
Social
Technological
5 6 Legal
Ecological
7 8
Why is this point more important?
Summators
Role:
1 2 Show Your side (Team) won the debate:
Speaker by Speaker
3 4 3 Main Themes
Time line: Now Action Then
5 6 New Information:
Answer a rebuttal or P.O.I.
Give a new analogy / example (to an
7 8 existing issue / argument)
Judging Criteria
Manner Matter Method
Manner Style:
Confidence, Confidence, Confidence
Tone of Voice: Pace, Pitch & Pause
Body Language: Stand Upright, Eye Contact, Hand Gestures
Energy Level
Matter Content:
Backup / Support to Argument
Validity of Argument
Level of Analysis / Understanding
Method Strategy:
Timing
Structure / Signposting
P.O.I (Taken & Received)
Teamwork
Thank You.
Any Questions?
