debate intro 1

7/30/2019 Debate Intro 1

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Introduction to

Debate

Lawrence Husick, Esq.

Coach - VOICES

Conestoga High School Speech and Debate

October 7, 2010

2009-10 L. Husick, Esq.


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What is Debate?

Debate is a structured discussion todetermine whether a change is needed

and desirable.Debate happens in:

Congress

Business Meetings

Family Discussions


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Why Structured?

Set order of presentation encourages fulland fair discussion

Time limits focus argumentsDivision of responsibilities bringsefficiency

Separation of presentation, cross-examination and rebuttal brings about

timely decisions


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Benefits of Debate

Improved critical thinking skills

Higher performance on standardized

testsImproved graduation rates

Improved research skills

Higher information/media literacyListening and speaking

Organization


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Types of Debate

Policy (or cross-examination, or CX)Lincoln-Douglas

Public forum

Parliamentary

Formal

Informal


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Policy DebateResolved: The United States federal government should

substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one ormore of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait,

Iraq, Turkey.

Two-person team

4 constructive speeches (each withcross-examination period) and 4

rebuttals

8-3-5 timingRelies on extensive research,presentation of formal evidence and

formal theories of argumentation

All debaters must ar ue both sides


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Lincoln-Douglas DebateResolved: The abuse of illegal drugs ought to be treated as

a matter of public health, not of criminal justice. (Nov./Dec. Topic)

One-person team

2 constructive speeches (each withcross-examination period) and 2

rebuttals

Relies on philosophical values,presentation of logical arguments, andfewer formal theories of argumentation

All debaters must argue both sides


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Public Forum DebateResolved: High school Public Forum Debate resolutionsshould not confront sensitive religious issues. (Nov. Topic)Two-person team

4 opening speeches (with 2 crossfireperiods), 2 summaries, grand crossfire, 2

final focus

Relies on general knowledge, clearlypresented reasoning, and qualityrefutation with no formal theories of

argumentation



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Parliamentary DebateImpromptu rounds use one of 6resolutions.

Ex: That this house will presume consent for organ donation.

Three-person team3 speeches for and against the motion,plus 2 reply speeches

Points of information encouragedRelies on logical arguments, generalknowledge and clear presentation



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Round Structure

Constructive Speeches

Cross Examination Rebuttals

Preparation Time


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Policy Resolution

Deals with a POLICY (duh!)

Advocates a CHANGE in the STATUSQUO

Must be supported by theAFFIRMATIVE through a CASE thatargues for a PLAN


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Stock Issues

Harms Inherency

Solvency Significance

Topicality(sometimes not considered stock)


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Fiat

Literally, let it be so means that theAffirmative Plan is assumed to be put

into effect. Only the actor specified inthe resolution may be fiated.

Means that the Negative may not argueabout whether the Plan would beenacted, just whether it is a good idea.


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How to Remember

Significance, Harms, Inherency,Topicality, Solvency = S.H.I.T.S.


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Negative Case

Stock Issues

Take-outs, Turns, Defense Topicality Disadvantages

Counterplans, Kritiks


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Negation

Proving part of the Affirmative casewrong is a take-out

Proving that an opposite result orimpact occurs is a turn


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Burden of Proof

The Affirmative must support theresolution over the status quo.

The Negative may negate the resolutionor merely support the status quo as the

better alternative. In a counterplan, the

Negative assumes the burden of prooffor the CP.


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Judging Paradigms Stock Issues: Affirmative must win all of the stock issues. For the

negative to win, they only need to prove that the affirmative fails to

meet one of the stock issues.

Policymaker: The judge pretends to be a Congressman. The judgecompares the plan with either the counterplan or the status quo.Whichever one is a better policy option is the winner.

Tabula Rasa: ("blank slate") the judge comes to the round with nopredispositions. They expect debaters to "debate it out", which

includes setting a paradigm.

Speaking Skills/Communications: This type of judge is concerned withgood presentation and persuasion skills. Hypothesis Tester: For the affirmative to win, they convince the judge

to support the resolution. Conversely, the negative must convince the

judge to negate the resolution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_issueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_Rasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_Rasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_issues


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Flowing(Yes, you have to!)

Step 1 - Develop your own shorthand. Nearly all debaters speak faster than aperson can write. As you learn common debate tactics and terms, you will develop a

form of abbreviations that works well for you. (T, DA, CP, Inh, Solv, Arrows, etc.)

Step 2 - Draw columns on each sheet of paper. Make one column for each speechthat will be made. Assign each team a color.

Step 3 - One sheet is usually used for introductory material, such as restating theresolution, explaining what the status quo is regarding the topic, defining words in

the resolution, and outlining what course of action the affirmative team proposes.

Each subsequent sheet represents either an advantage of affirmative team's plan or

a disadvantage of that plan (presented by the negative team).

Step 4 - As each speech is given, write down the points made in that speaker'scolumn. If a rebuttal immediately occurs to you, write that down in the column that

represents your team's next speech.

Step 5 - Align rebuttals horizontally on the paper with the arguments against whichthey're being made. If it's not possible to align the arguments horizontally, connect

them with a line on the paper.


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Judging DebateJudge responsibilities:

Initiate the round (differs by event)

Time the round, giving signals to

speakers

FLOW the round (know the argumentsand responses made)

Decide the round (and rank thespeakers)

Give constructive critiques (oral andwritten on the official ballot form)


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Judging Debate

Judge Dos:

Do act professionally and use appropriate language

Do give brief constructive oral critiques without revealing

who won or lost the round

Do write constructive criticism on the ballot, fill it outcompletely, sign it and get it back to the tab table ASAP

Do pay complete attention during the round, time carefullyand flow the arguments

Do judge based on the arguments presented in the round,and not your own knowledge or views


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Tournaments

District 10 Tournaments are Thursdays, from about 3:30 -6:00pm

Come prepared to judge any event, but let us know yourpreferences - we will try to assign accordingly

Bring paper, ball point pens, a timer (if you have an iPhone,download iDebate app for free)

Arrive on time and make sure that tab knows who you are

Start rounds on time, return ballots quickly

Have fun!


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Next Sessions

11-OCT-10@8:00-9:00pm - Parliamentary Debate

12-OCT-10@8:00-9:00pm - CX Affirmative Case Structure

14-OCT-10@8:00-9:00pm - CX Negative Case Structure

TBD - L-D

TBD - PFD


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Thank you!

See you next time


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