M.S. Ramaiah College Of Law

Literary and Debate Society

Debate Workshop

What is the ‘Debsoc’• The Literary and Debating society of M.S. Ramaiah College of Law is the official

debating institution of the college.

• All debating activities in relation to the college are routed through the debating

society.

• We are an autonomous student run and administered society functioning with

guidance of the Principal Smt. Manjushree Mishra as our chief patron.

• We are additionally guided by our faculty in-charge, Mr. Om Prakash and Mr.

Asif.

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How do we function?• We have democratically elected Office Bearers to take

care of all offical work of the Debsoc.

• Convener – Vignesh Ram

• Co- Convener – Sandeep Christopher

• Secretary – Natasha Ponappa

• Treasurer – Bindiya Rao

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When do we meet?

• 3 PM every Monday and Thursday

• No meetings are held if college declares a holiday

• Meetings are suspended 2 weeks before the start of

the Preliminary Exams before the Sem-End exams.

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What are the the types of members?

• Novice Member – 1-2 Debates

• Ordinary Members – 3-7 Debates

• Veteran Debates – 8 and above Debates

• Advisory Members – Veteran members, not OB and

selected by the OB for service rendered to the

Debsoc.

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Attendance Requirements• 60% - All members except Novice Members

• 70% - Novice members

• Attendance is calculated only if the student has attended college, not

otherwise.

• Absence from 3 consecutive meetings will lead to a show cause and a vote

which will result in removal or reinstatement.

• Failure to appear on date of show cause notice without reasonable cause

will be deemed as consent to removal.

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Benefits of the Debsoc• The only college institution to garner wins and qualifications in

the last 4 years

• Wins on national level at open debates against competition of

students of Law, Medicine, Engineering, Commerce, Arts,

Sciences, etc and working professionals.

• Cross-Soc Practice sessions with PESIT, Christ University,

RVCE, NLSIU and MSRIT.

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A few of the accolades won by the Debsoc.

• NUJS Kolkata 2011 – Novice Break Win, Highest Novice speaker on tabs

• NLU Delhi – Best Adjudicator

• ILS Pune 2013 – Best Adjudicator

• NLSIU Bangalore 2013 – Best Adjudicator

• GNLU Ghandinagar 2014 – Best Adjudicator

• Breaks at IIT Bombay 2011, NALSAR Hyderabad, 2012, MCCDT 2012, IIT

Madras 2012, Christ University, Bangalore 2012,2013, LSR Delhi 2013,

MSRIT 2011,2012,2013,2014 etc.

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Before getting into Parliamentary Debate

• Make reading the newspaper a daily morning activity.

• Follow trends on twitter, reddit etc.

• Make Wikipedia your new best friend. Refer for all doubts on current affairs.

• Keep an open mind, tow the middle path and keep a diplomatic mindset in

order to understand the other side of the case.

• Avoid using profanity, complex words, un-parliamentary statements, racist,

sexist comments or anything of a defamatory nature.

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Other essentials• Do nt typ lyk dis, k?

• Speak using official & clear communication.

• Use comparatives instead of superlatives.

• Address speakers holding the floor as Sir/ Ma’am.

• Body language can makes arguments more persuasive.

• Eloquence and Etiquette also add to persuasiveness

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Asian Parliamentary Debate

An Introduction

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Brief

• Asian PD is a form of parliamentary debate that features two

houses, Government (or Positive or Affirmative or Proposition)

and Opposition (or Negative)

• Modeled off a two party system prevalent in most Asian

countries and USA (eg. Democratic and Republican Parties)

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Team Compositions• Government

- Prime Minister

- Deputy Prime Minister

- Government Whip

• Opposition

- Leader of the Opposition

- Deputy Leader of the Opposition

- Opposition Whip

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Order of Speeches and Timings

1. Prime Minister (7 minutes) *Constructive Speeches

2. Leader of the Opposition (7 minutes) “

3. Deputy Prime Minister (7 minutes) “

4. Deputy Leader of the Opposition (7 minutes) “

5. Government Whip (7 minutes) *Summary Speeches

6. Opposition Whip (7 minutes) “

7. Opposition Reply (4 minutes) *Reply Speeches only by

8. Government Reply (4 minutes) constructive Speakers

*** Government has the first and last word of the Debate ***

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Time requirements and Points of Information

• The first and Last minute (0:00 – 1:00 and 6:00 – 7:00) is protected time, No POIs may be

raised.

• A clap or a tap on the bench will signal the end of the 1st minute and also at the start of the

6th minute. A double clap or tap will signal the end of the 7th minute.

• After the 7th Minute, 20 seconds is given to the speaker to wrap up their speech after which

at 7:20, the speaker will be drowned out.

• POIs may be offered from the end of the 1st minute to the end of the 5th minute i.e. 5:59.

• POIs can be offered only in intervals of 15 seconds from each other.

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Preparing for a debate• A theme is released along with 3 motions in relation to the theme.

• Teams rank motions and one is selected by both teams and in event of a tie, coin toss.

• 15 minutes is given for preparation and selection where government holds the room.

• Question EVERYTHING!

• Derive a principle stance.

• Devise a module for implementation if necessary.

• Status Quo and Post Facto Analysis.

• Run a negative, or alternative stance to the Government, If opposition.

• Use of any electronic devices is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Non-electronic material is allowed for

reference.

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Questions to ask yourself

1. “Why Should we implement resolution?” (Principle)

2. “How would we implement this resolution?” (Model)

3. “Why should we implement this model?” (Arguments)

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ARGUMENTATION (Basics)• S.E.E.L – State | Explain | Example |Link

• S.P.E.R.M – Social |Political |Economic |Religious |Moral

• Status Quo – Current status (Why should it remain? Or why should it

change?)

• Post facto Analysis (PFA) – After Implementation ( Positive or Negative

Impact)

• Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) – Do the benefits justify or outweigh the costs?

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ARGUMENTATION (Part 1)• Affirmative: Is what we as debaters usually refer to as “going for the motion”. Clearly when 'not', 'cannot', 'does not', etc. get

involved in motions, the implications of going on the affirmative side is bound to change as well. Simply, it means the side

that has to agree with and defend the Motion through their Case.

• Analogy: An argument that supports associations/parallels between things based on their similarity or dissimilarity.

• Argument: A controversial statement, frequently called a claim, supported by evidence and a warrant. The standards of a

logically good argument include acceptability, relevance, and sufficiency. See also Standard of acceptability, Standard of

relevance, standard of sufficiency.

• Argument by principle: An argument that supports a certain action based on the connection between that action and a

general principle. Ballot: A document on which the judge records the decision, the reasons for the decision, and speaker

points awarded to each debater.

• Biased Adjudication: Is Parliamentary Debating slang for what a reply speech essentially becomes. In a reply speech; one

speaker from each side recounts the entire match and points out clashes, arguments, points, examples, etc. and justifies

why their given side should win on those counts. It is called Biased Adjudication as a reply speech (most/a good one)

becomes what the adjudicator would say about the winning side’s case-biased adjudication as it is delivered by a speaker

from each team.

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ARGUMENTATION (Part 2)• Blanket ban: Making a general and total prohibition of an action or activity formerly allowed because it is shown to be

harmful.

• Burden: A burden is, simplistically, the weight on both sides of the Motion. Burdens are to be created by the Affirmative on

the case of the negative and vice versa. In the course of a debate, any issues that either side points out and raises with

reference to the case of their opponents becomes a Burden on that side of the house. It is here that PD gets tricky in that

while creating burdens each side, the affirmative and negative, are trying to clear the burdens and issues raised by the

opposing side of the house. .

• Burden of Proof: The Burden of Proof is the burden/issue inherent to the given side of the motion. Both sides of the house

will have a Burden of Proof before any actual speaking begins; their respective cases are aimed at clearing the Burden of

Proof. E.g. In the course of a debate (a policy debate) the burden of proof on the Affirmative side is to justify the need for

their course of action and prove the benefits (in implication) of it; the Negative’s being to counter the need and disprove its

benefits (by implication).

• Case shift: A case shift occurs when a team alters or changes their stand or proposal from one speaker to the next. This

usually happens when the opposing team points out a flaw in the proposal and pressures the following speaker to drop,

expand, or modify the proposal. It can also occur when the speakers of the same team are not clear about the parameters of

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ARGUMENTATION (PART 3)• Case split: A case split is the distribution of roles of the speakers of a team and their corresponding arguments. The case

split is provided by the first speaker of each team as the skeleton or backbone to their proposal. An example case split given

by the first speaker is, “I will be addressing the issue of.... while my Deputy will speak about...” Clashes: Clashes are the

points/aspects of the case(s) on which the two teams engage and argue with each other directly. Clashes happen (they do!)

as an argument stated by either one side is met and rebutted by the team opposing them. Clashes can be fairly considered

the essence of Parliamentary Debating. Clashes are distinct from everything a team would say in the course of a match, in

that only points picked up and rebutted become clashes. Constructive speech: A speech that presents a debater’s basic

arguments for or against the resolution.

• Cost Benefit Analysis: CBA is an effective tool used in comparing the cases for both sides of the motion. Obviously each

side uses it to prove their case stronger, better and better argued than their opposition’s. Cost Benefit analysis’ simply

involves the laying out of the cases as delivered (especially useful for Policy Debates) and pointing out the Costs involved in

the implementation of a given action or accepting a certain belief, etc. and to further stack the costs against the benefits of

the same-laying out rather plainly why one’s side should win that particular match

• Counterargument: An argument raised by an opposing team to directly refute a previous argument.

• Counter-plan: A plan proposed by the negative team as an alternative to the affirmative plan.

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ARGUMENTATION (Part 4)

• Definitional challenge: An official objection made by the Opposition regarding the context or

interpretation of the motion set by the Proposition/ Government. Depending on the format of debate, it

may only acceptable on the following grounds: time-place set up, truistic set-up, squirreling or any other

set up seen as grossly unfair and un-debatable. After a definitional challenge, the roles of speakers, the

flow of the debate, and scoring will differ from a normal debate.

• Flow: A style of note-taking during a debate that notates each speech into a column to make seeing

rebuttals easier.

• The House: is, though, open to interpretation and definition by the Affirmative side, in the course of the

Prime Minister’s speech. The Definition of the house is worked by the Affirmative but should be

conducive enough to a debate (i.e. The Negative Case).

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ARGUMENTATION (Part 5)• The Definition of houses range from

-6 rational people

-The Government of India…Ministries of GoI, Departments, etc.

-The UN, and its Subsidiaries, UNHRC, UNICEF, WHO, etc.

-American Government, or any other country’s e.g. Switzerland, Germany, etc. (keep the case in mind while making

the house a different nation)

• Model: A model is the framework of an action-plan. It can also be used to refer to existing examples of policies and their

manner of implementation. Models are used in the course of Policy Debates to clearly deliver precisely what course of action

their side of the house is arguing take place.

• Negative: Negative Sides are what we refer to as “going against the motion”. Meaning of course the side that has to disagree

with the motion and defend that stance against the Affirmative’s case.

• Preparation time: The time allotted to each team for preparation during the debate

• Status quo: The course of action currently pursued (i.e., the present system)

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ARGUMENTATION (What not to do)

• Case Slide – 2nd speaker takes a contrary

position or contradicts the 1st speaker

• Case Knife: 2nd team in a BP takes a contrary

stance or contradicts the 1st team.

• Fallacies (explained next slide)

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ARGUMENTATION (Fallacies)

• Appeal to Authority – If X said so, it must be right

• Ad Hominem – X is an idiot, anything he says is false and stupid, just like him.

• Slippery Slope – If A happens , then Z will happen, hence A must not happen

• Inconsistent Comparison - product X is less expensive than product A, has better quality than product B,

and has more features than product C(Don’t compare apples and oranges)

• Nirvana Fallacy –

Statement – Seatbelts are bad, people will die by rash driving of other anyway.

Rebuttal - While seat belts cannot make driving 100% safe, they do reduce one's likelihood of

dying in a car crash.

• Wikipedia- List of fallacies

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Definition Challenges• Truism – The sun rises in the east.

• Tautology – X may happen or X may not happen, If I shoot myself in the

head with a gun, I will die. (Self explanatory and answering or repetitive in a

different sense)

• Place Set- Debate on ban of alcohol, In Saudi Arabia.

• Time set – We will invest in phone tapping substantially in the year 1880.

• Squirrel – THW not allow smoking on college campuses; THW not allow

smoking hot girls and boys onto campuses as they are a distraction.

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DC, When madeThe definitional challenge must be made in the speech of the Leader of opposition only, following a clear statement that the

definition is being rejected or challenged. The onus for establishing the definitional challenge lies completely upon the Leader of

Opposition. Subsequent speakers are strictly permitted a purely clarificatory role (if any) in this regard.

The opposition can challenge the Government’s definition on any one ground only.

In the event of a challenge, once the grounds of challenge have been stated by the Leader of Opposition, a substitute definition

must be supplied, which the Opposition must then go on to

negate.

If the Leader of Opposition does not challenge the definition then no other speaker may do so.

The onus to prove that the definition is unreasonable lies on the Opposition and should not be presumed by adjudicators. The final

decision as to whether a definitional challenge has succeeded must take into consideration all 8 speeches in any debate.

If a definitional challenge is upheld, the team making the challenge wins by the maximum possible margin. If a definitional

challenge fails, the team making the challenge loses by the maximum possible margin.

Definitional challenges must fall if the definition provided a reasonable scope for debating & was fair enough to proceed.

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SPEAKER ROLES

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Prime MinisterThe PM begins the debate by proposing a definition. i.e the interpretation of the motion as seen by the Government within the

theme of the round. The PM must give the house:

A Logical Link between the motion and the definition , this is not mandatory if the motions are fairly close-ended.

- Setting the parameters of the debate specifically within the theme of the round, if any

- A Case Statement which basically refers to the entire definition stated in a single sentence.

- The Burden of the Proposition which should essentially reflect what they are out to prove and the essentialities around which

their debate rests.

The Team Split whereby the PM informs the house of the structure of their debate

- Constructive Arguments in support of his/her motion. If the proposition wishes to run a Practicality based debate, then the PM

must also put forth a Detailed Model.

- No floating model is allowed i.e. The DPM can only explain certain points in the model as put forth by the PM, but cannot add

any new points to the model.

- If the proposition wishes to run a Principle based debate then it is not essential to put forth a model, since it is not of great

significance in this case.

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Leader of Opposition• The LO comes up and either accepts or challenges the definition (the details On grounds of a challenge and the proceedings

are given in the next segment).

• The onus upon the LO is:

- To Accept or Challenge the definition.

- (If accepted) to identify the Point(s) of Clash – which essentially is the point the opposition realizes is debatable.

There may be multiple Points of Clash also.

- To state the Burden of the Opposition.

- To rebut certain arguments made by the Prime Minister

- To present his own constructive arguments and/or put forth a model.

- To give his Team Split which is in no way an absolute must but when present has a positive effect on scores.

A proper structure, if missing in the LO’s speech should not be marked down by the adjudicators, considering that he has the

least time to prepare his speech.

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Deputy Prime Minister• The DPM is supposed to:

- Reiterate the Case Statement and Burden of Proposition – in case of a

Challenge the DPM has to prove why the Challenge does not stand and then

proceed with his/her case.

- If the definition is not challenged, then the DPM rebuts the Opposition’s case.

- The DPM then goes on to present his/her Constructive arguments and/or

explain the model, in adherence with the PM’s team split.

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Deputy Leader of OppositionThe DLO is supposed to :

- Reiterate the Burden of the Opposition and go on to refute the

Government’s Arguments. - Move forward the Constructive Case

and/or explain the model put forth by the LO.

- In case of a Challenge, the DLO reiterates the grounds of

challenge, and then goes on to oppose his/her case as

presented by the LO.

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Government Whip- Rebut the points raised by the PM and DPM.

- Rebut the case of the opposition, pointing out the major flaws in

argumentation and logic

- New matter is not allowed in the Government Whip’s speech

although; he/she is allowed to bring in new examples to explain

previously made points or arguments.

- Rebuild the team’s case and summarize the issues of the debate and

thematize the debate.

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Opposition Whip- Rebut the points raised by the PM, DPM

- Bring out the flaws in argumentation and logic of the Proposition. -

Summarize the issues of the debate and thematize the debate.

- The third negative has duties similar to that of the 3rd affirmative. The

3rd negative cannot introduce new matter, since the proposition would

be at a disadvantage as they would not have any speech left to

respond. Although, he may give examples to reinforce an argument

brought up previously.

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Reply Speeches- The second last speech is delivered by either the LO or the DLO as a Reply speech. - The last speech is the

PM’s or the DPM’s Reply speech.

- Please note that No New Matter can be introduced in the Reply speeches.

- No POIs are allowed during the reply speeches.

- The purpose of the Reply speech is to sum up the debate and provide a Biased Adjudication. An ideal reply

speech should explain the debate by elucidating the arguments and by evaluating the themes and underlying

ideas of the debate. It analyses the debate from an outsider’s perspective and aims at drawing attention to the

larger picture.

- Apart from themes, reply speeches should also evaluate the burden of proof undertaken by each side,

proving how one side discharged the burden while the other did not.

- A reply speech is meant to be detached and reflective as contrasted to the other more stylistic speeches.

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Judging a Debate (Part 1)Parliamentary Debates are judged by Adjudicators. Adjudicators are

impartial, neutral observers of the debate who are required to have no specific

knowledge of the topics being discussed.

Adjudicators are required to judge debates based only on what was said on

the floor of the house and not his/her own personal beliefs, values or

specialized knowledge.

Adjudicators will disregard any form of expert knowledge in any speech.

Debates are usually judged by a panel of three or five adjudicators.

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Judging a Debate (Part 2)Adjudicators mark debates on the basis of: (Both for individuals as well as teams)

At the end of this tournament a “Best Speaker” award is presented on the basis of cumulative scores given

by adjudicators.

Adjudicators are not allowed to confer with each other before handing in their speed ballots (judging

sheets) to the runners.

All debaters must leave the chambers while the adjudicators tabulate scores and arrive at their decisions.

In case of a dissenting judge, the decision of a simple majority of the panel will decide the debate.

Adjudicators are required to give open adjudication to the teams after deciding the debate and

turning in speed ballots. Teams must not indulge in excessive cross questioning of the panel.

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Marking a debate 1. Matter (40) - substance of the debate, the arguments and evidence

presented, and the logical reasoning and presentation of said arguments.

2. Manner (40) - the style of delivery, the persuasion skills, and the conduct of

the debaters.

3. Method (20) - the response to the dynamics of the debate, and the

observance of the rules of debate.

* 40 + 40 +20 = 100

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Marking Guidelines (Average Scores)

• Matter – 30

• Manner – 30

• Method – 15

• 30 + 30 + 15 = 75 = Average Speech

• Worst Speech – 68 – 70 Above Average Speech – 76 - 77

• Bad Speech – 70-72 Very Good Speech – 78 - 79

• Below Average Speech – 73-74 Jesus is alive – 80+

Reply Speech = Normal Speech Score / 2

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Marking Guidelines ( Margins)A debate can either be close, clear or thrashing.

Margins vary from (close, smallest possible margin) 1 – 12 (Thrashing) Close = 1 – 3, Clear = 4 – 7,

Thrashing = 8 – 12

Close: The standard of debating between the teams was equally matched and the teams engaged in a debate where

both sides stated relevant arguments.

Clear: The standard of debating of one team was obviously superior and their arguments clearly outweighed the

arguments of the opposing team.

Thrashing: In case of a definitional challenge or forfeit on the part of the opposing team or if the opposing team did not

engage in the debate at all.

Win/Loss margins below 1 and above 12 are not permitted.

The difference in cumulative speaker scores between the teams need not match the margin of

victory. The margin of victory is at the discretion of the adjudicator however the team that wins must have the higher

cumulative score. Teams must aim at winning by the highest possible margin.

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British Parliamentary Debate

An Introduction

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Brief• British PD is a form of parliamentary debate that features two

coalition houses, Government (or Positive or Affirmative or

Proposition) and Opposition (or Negative)

• Modeled off a 4 party system prevalent in most British ruled

countries and Britain (eg. Labor, Conservative, Democratic and

Republican Parties)

• Each Houses consist of 2 parties (Opening and Closing or Majority

and Ally)

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The Motion • Every debate has a motion; this is the issue for discussion. A good motion has clear

arguments in favor of it and against it. The motions used in the All Competition will be

on topics that a young person who frequently reads a good newspaper and thinks

about what they are reading will be well equipped to argue about.

• Often, the motions are based on certain topics. The motion is expressed “This

House...” this is a convention and “The House” is all the people present at the debate.

• Unlike Asian PD, Only 1 motion is given and all 4 teams have to debate the given

topic.

• All 4 teams prepare and present separately and not together.

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Similarities to Asian PD• Time requirements and Points of Information

• Preparation for a debate (only addition of extensions)

• Argumentation

• Points of Information

• Definition Challenge (Grounds not Procedure)

• Speaker roles of PM, LO, DPM, DLO

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Differences from Asian PD

• 4 teams, not two (OG, OO, CG, CO)

• 2 closing teams have to bring in new perspectives to the ongoing debate in

terms of extensions or additional grounds.

• No reply speeches.

• Teams win in any manner, not by manner of house. (eg OG, OO, CO, CG)

• Best Idea wins, negative cases lose.

• Format used in the Worlds University Debating Championship.

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Teams in a BP

- Opening Government – Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister

- Opening Opposition – Leader of Opposition and Deputy Leader of

Opposition.

- Closing Government – Member of Government and Government Whip

- Closing Opposition – Member of Opposition and Opposition Whip

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New Speaker Roles

• PM, LO, DPM and DLO are the same as

Asian PD.

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Member of GovernmentThe Member of Government must stake his team’s claim in the debate by doing one of the

following:

1. Extend the debate into a new area (i.e. “this debate has so far focused on the developed

world, and now our team will extend that to look at the important benefits for the developing

world)

2. Introduce a couple of new arguments that make the case on his side more persuasive.

Again, this decision depends on the scenario. This is quite a complex part of debating to

master, but it is very important to add something new to the debate or you will be penalized.

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Member of Opposition1. You must rebut the new analysis of the Member of

Government.

2. You must also bring an extension to the debate –

i.e. extend the debate into a new area or bring a

couple of new arguments to the debate.

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Government WhipThe last speech of a debate is known as a Summary Speech. In it you should step back and

look at the debate as a whole and explain why on all the areas you have argued your side has

won. You can:

1. Go through the debate chronologically (this is not very advanced and usually not very

persuasive either).

2. Go through one side’s case and then the other.

3. Go through the debate according to the main points of contention (this is the most

persuasive and advanced way) explaining why on each of the main issues that have been

debated have been won by your side.

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Opposition Whip• Like the Government Whip, the last

opposition speaker must devote their

whole speech to a summing up and should

not introduce new material.

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The End

• Contact Debsoc Members for any doubts

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