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The respectable way proper persons should debate

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Parliamentary debate Modeled after the British House of Parliament Extemporaneous two-on-two debate Teams will debate resolutions that they receive 15 minutes (1 day) before the round Limited prep time sets the stage for a competitive forum that emphasizes: rigorous argumentation logical analysis quick thinking breadth of knowledge rhetorical ability over preparation of evidence.

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Two Teams: Team 1: Government Prime Minister (PM) Member of the Government (MG) Team 2: Opposition Leader of the Opposition (LO) Member of the Opposition (MO)

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Prime Minister Constructive: 7 minutes Leader of the Opposition Constructive: 7 minutes Member of the Government Constructive: 7 minutes Member of the Opposition Constructive: 7 minutes Leader of Opposition Rebuttal: 5 minutes Member of the Government Rebuttal: 5 minutes (not in competitive debate) Member of the Opposition Rebuttal: 5 minutes (not in competitive debate) Prime Minister Rebuttal: 5 minutes Note: No prep time during the round

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Critical thinking skills kick into high gear! Less evidential research Logical analysis of issues rather than reliance on evidence. Breadth of knowledge Combination of policy and value skills best of both worlds! Rhetorical ability

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First speaker, proposition The opening speaker establishes the framework for the debate and a logically complete case for the proposition.

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Interpretation of the motion. The motion should mean the same thing to all participants in the debate. To that end, the Government team has the responsibility to: clarify the ground for debate defining any distinguishing, technical or ambiguous terms of the resolution.

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Providing Opposition ground The duty of the Government team is to provide the basis for a good debate. The first speaker must accordingly present a case that is highly debatable. Burden of proof In most debates, the Prime Minister supports the motion by advocating something new, challenging established ideas, or attempting to settle an issue in public controversy.

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The case. The first proposition speaker should establish interest in the motion and case through an introduction. The introduction should demonstrate the timeliness of the case, perhaps by recounting a recent story or contemporary context for the controversy.

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First speaker, opposition The duty of the opposition is to provide clash (burden of rejoinder) a choice between the proposal advanced by the Government team and some other course of action or position. The Opposition should make clear why the motion before the house should be defeated.

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weaken or nullify the case for the proposition direct refutation refuting the main points of the case. pointing out logical fallacies pointing out factual inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the main lines of proof.

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Second speakers, Government and opposition The second (also called member") constructive speeches for each side have similar responsibilities. effectively refute the important arguments of the opposing side amplify the strong arguments initiated by their colleagues. The member speeches are the last for each side in the debate in which new arguments and issues may be introduced.

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Rebuttals Most good debates are won or lost in the rebuttals. summary speeches for each side of the debate last opportunity each side will have to explain why they should win. Rebuttals are a final opportunity to contrast the major positions and philosophies of the Government and opposition.

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New arguments may not be introduced in the rebuttal. Arguments presented in the rebuttal must have a foundation in the constructive speeches. The first Government rebuttalist is entitled to answer new arguments made in the second opposition speech

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The opposition has the first rebuttal speech. effective summation of the main issues of the debate important points for the opposition undermine support for the motion carry through important issues from the constructive speeches illustrating the significant dimension of each issue in qualitative or quantitative terms

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Points of order Used when a member of the other team has violated the rules for debating There are very few rules in parliamentary debate so a point of order is called only when : an opponent has introduced a new argument in rebuttals an opponent has gone significantly over time. Addressed to the Speaker of the House

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Points of Personal Privilege Raised during an opponent's speech when his or her position has been seriously misrepresented by the opposing speaker Raised in instances of extreme hostility or slander Addressed to the Speaker of the House A point of personal privilege is not debatable.

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Points of information Raised during the speech of the person questioned It must be a concise statement or a pointed question. A point of information is also sometimes used for purposes of clarification. Directed to the person speaking rather than to the Speaker of the House. Rule of thumb no more than 4 per speech

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Points of information are not permitted during rebuttals. Points of information are not allowed during the first or last minute of any constructive speech. The timekeeper should signal these times. Points of information are permitted only between these two signals.

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Two types of motions are commonly used parliamentary debating; straight or linkable 1. Straight motions are meant to be debated literally 2. Linkable motions need not be debated literally, but may instead be linked to a specific proposal selected by the government team.

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Straight Resolutions cover many different subjects They may be drawn from current events "Be it resolved that the United States should lift its economic sanctions against Cuba "This House would support the admission of Russia to N.A.T.O. Or they may be broader statements of historical judgment or philosophy "Be it resolved that the American dream has become an American nightmare This House believes that the United States has been more sinned against than sinning Some motions require value comparison "This House believes that the local is preferable to the global "This House despises flattery more than slander The proposition itself is always the focus of the debate not the examples you use

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Linkable motions offer the debaters a large degree of flexibility in the debate, generally linking the abstract motion to some specific controversy through the use of metaphors. A linkable motion may be drawn from a pithy quotation "B.I.R.T. It is better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees Can be linked to the case statement that "the United States should not extend Most Favored Nation status to China," arguing that America should "stand up" for its principles rather than remaining on its knees to placate China A song lyric B.I.R.T. freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose Can be linked to a case statement in favor of restoring the eligibility of legal immigrants (who came here seeking "freedom") for welfare benefits (without which, they have "nothin' left to lose

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Current national or international policy controversies Russia should be admitted to N.A.T.O. The U.S. should end its embargo of Iran. Nepal should close Mt. Everest to climbing. Local controversies of broader interest Dade County, Florida should permit concerts by Cuban musicians. The Eye of the Needle (a 200-foot natural sandstone arch in Montana destroyed by vandals) should not be repaired Sports and popular culture disputes Baseball should eliminate the designated hitter. Vinyl records are better than compact disks.

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Literary cases You're Cinderella. Don't marry the prince. You're Dorothy. Don't go back to Kansas. Personal decisions You should not eat meat. You're the parent of a five year-old boy. Don't buy toy guns for him. Time-space cases Time-space cases stipulate an alternative identity for the adjudicator (as a specific person, group, or Organization) and an alternate time and/or place at which the debate is conducted. It's August 6,1945, and you're Harry Truman. Don't drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It's June 1936 and you're Franklin Roosevelt (or, alternatively. the U.S. Olympic Committee). Boycott the Berlin Olympics.

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This House believes that Latin America's move left will do more harm than good. This House believes that society has an obligation to guarantee a basic quality of life to its members. This House believes that social justice is a moral obligation. This House believes that academic rigor is disproportionately valued over wellness in American K-12 education. This House should prosecute or release Guantanamo Bay detainees. This House should sanction Iran. This House believes that The Arab League members should intervene to stabilize Yemen.

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TH would take from the rich to give to the poor TH would hold the media responsible THBT labor unions have outlived their usefulness THBT political correctness does more harm than good THBT the government has forgotten its role TH supports campaign finance reform TH regrets the decline of conventional morality TH would use taxation to regulate behavior THBT the exploitation of animals is immoral TH would kill all the lawyers