Debating Skills www.simad.edu.so

Outlines What is debate? The chairperson The adjudicator The affirmative side The negative side The process of debating Time keeper and the standard equipment they use The basic debating skills Example

What is Debating? A debate is a structured argument.  There are opposing sides speak alternately for and against a particular issue( The affirmative side, and negative side).

The affirmative side The affirmative side:- The job of the affirmative side is to agree with (or 'affirm') the topic. It will consist at least two speakers. The team should sit on the right hand of the chairperson in order (from nearest the chair). The affirmative team will speak first in the debate. At the end of the debate the team should observe debating etiquette .

The negative side: The negative side: The job of the negative team is to disagree with (or 'negate') the topic. It will consist at least three speakers. The negative team will speak last in the debate. The team should sit on the left hand of the chairperson in order (from nearest the chair)

The chair person: The role of the chairperson is to control the debate. She or he should sit between the two teams. The first duty of the chairperson is to call the debate to order and to welcome debaters. He or she should then proceed to announce the topic of the debate, the name of the adjudicator, and the names of the teams which are participating.

Cont. Next she or he should tell the speakers and the audience how long each speech will be for, giving the minimum and maximum times, and calling upon the timekeeper to demonstrate the sound of the bell. The chairperson should then introduce the first speaker of the affirmative to open the debate. A typical chairperson's presentation might go as follows:

Example "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to tonight's debate. The topic for this debate is "(fill in the blank)". For the affirmative this evening we have (team name) and for the negative this evening we have (team name). Our adjudicator for this evening is (adjudicator's name)." The speaking times this evening will be (minimum speaking time) to (maximum speaking time). There will be a bell at (minimum speaking time) minutes [timekeeper demonstrates the bell] and a second bell at (maximum speaking time) minutes [timekeeper demonstrates the bell]."

Cont. I would now like to call upon the first speaker of the affirmative (speaker's name) to open the debate." [after speech and adjudicator's nod] "I would now like to call upon the first speaker of the negative (speaker's name) to open the case for the negative."

[continue in a similar manner throughout the debate] [at the end of the debate] "I would now like to call upon the adjudicator (adjudicator's name) to give the decision on tonight's debate."

The process of Debating This process should continue throughout the debate calling the speakers in the following order: 1st Affirmative. 1st Negative. 2nd Affirmative. 2nd Negative. 3rd Affirmative. 3rd Negative.

The timekeeper Is the person whose job is to keep the time, and to ensure how long each speaker speaks and rings a bell to indicate that certain amounts of time have passed.

The standard equipment of the timekeeper Stopwatch bell Pen and paper

Adjudicator The adjudicator decides the outcome of the debate. There may be one adjudicator or adjudicators may sit as a panel (always an odd number). The adjudicator will mark each speaker according to the prescribed marking scheme and will announce at the end not only who has won but why.

Venue

The Basic Debating Skills Style Style is the manner in which you communicate your arguments, and it is all about delivering your speech in a confident and persuasive way. Tone Varying tone is what makes you sound interesting.  Listening to one tone for an entire presentation is boring.

Volume speaker must use volume at which everyone in the room can comfortably hear you.  Shouting does not win debates.  Speaking too quietly is clearly disastrous since no one will be able to hear you. Clarity The clarity of the voice and arguments are main two ingredients of debating skills.

Conti. Use of notes Notes are essential, but they must be brief and well organized to be effective.  There is absolutely no point in trying to speak without notes. Eye contact:- Eye contact with the audience is very important, but keep shifting your gaze. No one likes to be stared at. Content Content is what you actually say in the debate. The arguments used to develop your own side’s case and rebut the opposite side’s.

AUDIENCE The role of the audience is to enjoy the debate. The audience should applaud as each speaker is announced, as each speaker finishes speaking and when the result of the debate is announced. The audience should participate as any polite audience would, applauding, laughing and so on at appropriate times.

The winning team The winning team's captain should thank the other team, the debating officials (chairperson, timekeeper and adjudicator(s) ) and the audience. Both teams should then shake hands.

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