Debate Formalized public speaking in which participants prepare and present speeches on opposite sides of an issue Determine which side has the stronger arguments Goes back to the ancient Greeks Essential element of the democratic process Legislative assemblies Courtrooms Public forums Led to decisions on personal freedom, civil rights, and war and peace

3 Primary Types of Debates Formal/Traditional Cross-Examination Lincoln-Douglas

Key Features Controversy Two Sides Status Quo Constructive and Rebuttal Speeches The Proposition

Disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated Controversy Disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated Expressed through a proposition A statement of fact A value judgment A policy recommendation Must deal with a controversial question Has valid evidence for two sides of an issue

Two sides Affirmative: supports the debate proposition Negative: opposes the debate proposition Speakers take turns presenting their arguments When in teams, the speakers have different responsibilities within the debate The affirmative always begins and ends the debate

The existing state of affairs Status Quo The existing state of affairs Debate assumes the status quo is satisfactory until proven otherwise The affirmative seeks to change the status quo Therefore, they have the burden of proof The affirmative’s responsibility to prove a need for adoption of a resolution or that the resolution is true Until the burden of proof is met, the negative has nothing to do

Constructive and Rebuttal Speeches Constructive: builds an argument Both sides establish reasons for the superiority of their side Rebuttal: rebuilds the argument Rebuilds arguments that have been questioned or attacked Refutation: attacks an argument raised by the other side

The resolution or subject offered to debate 3 Types The Proposition The resolution or subject offered to debate 3 Types Fact Value Policy

Statements about what has happened, is happening, or will happen Proposition of Fact Statements about what has happened, is happening, or will happen Most common in courts of law Determine what is true and false Example: Anita Jones is not legally bound by the terms of the contract

Can set up criteria for determining “best,” “effective,” or “easier” Proposition of Value Express judgments about the relative merit of a person, place, or thing Include evaluative words such as: effective, good, worthy, better, or their opposites Can set up criteria for determining “best,” “effective,” or “easier” Cannot measure the value/merit without those criteria Example: Resolved, That personal freedom is more important than law

Focus on specific plan of action Uses the word should Example: Proposition of Policy Focus on specific plan of action Uses the word should Example: Resolved, That more vigorous academic standards for language arts and mathematics should be established in United States secondary schools.