Australasian Parliamentary English Debate System Johanes Leonardi T., S.Pd, M.Sc English Education Study Program Faculty of Teacher Training & Education WIDYA MANDALA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY - SURABAYA

Definition A formal method of interactive and representational argument. Consist of two teams debating over an issue, more commonly called a topic or proposition. Encouraged in high schools and colleges

The Advantages A means of encouraging critical thinking. A means of personal expressions. Tolerance of others' opinions.

Formation Affirmative Team Negative Team Adjudicators Chair PersonTime Keeper

Australasian Debating Affirmative: 1 st Speaker 2 nd Speaker 3 rd Speaker Reply Speaker Negative: 1 st Speaker 2 nd Speaker 3 rd Speaker Reply Speaker

Speech Delivery Substantive Speech: 5-8 minutes Reply Speech: 3-5 minutes

Affirmative (“The Government”) Has the right to define the motion. Support it with constructive arguments.

Negative (“The Opposition”) Oppose the motion defined by the Affirmative. Build a counter-case against the Affirmative. Challenge the definition if invalid only.

Motion (Topic) A prepositional statement that determines what a debate shall be about: That we should give President SBY a chance. That American pop culture is a threat to civilization.

Defining the Motion Must be debatable. Must not a bizarre distortion of the motion.

Defining the Motion That what goes up must come down. what  being the President of RI. goes up  takes power come down  step down from the power “That the Indonesian presidency should be limited to 2 terms”

Challenging the Definition Truistic Tautological/ Circular Squirreling Time & Place Setting

Truistic Definition It is ‘true’ by nature thus make the arguments unarguable. That we should eat, drink, and be merry. That we should eat because otherwise we starve to death; drink because otherwise we would die; and be merry because we are alive.

Tautological/Circular Definition The given definition is circling to the motion. That technology is killing our work ethic. That all scientific advancements that make life easier and therefore kill our work ethic are killing our work ethic.

Squirreling Definition It isn’t tied down to the spirit of the motion & doesn’t have a proper logical link to the motion. That the USA is opening up to the PRC. USA: Untidy Students of Asia PRC: Pretty Room Cleaners

Time & Place Setting Definition The subject matter of the debate cannot be confined to a very particular time & place. Limiting the subject matter to only the economic development of Japan during the specific period of the Meiji restoration.

Theme Line It is the underlying logic of a team’s case. Used to prove a team’s stand on the motion. Key question: Why is it true? Indonesia’s presidency should be limited to 2 terms in respect to democracy, balance of power, and adapting to the world changes.

Team Split Distribution of arguments to the 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd speaker.

Argumentation The process of explaining why a point of view should be accepted. Valid by its supporting logic & facts.

Good argumentation Relevance Organization Consistency & internal logic Clarity Effective use of evidence

Rebuttal The process of proving that the opposing team’s arguments should be accorded less weight than its claim. Showing how & why the opposition’s arguments are invalid.

Rebuttal: The arguments are… Based on a wrong of facts/ interpretation of facts. Irrelevant to the topic. Illogical. Involving unacceptable implications.

Role of the First Speaker Affirmative: Defines the motion. Presents the team’s theme line  why the case is logically correct. Outlines the team split. Delivers 1 st substantial argument. Provide a brief summary of the case.

Role of the First Speaker Negative: Accepts/challenges the definition. Rebut 1 st affirmative’s arguments. Presents the theme line. Outlines the theme split. Delivers 1 st substantial arguments. Provides a brief summary.

Role of the Second Speaker Affirmative: Rebuts the 1 st negative’s arguments. Restates the affirmative team’s case. Delivers 2 nd substantial speech. Provides a brief summary.

Role of the Second Speaker Negative: Rebuts the two affirmative speakers. Restates the team’s case. Delivers the 2 nd substantial arguments. Provides a brief summary.

Role of the Third Speaker Affirmative: Rebuts the two negative speakers. Restates the theme line & the two speakers’ arguments. Summarizes the issues of the debate.

Role of the Third Speaker Negative: Rebuts all three affirmative speakers. Restates the theme line & the two speakers’ arguments. Summarizes the issues of the debate

Reply Speakers Provide an overview of the debate. Identify the issues by both sides. Provide a biased adjudication of the debate.

Adjudication The process of determining which team wins the debate. Matter: 40 Manner: 40 Method: 20

HAPPY DEBATING!!!