Oxford-style Debate: ‘Is AI dangerous?

The Oxford-style debate format offers opposing sides of a topic to intelligently exchange arguments
and rebuttals: an “affirmative” team supports convincing arguments to the motion, while a
“negative” team refutes the points made by the affirmative team.

Roles:

a) CHAIR runs the proceedings, collects ballots, announces winner

b) PROPOSITION TEAM (PRO) defends the motion: burdens of the proof, has to prove all
aspects of the case, and cannot win on the inability of the negative side
c) OPPOSITION TEAM (CON) argues against the motion: burdens of the rebuttal, must either
the necessity, beneficiality, and practicality of the affirmative team, and cannot discuss
anything the affirmative didn’t discuss
d) Each team has a Captain
e) Recorder will take notes of all the arguments, facts, statements, evidence
f) Audience asks questions to both sided and votes on the motion

Issues of the debate:

a) Whether or not it is necessary? (Necessity)

b) Whether or not it is beneficial? (Beneficiality)
c) Whether or not it is practical? (Practicability)

Parts of the debate

a) Constructive speech: presentation of each team’s arguments and evidence for each aspect
of the case
b) Q&A: opportunity for the opposing debater to ask questions regarding the speech of the
speaker
c) Rebuttal: summary and defense of each team’s arguments and evidence, to be delivered by
the team Captain

Role of the Chair/Moderator

a) To reveal the issue involve the debate

b) To rule on points of clarification about the issues or questions and answers made during the
Interpellation
c) To see to it that the debate is orderly and follows the rules of parliamentary procedures.

Role of the Timer

a) To time the speaker and debaters accurately

b) To give the speaker a one-minute warning with the ringing of the bell once before his/her
time is up
c) To prevent the debaters from exceeding the time allotted to them by ringing the bell.
Overview of Debate Proceedings - Roles / Order / Timing

1. Chair announces the debate motion and rules, and calls on the debate teams to present their
viewpoints – 5 min.

2. The First Speaker for the Proposition (PRO). It is the duty of the First Speaker for the proposition
to introduce the other guest speakers – 10 min.

The traditional format for these introductions is to begin your speech with “Mr/Madam Chair, as the
First Speaker this afternoon it is my honour to introduce your guests this afternoon”. Each speaker
should then be introduced by name and with a short one or two line introduction, which can be
either humorous or serious. After introducing the final guest the speaker may say “Mr/Madam Chair,
these are your guests and they are most welcome”, hopefully to be followed by applause from the
audience.

The First Speaker should then begin the debate

a. A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topic
b. Should include a complete response in support of the proposition.
c. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

3. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the next speaker.

4. The First Speaker for the Opposition (CON) – 3 min.

a. A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topic
b. Should include a complete response in opposition of the proposition.
c. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

5. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the next speaker.

6. The Second Speaker for the Proposition (PRO) – 3 min.

a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic A. Response should provide a
different angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s
speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

7. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the next speaker.

8. The Second Speaker for the Opposition (CON) – 3 min.

a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic A. Response should provide
a different angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s
speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence

9. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the Q&A.

10. Q&A: One team (decided on by Chair) will ask an appropriate question and the other team will
have 3 minutes to respond – 3 min.

11. Chair will thank the team and call upon the next speaker.
12. The Third Speaker for the Proposition (PRO) – 3 min.
a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic B. Response should provide a
different angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s
speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

13. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the next speaker.

14. The Third Speaker for the Opposition (CON) – 3 min.

a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic B. Response should provide
a different angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s
speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

15. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the Q&A.

16. Q&A: Other team will ask an appropriate question and the team that asked the first question will
have 3 minutes to respond – 3 min.

17. Chair will thank the team and call upon the next speaker.

18. The Fourth Speaker for the Proposition (PRO) – 3 min.

a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic C. Response should provide a different
angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

19. Chair will thank the speaker and call upon the next speaker.

20. The Fourth Speaker for the Opposition (CON) – 3 min.

a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic C. Response should provide a
different angle than the First Speaker, or serve as an elaboration on the First Speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

21. Chair will thank everyone. Will encourage audience to ask questions and will moderate open
discussion – 15 min.

22. Chair will thank the audience and will call for a rebuttal.

23. Team Captain for the Proposition (PRO) will summarize and defend arguments and evidence – 5
min.

24. Team Captain for the Opposition (CON) will summarize and defend arguments and evidence – 5
min.

25. Chair will call an end to the debate and call for the voting to begin – 10 min.

26. Chair will announce the winner.