English Debate

By Sarah

❀ Debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative

assembly, in which opposing arguments or fights on arguments with strong evidence/facts. Or
simply, a debate is a discussion of a theme or a question between two or more intercations.
The goal is to make the judges/adjudicators believe in our arguments, or to make them
approve our arguments. In other means, each team must convice the adjudicators to believe in
their opinions.

❀ Motion is the topic or the theme of the debate. Motion is usually controversial topics
and/or has no clear or correct answer which depends on the motion. There are two kinds of
motion; Philosopical Motion and Practical Motion.
o Philosophical motion is the motions that carries philosophy cases. It has
unwritten topic that both team has to find by their own perspective. On philosophical
motion, teams not necessary to bring up a solution to the case. Philosophical motion
could easily identified with a belief topics, which is started with a “This House
Believe That/THBT” or a “This House Believing That/THBT”.
o Practical motion (or Proposal motion) is the opposites of philosophical
motion. Practical motion is explicit telling the topic, they obviously put it on their
title. Practical motion also should ended with a solution/model in for the opposition
team. Practical motion could easily identified with proposals topics, which is started
with a “This House Should/THS” or a “This House Would/THW”.
o There are another abbreviations commonly used in debate, which are “This
House Regrets/THR” and “This House Supports/THS”.