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Debating 101: Structure and Strategy Guide

Debating involves two teams arguing a given motion, with speeches judged by an adjudicator to determine a winner. Each team prepares for an hour and presents a series of speeches, including rebuttals and positive arguments. The structure includes designated roles for speakers, with a total of five team members, but only three participate in the debate itself.

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46 views1 page

Debating 101: Structure and Strategy Guide

Debating involves two teams arguing a given motion, with speeches judged by an adjudicator to determine a winner. Each team prepares for an hour and presents a series of speeches, including rebuttals and positive arguments. The structure includes designated roles for speakers, with a total of five team members, but only three participate in the debate itself.

Uploaded by

liphotoh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Debating 101:

Debating is when two teams from opposite sides debate a given topic, competitively the speeches will be
judged and a team will win the debate.

Helpful Terminology:

 Motion: The topic given that will be debated


 Adjudicator: The judge
 Speaker: A member of the team
 Prep: An hour long period of time in which teams can prepare the motion
 Case: The set of arguments a team presents for their side
 Proposition: The team in favour of the motion
 Opposition: The team against the motion
 Positive Matter: Arguments that the team creates to support their side of the motion
 Rebuttal: Arguments formed in response to the other teams positive matter to break down
their arguments and help you to win

How a debate works:

1. Each team will be given a motion and an hour to prepare arguments for their side of the motion
2. During this hour each team will sit separately and prepare their case. No technology is allowed
during this time so knowing things will help you.
3. The actual debate is when 3 speakers from each team say a speech to persuade the judges that their
case should win and that the other teams case is the losing case. Each team has 3 longer speeches and
1 shorter speech within the debate.

Structure of a team:
 A team has 5 people in it who are all active during prep time
 However only 3 speakers will speak in the debate

Speakers:

 1st Speaker (The first person who speaks from each team).
- In charge of setting up the debate and presenting the most important arguments in favour of
their side
 nd
2 Speaker (The second speaker from each team.)
- They do a combination of taking down and responding to the other teams arguments and
presenting the rest of their teams arguments.
 3rd Speaker (The third speaker from each team)
- Responds to all the points brought up by the other team during the debate
 Reply Speaker (last speaker from each team)
- In charge of summing up the debate and showing why their team is winning

Order of Speakers:
1. Proposition 1 (6 minutes)
2. Opposition 1 (6 minutes)
3. Proposition 2 (6 minutes)
4. Opposition 2 (6 minutes)
5. Proposition 3 (6 minutes)
6. Opposition 3 (6 minutes)
7. Opposition Reply (3 minutes)
8. Proposition Reply (3 minutes)

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