DEBATE PRACTICE:

ASKING QUESTIONS
Advice for Position Papers:
Strong & Varied words Action Words
■ Important: Vital, essential, Urgent,
Immediate ■ Urges, suggests,
■ Think: Believe, Understand, Hope requests, changes,
for, Ask for, Urge, Encourage
pushes for, challenges,
■ Problem: Issue, Dilemma,
dedicates, imagines,
understands, witnesses
Instead of……… Try saying……..

really (“we are really happy”) Very, extremely

a lot of (when talking about a number of things) Many, numerous, several, a great deal of

Sad (We are sad to hear) Troubled, disturbed, upset

Happy (We are happy to hear) Pleased, delighted

to stop from happening suspend, defer, halt

to make happen Implement, carry out, achieve

to keep Maintain, uphold, preserve

to get rid of Eliminate, ban, prohibit

forever indefinitely

For a short time Temporarily, briefly

Be specific! Formal Language
■ Make a point and then GIVE A FACT ■ Avoid “we” and “our” in your
TO SHOW WHY IT MATTERS position papers!
■ The more examples you can provide
that are backed up with evidence, ■ Avoid contractions: it’s, that’s,
the better we’re

But look at the big picture!

■ The introduction should
answer the questions:
– Why is this topic
important to the world
and to your country?
– Why NOW?
International Action
■ DUE NEXT MONDAY
■ Past resolutions and agreements that your country took part
in.
– Use the words cooperation, multilateral, international
community
– Which international organizations is your country a part
of? The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund
for international development
■ Current global issues related to your topic
– Can be projects or initiaves taking place inside your
country
In the international field, in 2010 the Estonian government
approved the “Strategy for Estonian Development
Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid 2011-2015”. Under
this project Estonia has increased its bilateral
development cooperation projects and its participation in
multilateral projects and organisms such as UNICEF, the
World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the
European Permanent Network. As an example of bilateral
cooperation, Estonia has provided Georgia with more than
2.4 million euros to improve entrepreneurial activity and
education access, which has a direct effect on the
country’s poverty rate.
Asking Questions
■ Could the delegation of ____
elaborate on their statement
■ To clarify about___?
■ To challenge ■ How/What does the delegation
of_____ propose to/recommend
■ To show you were to___
listening and ■ Could the ____ delegation give an
agree/disagree example of____?

■ To suggest a different ■ We have a question in response to

the comments of the delegate
idea of_____about your statement
about____”
■ Would it be better for the
international community if we did
this instead____?
Example Statement:
“The delegation of Germany believes that
the international community should reward
businesses that prioritize the efficient use
of resources”
Questions:
How exactly will your government reward
businesses?
Could you provide an example of how your
government will reward businesses?
“The delegation of India believes that we
have the right to pollute more in order to
build our economy and industry. More
developed countries already had the
chance to use more resources than we
have had.”
“Experience in our country has
shown that it is not possible to
sustain our economy or grow our
GDP without negatively impacting
the environment.”
“Our country cannot create a
sustainable industry because the costs
of the transition related to training and
new technology and equipment is too
expensive.”