Doğa Schools Debate Tournament

Speaker Roles
The best teams in debating tournaments are made up of Debaters who understand the roles and
responsibilities as well as the complexities associated with each speaker position. With this
understanding, the speakers can appreciate how the roles complement each other and put the team
in the best position to win.

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

8 minutes

4 minutes,
Reply speech
1st SPEAKERS
1st PROPOSITION
Provides the team’s definitions
Provides the clarifications and parameters
Outlines case division for Proposition
Delivers 3 or 2 substantive arguments in support of the motion

1 The first speakers in the debate are critical because they establish the definitions and the
clarifications for the debate. This action creates the foundation for a good debate to build upon.

2 The First Proposition Speaker has the responsibility to provide a fair and comprehensive
definition for the debate and for the First Opposition Speaker to ensure that these definitions are
acceptable prior to proceeding with the debate. Without this foundation, arguments tend to be
delivered in a vacuum and poor debates general ensue.

3 The First Proposition Speaker has an additional challenge because the room is generally “cold”
prior to the start of the debate. This means that the judges and the audiences have not fully devoted
their attention to the debate and can still be distracted. Thus, the speaker will have to inject the
necessary energy into the audience and the room in order to bring the debate to life.

4 First Proposition Speakers usually take advantage of the ability to open the debate by
delivering the strongest arguments for the Proposition's side. These speakers also use the opportunity
provided by not needing to rebut to put forward strongly developed substantive arguments with
multiple examples to win the audience and the judges over as soon as possible.

5 Unlike the other speakers in the debate, the First Proposition Speaker will not have the
opportunity to respond directly to the opponents’ arguments. So, First Proposition Speakers should
make the best use of opportunities such as the giving and taking of POIs (Point of Information) to
showcase their ability to engage and rebut their opponents.
1st OPPOSITION
Accepts / Challenges/ Expands definitions, as necessary
Delivers Opposition’s clarifications
Rebuts First Proposition’s substantive arguments
Outlines case division for Opposition
Delivers 3 or 2 substantive arguments opposing the motion

1 The First Opposition position can be challenging as this speaker has the least amount of time
to prepare to respond to two major components, i.e., the Proposition’s definitions and the First
Proposition’s substantive argument.

2 The First Opposition Speaker will have to make decisions quickly on whether the definition is
to be accepted, challenged or expanded. If the definition is to be challenged, the First Opposition
Speaker will then have to explain why there is a need to challenge, provide the counter definition and
still rebut the argumentation provided by Proposition.

3 First Opposition Speakers also have the responsibility of delivering the Opposition's strongest
arguments against the motion. These speakers will also be responsible for providing the first attack on
the Proposition's strongest arguments within the debate.
2nd SPEAKERS

1 The Second Speaker’s position is special as it provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate the
overall stance taken by the opposing team and provide critique on the general approach taken by the
opponents.

2 This evaluative process is especially useful for the Third Speakers in framing their rebuttals and
for the Summary Speakers to frame their Reply speeches.

3 The Second Speakers are also in a good position to add new dimensions to the debate by
developing their argumentation further. This allows the team to broaden the scope of the debate and
demonstrate that its approach to the motion does not rest on a single line of argumentation or logic.
For instance, if the debate has focused mainly on economic issues, the Second Speakers can switch to
more social or political perspectives.

2nd PROPOSITION
Defends definition (if challenged)
Provides the clarifications and parameters
Outlines case division for Proposition
Delivers 3 or 2 substantive arguments in support of the motion

2nd OPPOSITION
Re-Challenges definition (if already challenged)
Rebuts Second Proposition’s substantive arguments
Rebuts First Proposition’s substantive arguments (if necessary)
Defends First Opposition’s substantive arguments (if necessary)
Delivers 2 substantive arguments opposing the motion
3rd SPEAKERS

1 The Third Speakers’ primary role is to attack the substantive arguments raised by the opposing
team. Although the Third Proposition Speaker has the option of delivering a small substantive
argument, most find it more useful to devote the time allocated to attacking the Opposition's case.
Most Third Proposition Speakers who tried to include a substantive argument generally run short of
time for rebuttals or are forced to drop the argument altogether. This will then cause the judges to
wonder why the substantive argument was not given to one of the earlier speakers.

2 The Third Opposition Speaker is not allowed to bring up new constructive arguments within a
debate as the Proposition will no longer have an opportunity to rebut these points.

3 The Third Speakers should focus primarily on rebutting their opponent’s substantive
arguments. Although some of these substantive points may already have been rebutted by the Second
Speakers or the First Opposition Speaker, the Third Speaker can add value to the debate by developing
the rebuttals further. This means that the Third Speaker can rebut these arguments from a different
perspective (e.g., impact on individual vs impact on society) or a different dimension (e.g., short term
vs long term).

4 Third Speakers should also address the key examples in their opponents’ cases while adding
more examples in their own rebuttals. This does not mean that the Third Speakers should horde
examples. In fact, the best examples should be provided to the First and Second Speakers. However,
Third Speakers must be able to generate even more examples to support the arguments and rebuttals.
Using the examples already raised by the earlier speakers could make the Thirds appear as if they are
only regurgitating the points rather than adding value to the debate.

5 Third Speakers should avoid merely listing the arguments in chronological order. Rather, they
should re-organise the points into two or three distinct categories (e.g, Political, Economic and Social;
Impact on Children, the poor and Minorities, etc) and deliver them based on their order of importance.
3rd PROPOSITION
Defends definition (if challenged)
Rebuts the Opposition’s substantive arguments
Defends Proposition’s substantive arguments (if necessary)
Provides quick summary of Proposition’s case
Has option to run a constructive argument

3rd OPPOSITION
Re-challenges definition (if challenged)
Rebuts the Proposition’s substantive arguments
Defends Opposition’s substantive arguments (if necessary)
Provides quick summary of Opposition’s case
REPLY/SUMMARY SPEAKERS

Summarise the key points raised by both teams

1 Although this is commonly known as the “Summary” Speech, debaters should not take the
view that it will be enough to merely list out the arguments and rebuttals presented in the debate.

Listing out the points already delivered does not provide much value to the debate. In any event, given
the short amount of time available, it will not be possible to list all of arguments and rebuttals
delivered.

2 The Reply Speakers will therefore add value to the debate in the following two ways:

First, they demonstrate their understanding of the core issues of the debate by summarising and
grouping the arguments into broad areas of clash. Given the limited time available, Reply Speakers are
generally advised to group the points to two areas of clash.

For instance, In a debate on globalisation, the Opposition Reply Speaker may state that the two main
clashes are the impacts on the developing world and the developed world respectively. In contrast,
the Proposition Reply Speaker may present that the two areas of clash were in the economic impact
and the social consequences.

Second, Reply Speakers bring the biggest value to the debate with evaluative analysis. This means that
the Speakers look at the debate with a critical eye and describe HOW the debate was won by their
teams. They will have to highlight the flaws in their opponents’ approach, arguments and rebuttals
while pointing out the strength of their own case and refutations. In one sense, the Reply Speakers will
take the role of the adjudicator and describe the how the debate was won by their team.

For instance, a Reply Speaker can point out that the opponents had shifted their case, contradicted
each other, used arguments without proof or failed to respond to constructive arguments.

3 One trick Reply Speakers can use is to imagine that they are describing the debate to someone
who has just entered the room and missed the first six speeches. Thus, the Reply Speaker will then
describe what happened in the debate and how victory was attained.
 4 Reply Speakers should note that no new arguments or refutations may be brought up during
their speeches. Thus, the language used in the Reply Speeches should be entirely retrospective and in
the past tense. However, the Proposition Reply Speaker could face a situation where the Opposition
Third and/or Reply Speaker introduce new arguments. Under these circumstances, the Proposition
Reply Speaker should not commit the same error by responding to these new points. It will be sufficient
to point out the infringement from the Opposition and carry on with the rest of the Reply Speech. The
judges would have disregarded the Opposition’s new material in any case.

5 In the vast majority of debates, the judges will have made their decisions on which team has
won by the end of the Third Opposition Speaker. However, the Reply Speeches are absolutely critical
as they have some ability to influence HOW a judge should evaluate the match and decide on the
winner.

RESERVE SPEAKERS
In many tournaments, teams are allowed to have Reserve Speakers who are allowed to prepare for a
debate with the floor speakers. These Reserves also play key roles in the debate.

Contribution to reply speech

They will also have the ability to observe the judges and the opponents closely and determine which
of their team's arguments and rebuttals have been most effective and thus put emphasis on these
areas. They will thus have the ability to contribute to shaping the speeches for the next match/es.

Feedback
During the debate, the Reserves also play critical roles. They are able to provide encouragement for
their teammates. They are also able to give instantaneous feedback to their teammates who are
delivering their speeches, through applause and overt (and legal) signs of support and confidence.

Substitutions
Reserve speakers will need to know the entirety of their team’s cases and rebuttals prior to the start
of a debate. Although it is rare, there has been cases where a designated speaker was unable to speak
due to a sudden illness or injury. In these circumstances, the Reserves will need to be able to step in
without a hiccup. Although the tournament may provide a little time for the team to make substitution,
it will not be possible for the Substitute Speaker to learn the entire case on the spot.