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New Rules Debate

The document outlines basic debating rules, including the roles of the affirmative and negative teams, the importance of rebuttal, and effective presentation techniques. It specifies the structure and responsibilities of each speaker in a debate, emphasizing teamwork and logical argumentation. Additionally, it provides tips for maintaining audience engagement and avoiding common pitfalls during presentations.

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Marc Ortega
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8 views4 pages

New Rules Debate

The document outlines basic debating rules, including the roles of the affirmative and negative teams, the importance of rebuttal, and effective presentation techniques. It specifies the structure and responsibilities of each speaker in a debate, emphasizing teamwork and logical argumentation. Additionally, it provides tips for maintaining audience engagement and avoiding common pitfalls during presentations.

Uploaded by

Marc Ortega
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
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Basic debating rules

Topic sides
There are two sides in a debate:

1. The Affirmative agrees with the topic.


2. The Negative disagrees with the topic.

The Team Line


Three speakers work together as a team. The Team Line is the basic statement of “why the topic
is true” (for the affirmative team) and “why the topic is false” (for the negative team). It should
be a short sentence, presented by the first speaker of each team and used by the other two
speakers to enforce the idea of teamwork.
Importance of Rebuttal
In debating, each team will present points in favor of their case. They will also spend some
time criticizing the arguments presented by the other team. This is called Rebuttal.

There are a few things to remember about Rebuttal:

1. Logic – to say that the other side is wrong is not enough. You have to show why the other
side is wrong. This is best done by taking a main point of the other side’s argument and
showing that is does not make sense. A lot of the thinking for this needs to be done
quickly and this is one of the most challenging aspects of debating.
2. Pick the important points – try to rebut the most important points of the other side’s
case. You will find that after a while these are easer to spot. One obvious spot to find
them is when the first speaker of the other team outlines briefly what the rest of the team
will say.
3. Play the ball – do not criticize the individual speakers, criticize what they say.

The manner of how you present your debate is


important
The manner is how you present what you say and the best manner style is
definitely not to shout and thump the table but to keep calm and present
your points with a clear speaking voice. Here are a few tips that might come
in handy with your debating style:

1. Use Cue Cards – debating is a lively interaction between two teams


not just reading a speech off notes. Use cue cards like a prompt in a
play as a reference if you lose your spot or train of thought.
2. Use Eye Contact – if you look at the audience you will hold their
attention. If you spend the whole time reading from your cue cards or
looking at a spot away from the audience, they will lose concentration
very quickly. Keep the audience in your sight and their minds will
follow your logic.
3. Your Voice – you must project your voice so that you can be heard but
definitely do not shout. Use the volume, pitch and speech of your voice
to emphasize important points of your speech. Sometimes a loud burst
will grab the audience’s attention while a period of quiet speaking will
draw the audience in and make them listen more carefully to what you
are saying.
4. Your Body – Make your body work for you by using hand gestures with
confidence. Move your head and upper body to maintain eye contact
with all members of the audience. Stand straight up, definitely do not
slouch over the desk or let the audience know you might be nervous.
5. Nervous Habits – avoid them like the plague. Playing with the cue
cards, pulling strands of your hair, fiddling with your watch or bouncing
up and down on your feet will all distract from what you are
saying. Don’t let any one thing detract from your ability to persuade
the audience.
6. Using Big Words – try to avoid going overboard with big words and
confusing people. If you don’t understand the big words yourself then
the chances no one else will understand what you are saying either. It
would be a huge mistake to debate and get stuck on a word that you
are not sure what it means but also one that you can’t pronounce.

First Speaker of the Affirmative side must: (1.45 mins.)

 Define the topic.


 Present the affirmative team’s case
 Present the affirmative partial main points.

First Speaker of the Negative side must: (1.45 mins)

 Accept or reject the definition. If you don’t do this it is assumed that


you
accept the definition.
 Present the Negative team’s case
 Rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative speaker.
 Present the Negative team’s partial main points.

Second Affirmative speaker must: (1.15 mins)

 Rebut the main points presented by the first negative speaker. (30
secs)
 Present the Affirmative team’s some or new main point (30 secs)
 May ask question to second negative speaker. (15 secs)

Second Negative speaker must: (1.15 mins)

 Rebut some of the main points of the Affirmative’s case. (30 secs)
 Present the Negative team’s some or new main point. (30 secs)
 May ask question to third affirmative speaker. (15 secs)

Third.. Fourth.. speakers will follow the same order..


Last Affirmative speaker must: (1.30 mins)

 Reaffirm the Affirmative team’s case.


 Rebut all the remaining points of the Negative main points.
 Present a summary of the Affirmative team’s case.

Last Negative speaker must: (1.30mins)

 Reaffirm the Negative team’s case.


 Rebut all the remaining points of the Affirmative main points.
 Present a summary of the Negative team’s case.

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