The art of debate requires the skillful execution of many factors. In essence, the central spirit of the debate can be summarized in three main factors: ethos (ethics), pathos (emotions) and logos (rationality). Developing your arguments in terms of these factors will ensure that you have a good foundation, but to win a debate, you will also need to keep in mind how to present yourself and refute the points of the opposition. Knowing what to look for and being prepared to execute your argument can be the difference between a victory and a defeat.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare for a debate
Step 1. Research the topic
You will need to know the general details of the topic you will have to discuss, but in particular, you should take note of the specific information and figures that you could use. This will help with the appeal for rationality in your argument as numbers can have a powerful impact on audiences while being difficult to disprove.
- Investigate openly to improve your critical appraisal of the facts. Open research usually involves changing your reading and review habits to include sources that are educational or based on current events.
- Conduct focused research on the topic. Make a list of areas in which you feel you have strong prior knowledge and any gaps in your knowledge on the subject. Try to fill in these spaces by coordinating your research with your teammates so that they use their time in the best way and that their investigations do not overlap.
Step 2. Dress appropriately for the debate
How you present yourself to the public is often considered part of your speech and is likely to affect your score. Depending on the level of competition and the expectations of those involved, the right outfit for the situation can vary. From the beginning, you should give the impression of being respectful of the public and a respectable person, which you can achieve by wearing more formal clothes.
- If you're not sure, ask your teacher or coach what might be the best clothing for your level of competition.
- Lower level or less serious competitions may only require a dress shirt or polo shirt with a pair of khaki pants.
- In contrast, you may be better off attending high-level competitions (for example, championships) in a suit and tie.
- Don't dress too smartly. While a tux will set you apart from the crowd, it might seem to others that you just want to show off.
Step 3. Write your speech
Once you have decided on your argument and the material you will use in it, you will have to write the speech that you will give during the debate. Depending on the type of debate and the rules of your local debate division, speeches can differ significantly, although every debate should contain the following:
- an unbiased introduction that presents the basic information and topic
- a body that includes an emotional point, a logical point and an ethical point in favor of your side of the debate, as well as examples, quotes and statistics that strengthen your case
- a conclusion that summarizes the important points that you and your team members have made
Step 4. Test the material
This is an important part of preparing for a debate. Rehearsing will help you become more comfortable with your material, make you more aware of your voice and your body, and help you identify problem areas.
- Record yourself if you can. In this way, you can check your posture, your gestures and the volume at which you speak.
- Try rehearsing in front of a mirror. Observe how you use your hands and how your words synchronize with your expressions and the naturalness of your body language.
Step 5. Memorize your main points
Remembering things with ease will allow you to respond to opposition points more quickly. In addition, memorization will provide you with vital information for your argument or counterargument. Showing your sharpness can earn you points with the judges and give you an advantage over your opponents.
Step 6. Predict the opposition
When developing your argument, you should take into account your weaknesses as the opposition is likely to use them. Beyond that, what are the best arguments you could use if you were from the opposition? Keep them in mind and think of specific ways you can challenge or undermine the validity of these arguments.
Step 7. Create resources for discussion
The level at which you debate and the rules of your local debating league may prohibit the use of flashcards during debate, but flashcards can still help you with memorization and organization. If flashcards are allowed, they can help you keep your argument and rebuttals organized and accurate.
- Organize your cards so that the most important information is distinguished from other details by underlining it, highlighting it or using other indicators.
- Include a basic outline of the topics to be discussed so that if you get interrupted or lose the thread, you can easily return to the topic.
- Study regularly with the flashcards. Choose intervals throughout the day to study, such as after waking up, during lunch, and before going to bed. Repetition will help reinforce your memorization.
Step 8. Get enough sleep
This can be especially difficult if you are a nervous person, but stress can cause even the most carefree people to have a bad night. Sleep deprivation can impair your reaction time, memory, and mental alertness, which can result in penalties to your score. To prevent nerves from damaging your sleep, you can do the following:
- Exercise the day before the debate.
- Take a natural sleep supplement, such as chamomile tea or melatonin, to help you fall asleep.
Step 9. Eat enough before the debate
Most veteran speakers prepare for a debate by eating moderate meals. Most eat enough to keep hunger at bay during the debate but avoid eating heavy things that could cause drowsiness or lethargy. You may also want to avoid dairy, as these can create mucus that could harm your voice, and caffeinated beverages, which can make your bladder overly active.
Part 2 of 3: Performing During the Debate
Step 1. Speak in a clear voice
You will have to assess the environment in which the discussion takes place before you can know which volume will be the most effective. If you are expected to use a microphone, you should check the volume before starting your speech. Smaller venues can benefit from a warm and familiar tone, while larger presentation rooms may require a louder voice than normal.
Step 2. Make an appropriate appearance
You will also be judged on how you integrate your body language into your speech. Identify emotional changes in your speech and match them with proper posture and gestures. Your appearance has three key aspects:
- Posture: avoid slouching or idle postures as this can be interpreted negatively. A straight back, feet shoulder-width apart, and an attentive but relaxed attitude will make it easier for you to transition to other gestures or postures throughout your speech.
- Gestures: Make sure there is enough variety in your gestures as repeated movements can hurt your score. Keep your gestures above the waist so that they can be easily seen.
- Eye Contact: Generally, you are expected to refer to your notes for specific numbers and points, but you should maintain solid and consistent eye contact throughout the discussion. Practice speaking and reviewing your notes before the debate.
Step 3. Take notes during the opposition time
In order to properly disprove misinformation, rebut a point, or address a counterargument, you will need to address specific points of the opposition's argument. Compare the other team's stats with yours and write down any information that seems false, incomplete, or misrepresented.
Step 4. Show your negative points in a positive way
Wording can dramatically change the way the public interprets information, and if you have the final say, wording can be an effective tool for changing an opinion from negative to positive. You may want to rephrase the counterexamples that the opposition is likely to use so that you have a solid rebuttal partially prepared.
The point "School uniforms restrict the individuality of students" could be rephrased as "School uniforms prevent individuality from negatively impacting the learning of all students."
Step 5. Argue your proposition with conviction
For your proposal to be accepted, you will have to convince the jury that your plan (motion) is correct. This will require you to defend it against the opposition by making points in favor of your proposition.
Step 6. Meet the requirements of the opposition
Typically, a debate has objectives that are considered strong evidence of superior argument. Although these goals can take many different forms, there are three common ways to win an opposition-side debate:
- prove that the problem resolved by the motion does not exist
- prove that the proposed motion does not resolve the issue
- prove that the motion is not the appropriate way to resolve the problem or that the proposed plan brings more negative consequences than benefits
Step 7. Bring up a new point
This is especially useful if you are the third speaker as it can distract from other more important points that you have mentioned. This can also return attention to the crux of your argument. However, you should not make any new arguments at this point as this is often judged negatively. However, you are allowed to attack or defend any argument from a fresh perspective.
Step 8. Refute the opposition
Identify and take note of the other team's key arguments. Disrupting them will earn you rebuttal points and put the other team on the defensive. You will have to refute the other side's arguments while reconstructing any of your own points. An effective way to do this during the discussion is to ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the methodology on the other side have any weak points?
- Does the opposition make any claims that have factual, moral or logical errors?
- Does the opposition make logical assumptions or fallacies?
Part 3 of 3: Addressing the Information Points (National Discussion Format)
Step 1. Know the rules for information points
Information points can only be made during unprotected time, which is generally defined as the time after the first minute and before the third minute of a speech. An information point should be in question format but can otherwise be used for many different purposes.
- Here are some uses for information points: making clarifications, interrupting someone's speech, pointing out weaknesses, or getting a response that is useful for your own argument.
- An example of using an information point for your argument might be something like: "After the second speaker of the proposition accepted my information point, he admitted that…".
- In most competitive debates, the information points are limited to 15 seconds.
Step 2. Offer your point of information by sticking to the appropriate label
To offer an information point, you must stand with one hand on your head and the other in the air. As a speaker, you can either decline or accept an information point. During a 4-minute speech, it is considered good form to accept at least two information points, but at a minimum you should try to address one.
- Accept information points by saying "Yes" or "I'll take your point."
- Reject information points by saying "No thanks" or by gently waving your hand down to indicate that your opponent should sit down.
Step 3. Respond to counterarguments
You and your team should pay attention to the information points your opponents make. These can provide an early warning of the direction of the opposing team's arguments and rebuttals as pointed questions in the form of information points can reveal the depth of the opposition's knowledge or lack of it. Use this precognition to prepare your defense.
If one of the opposing team's information points refers to a specific study or authority, you may want to consider what you know about that source. As you consider the source, think about how you can refute other points that the opposition might take from that source
Step 4. Be direct
Due to the 15-second time restriction for tipping points and the speaker's ability to interrupt them, your tipping point must be motivated by a key principle or argument. The first line of your information point should include your main point to avoid being interrupted. Make sure you are prepared to return to your speech after finishing the information point.
Advice
- Use the SEI method: state your argument, explain your argument, illustrate your argument.
- Try to stay calm and assertive throughout the discussion. If you get nervous, you may forget things, but even if you forget something, remember that through discussion you will learn valuable skills.
- While being more skilled than your opponent when speaking will not always win you, it is still a great idea to have a dominant vocabulary.
- Label your arguments using the acronym SPERMS (social, political, economic, religious, moral and scientific).
- Don't add points that are hard to remember at the last minute.