Board Thread:Suggestions/@comment-5486221-20150725023100/@comment-4586893-20150725143841

We live in a world where we communicate with others all the time. Debating is a more formal way of communicating. It builds confidence and self esteem in people. If we can convey our ideas and thoughts coherently and passionately, we have a valuable tool that can aid us in our public, private and future life.

Rules 

A debate has two teams: an Affirmative and a Negative. Each side consists of speakers.

The First Affirmative speaker begins the debate, and is then followed by the First Negative speaker. This pattern is maintained for the second and third (etc.) speakers of each team.

 Judging 

Each speaker is awarded a score out of 100 which is divided as follows:

Argument 50

Presentation 30

Structure 20

Argument is the argument, evidence and proof of the team’s case and its disproof of the other side’s case. It also includes the definition and interpretation of the topic.

Presentation is how the speaker presents his/her arguments. It's a speaker's style, and includes things like clear thought, grammar, word usage, advanced vocabulary and depth.

Structure is the individual form (i.e. structure) of a speaker’s speech and how that speech links into speeches of the rest of that speaker’s team.

 Preparing Your Arguements 

As a debater, it’s important that you make points that are clear, relevant and easy to understand.

The use of a illustration or an analogy may help you to clarify complicated terms. However, you should remember that examples are not proof of a point.

An effective way of constructing your argument is to arrange it with the least important point first to most important point last. People generally remember what has been said last.

In presenting and developing your argument remember to explain what you mean to prove, what the scope and implication will be, and why it is true with facts and evidence (not just assertions) to support your case.

Planning

There are a number of things that you can do in preparation for a debate. Below are some suggestions:

-Keep up with newspapers, magazines and books

-Record material, ideas and keep notes

-Observe and assess other speakers, including public figures

-Evaluate your material

-Talk to other people, ask their opinions

-Open a file and keep articles, quotes or humorous cartoons.

-Learn to express your thoughts in a more word enriched way

-Use a dictionary or thesaurus to improve your vocabulary

What you say

Keep a dictionary or thesaurus handy to improve your vocabulary. You don’t have to be pretentious or use 34 syllable words, but an extended vocabulary makes what you say more interesting. Humour can go a long way in getting a message across. Keep a file of jokes and cartoons which may come in handy. Quotes of famous people also help to substantiate your point of view. Two important things to remember:

1. Think of your opening – exactly what you are going to say – it has to grab everyone’s attention

2. End on a positive note firmly expounding your view (possibly with a quote). A strong opening and a strong finish will give you confidence.

Presentation

Everyone has their own personality and style when it comes to debating. Some very convincing debaters have very subdued, but forceful style. Too dramatic is off-putting. It’s helpful to keep the following in mind:

Hints

Avoid slang – use good conversational English.

Open and close your speech with a device such as a joke, illustration, or quote.

Structure

Structure is comprised of the following two things:-

1. Individual speaker form

How the speech was constructed. Was it easy to follow? Was it in a logical sequence, and ordered? Did it follow an organized plan with a good introduction and conclusion?

2. Team plan

Did the speaker (as in the case of the First Affirmative and Negative) introduce the remaining speakers and what they were going to do? Did s/he refer to the team outline and plan, e.g. "as our first speaker said ..." Points may be deducted if a speaker does not perform the tasks expected of him/her. Debates are not three individual speeches. Each team has a case, an outline and a theme. All speakers need to link into their own speakers, and not contradict each other. They must vigorously defend the case, and rebut (except the first Affirmative speaker) the other side.

Duties of a Speaker-Affirmative

-Introduction

-Rebuttal

-Summary of own first speaker (optional)

-Arguments, reasons and evidence

-Summary of team case

-Conclusion (also called Ending)

The first speaker must also define and interpret the topic.

Duties of a Speaker-Negative

-Introduction

-Rebuttal

-Summary of own first speaker (optional)

-Arguments, reasons and evidence

-Summary of team case

-Conclusion (also called Ending)

The first speaker must also define the topic. Since the Affirmative defines it first, the Negative team will either agree, amend, or reject their definition. If they reject it, they must justify why they rejected the definition.

 Conclusion 

I would like to thank Ulti, and the entire wiki for allowing this idea to happen. Things I wrote here can be modified. There also should be 2-3 judges to determine the winner. This is all likley to change but I feel like this is a starting point. This is going to be really fun :D.