Perform Well In A Debate

How to Perform Well in a Debate

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People may come up with the most stunning content for their argument, but the fact is one-third of the marking criteria will go to 'performance' and 'manner of speaking'. Even this could determine which side wins.

Steps

1. Realize that no matter how analytical and academic a debate is, the way you present it verbally, will have an effect on your adjudicator. There is a little bit of drama involved. For example, if the topic is comical (which they never usually are) then generally one should put on a happy act, and adopt a really cheerful voice. So match the 'mood' in which you are speaking with the topic you are arguing about.
2. Maintain eye contact with the people around the room, especially the adjudicators. After all, they are the ones you are trying to persuade to your side; your team is already on your side. Of course, look at the adjudicators when introducing and concluding your speech, and also the guests - they are part of the audience.
3. Before you start your speech find a steady spot to place your feet, because once the speech starts, it doesn't stop. The best stance to take is standing in the center of the room and planting your feet right together firmly on the ground. This prevents swaying, as some people fidget so much that they drop the cue-cards.
4. Start by taking a deep breath, look up at the adjudicator and greet them. Don't start the debate with 'um' or 'uh'. All one should start with is "Good evening/morning adjudicator, fellow debaters, audience, my name is ________."
5. Speak slowly . there is a time limit to every speech but most of the time, individual speeches don't exceed the time limit. It is much better to speak slowly, carefully, and somewhat convincingly. It hardly seems like one is 'arguing' when they inaudibly stutter a few hundred words with a trembling voice. People really want to hear what you've got to say, so let them!
6. Be relaxed when you invent your rebuttals. Most are done by improvising on the spot. Do not worry about what you have just said, concentrate on what you are about to say. Don't make up a load of waffle, just pin-point where the opposition is wrong, find an idea that your team supports, and elaborate upon it.
7. Don't give up if you are feeling mortified with the argument you just presented. It is not over until the conclusion has been stated, and state it loudly and confidently! Even if the back-up was not-so-spectacular, this is the opinion you are expressing. Give a large smile, say something along the lines of 'We hope we convinced you', and bid them a hearty goodbye.
   • Learn the art and history of Rhetoric. Socrates the great Philosopher was a famous rhetorician, and won his arguments by letting his opponents contradict themselves with their own words. Therefore listen hard to your opponents' speeches.
   • Speaking passionately is a great advantage.
   • Revise your synonyms. It gets tiresome when speakers use the words 'misconception', 'contradictory', and 'flaws' during their rebuttal. Be creative! Words like 'misapprehended', 'inconsistency', 'indistinct', 'misinterpreted', are not so cliché.
   • Practice speaking your debate in front of your friends, parents, or anyone willing to listen. If practised in front of the mirror, you can analyse your facial expression and hand gestures.
   • The #1 most important factor is to relax.
   • Cue-cards are easier to shuffle when they are in little squares. Long rectangular ones tend to slip from peoples' hands.
   • Adjudicators don't like it when a person doesn't tell them what they are going to talk about for the next three minutes. At least briefly explain what main issues you will raise in your speech.
   • Say what you're going to say, say it, and then finally say what you've just said.
   • Label your arguments using S.P.E.R.M. (Social, Political, Economic, Religious and Moral) This makes it easier to keep track of your arguments and to structure your speech.
   • State your argument - Explain your argument - Illustrate your argument
8. Use hand gestures that illustrate your argument. This way, the audience have a visual and they won't get bored.

Warnings

• Just note that at the end of the day, the content and accuracy of your argument is ultimately what the adjudicator will be marking upon.
• Teams usually try to intimidate their oppositions by clapping extremely loudly when it's your turn. Just welcome it, and when it's their turn, clap even harder.
• Avoid laughing, giggling, choking, and gasping.

Things You'll Need

• Cue-cards
• Concentration
• Relaxation

Related wikiHows

• How to Perform Well in a Group Interview
• How to Construct a Lincoln Douglas Debate Case
• How to Construct a Policy Debate Case
• How to Speak Well and Confidently
• How to Learn Well
• How to Rebut Better
• How to Write a Speech if You're Third Speaker
• How to Argue Convincingly in Acting

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FIAT: Magic Wand Of Debate

Something to think about.

[This article was posted on socal-ld.net and posted by "Danny"]

Fiat is a term that is often used in debates and I wanted to go over some basics.


Fiat is a term which means “let it be.” In debate, its come to represent the idea that debates should revolve around the “should” question instead of the “could” question. So rather than asking, could the US federal government reform transportation infrastructure in this way, we ask, should the US federal government, if it could, reform transportation infrastructure in this way?

Click here to read the full article

Supporting Your Opinion

You have stated your opinion and explained the reason(s) for your opinion, now you need to support your opinion. 

To support your opinion you need to provide evidence.  You can provide evidence in the form of an explanation, an example, statistics or the use of an expert opinion.

Explanation is similar to using the cause-and-effect pattern seen in the explain your opinion section.  This pattern utilizes a "if" with a potential outcome.

ex.)  If we don't change the policies then people on welfare will not receive proper benefits.

We can also use other patterns to provide explanation:

ex.)  People on welfare need additional assistance to live above the poverty line, so the policy needs to change.

ex.)  In order to improve the lives of people on welfare, policies need to change.

Examples provide real-life situations and give an account of past occurances.

ex.)  We need to implement changes to improve the lives of people on welfare.  For example, vocational classes can help people learn skills to get jobs.

ex.)  When I observed their system, it worked by providing skills helpful in finding employment.

Statistics use numbers and data to support your opinion.  Use of accurate data is hard to refute, so this is a good way to support your opinion.

ex.)  Studies suggested that vocational education helped welfare recipients find jobs 50% faster than other programs.

ex.)  Three out of five welfare recipients found a job after completing a vocational program.

Expert opinions can also be profound in supporting your opinion.  Just be aware that who the expert is, is important.  The more credibility an expert has, the harder it is to refute his/her claim.

ex.)  According to John B. May, vocational programs have a higher success rate in getting people off welfare.

ex.)  The Institute on Social Welfare published a study finding that vocational  programs were the key in helping those on welfare find a job.

You may also consider utilizing more than one of the above ways to support your opinion.  The more support your opinion has, the harder it is to refute.  The harder your opinion is to refute, the more likely that others will believe in your opinion.

Explaining Your Opinion

One of the key ways to have people believing in your opinion is to explain your opinion.  Without a strong explanation, our opinions are basically, just our opinion.

The key point is to provide reasons that other people will find reasonable and convincing.  Three ways to do this is by making comparisons, show a contrast or show a cause-and-effect relation.

A comparison compares between different things.  This comparison shows that something is better than or worse than something else.

ex.)  Eating dinner at 6PM is better than eating dinner at 7PM.
        There are more benefits running than speed walking.
        The new law has more advantages than the old law.

Showing a contrast is putting the opposites against each other.

ex.)  Women multi-task quickly; men don''t.
        Children can learn a new language easily; adults can't.
        The city helps senior citizens; the state will not.

A cause-and-effect pattern emphasizes a potential result when something is or is not done.

ex.)  If you elect me, I will lower taxes.
        Eating late at night causes weight gain.
        If we cut spending by 10%, we can extend social security by 10 years.

You may choose to state your opinion with an explaination.  You can also use multiple explainations to convince people to believe in your opinion. 

Opinion of Value, Policy and Fact

Opinions usually fall into three types:  Value, Policy and Fact.

Our opinion is the basis for the argument so by catergorizing them into one of the three types, you can start to build a foundation for your debate.

VALUE:  One thing is better than another (A is better than B)
ex.)  Spring is better than fall.

POLICY:  Rules, regulations or laws that should or should not be implemented. (A should/should not do B)
ex.)  The government should increase spending on health care.

FACT:  Something that is or is not true. (A is/is not true)
ex.)  Rainy weather causes more automobile accidents.

Depending on what category your opinion falls under, you can proceed with the next stage of explaining your opinion.

Using the Toulmin Model of Argument

Stephen Edelston Toulmin developed a layout for analyzing arguments.  The six components for analyzing arguments using his method are:  claim, ground (evidence, data), warrant, backing, rebuttal, and qualifier.

We can utilize his model as a structure to arrange our arguments.

Let's look at the components and examples.

CLAIM:  To make/establish a claim 

Carpooling to commute to work is very beneficial.

GROUND:  Laying the foundation for your arguement

Many people drive to work without any passengers.

WARRANT:  Connection between the claim and the ground of your arguement

Carpooling can reduce harmful emissions and save fuel expenses.

BACKING:  Putting credibility in your argument or convincing statements

Scientist believe that if we reduce the emissions from automobiles by 25%, we can start to reverse the damage to our environment. 

or

With the price of gasoline at record highs, you can save more than half at the pump each week.

REBUTTAL:  Recognizing some restrictions, limitations, exceptions...

If a person chooses not to join a carpool, they may opt to take public transporation or consider a more fuel-efficient vehicle or hybrid vehicle.

QUALIFIER:  Close your arguement with force and make a strong convincing ending

Carpooling will definitely reduce carbon emissions and in turn, reduce overall pollution.  Furthermore, you will be able to save over half of your fuel costs spending your hard-earned money on more important things.

How To Get Better At Debate

Are you naturally good at debate?
In a group, do you usually get your way?

We are constantly debating. Whether it is with co-workers, family, friends or even ourselves, we are constantly pitting choices against each other. Is it good or bad?, what are the pros and cons?, which is better?, and the list goes on and on...

So how exactly can we become better at debate? Some of us can join a debate club or organization to make us better debaters. With practice and the knowledge of useful skills associated with debate you can become better adept at debate. Click here to read an article from the THE 3NR.