The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation C ASE P REPARATION : part 2 Simon Quinn “ Most debates are won and lost in the preparation room. ” www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Outline The ‘big picture’ 1 The issue and definition 2 The case approach 3 The arguments 4 The split 5 Writing speeches 6 Teamwork in preparation 7 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Arguments Every argument made by a school debating team should have four parts : A label ; 1 Explanation and reasoning ; 2 At least one example (including, perhaps, statistics); 3 A link back to the team approach (‘ SO WHAT? ’) 4 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Effective use of examples Examples that are often effective are: Real , Significant and Carefully analysed . Examples that are rarely effective are: Hypotheticals (‘ Imagine if... ’), Personal anecdotes (‘ My friend... ’), Extremes (‘ As Hitler illustrates... ’), or Religious texts . www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Alternatives to examples Sometimes, it is effective to use alternatives to examples. For example, these could include: Statistics Statements of principle in important documents. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Outline The ‘big picture’ 1 The issue and definition 2 The case approach 3 The arguments 4 The split 5 Writing speeches 6 Teamwork in preparation 7 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation The split You need to divide your arguments logically between first and second speakers. This is known as your team’s ‘ split ’. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation A ‘ hung case ’ Every speaker must argue the case directly . Example Suppose a team is arguing for sanctions against China. . . 1st : ‘ China has a bad human rights record. ’ 2nd : ‘ Sanctions are an effective response. ’ This is poor team strategy (a ‘ hung case ’): the first speaker did not directly support the case! www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Common splits Common splits include: society / individual ; international / domestic ; military / political ; some combination of social , political and economic ; short-term / long-term . If you use a common split, you should try to tailor the split to your particular motion. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Content splits Remember: the split involves dividing arguments , not merely dividing examples . It is poor strategy simply to divide different types of examples. This is known as a ‘ content split ’. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Outline The ‘big picture’ 1 The issue and definition 2 The case approach 3 The arguments 4 The split 5 Writing speeches 6 Teamwork in preparation 7 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Writing speeches “ Tell them what you’re going to tell them, Then tell them, Then tell them what you told them. ” Old speechwriters’ adage www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the First Proposition The First Proposition speaker has two main duties: Introduce his or her team’s case ; and 1 Present the first two team arguments . 2 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the First Proposition These two duties can be covered by following structure: A formal introduction ; 1 The definition , and any other definitional clarifications; 2 The affirmative team’s case approach ; 3 The split ; 4 An outline of argument; 5 The arguments ; 6 A summary of arguments; and 7 A conclusion . 8 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the First Opposition The First Opposition speaker has two main duties: Rebut the First Proposition; 1 Introduce his or her team’s case ; and 2 Present the first two team arguments . 3 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the First Opposition These three duties can be covered by following structure: A brief introduction; 1 Rebuttal ; 2 The opposing team’s case approach; 3 The split ; 4 An outline of argument; 5 The arguments ; 6 A summary of arguments; and 7 A conclusion . 8 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Another important role of the First Opposition : Responding to the Proposition’s definition The First Opposition must also respond to the Proposition’s definition . He or she must do so either by agreeing or disagreeing with the definition set out by the First Proposition. Agreeing with the definition only requires one, very brief sentence, usually at the end of the team case approach. Disagreeing with the definition is a more complicated task, dealt with early in rebuttal. We will discuss definitional challenges in more detail later. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the Second Speakers Both Second Speakers have very similar roles: Rebut their opponents’ arguments; and 1 Continue their respective team’s case. 2 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the Second Speakers These duties can be covered by following structure: A brief introduction ; 1 Rebuttal ; 2 A brief link to the team’s case approach ; 3 An outline of argument; 4 The arguments ; 5 A summary of arguments; and 6 A conclusion . 7 www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Role of the Third Speakers Third Speakers spend almost their entire speeches rebutting, usually with a short team summary before they conclude. We will discuss this in more detail later. www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Explaining the duties of speakers Let’s now consider some of these duties in more detail: Signposting ; Formal introductions ; Brief introductions ; Setting up a team approach ; Brief links to a team case ; Outlines and summaries ; Conclusions ; Timing . www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Signposting In debating, a ‘signpost’ is a label that tells the audience where you are in your speech . Signposts need not be complicated, but they must be clear — for example, “ My first argument this evening addresses. . . ”. Only signpost major elements of your speech. For example, signposting arguments is very important but signposting the example of an argument might be excessive. R EMEMBER : A speech without clear signposts will likely be very difficult for audiences to follow! www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Formal Introductions A formal introduction is required only of the First Proposition speaker. It is intended to ‘ introduce ’ the audience to the debate as a whole . The goal is to provide a conversational and ‘ big picture ’ introduction to the debate. A good formal introduction is important in order to allow your team an opportunity to charactise key issues from your point of view . www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
The arguments The split Writing speeches Teamwork in preparation Speaker roles Brief introductions Except for the First Proposition , speakers are required only to give a brief introduction . A brief introduction only acknowledges the chair of the debate and the audience — for example, you could say, Good evening Madame Chair, ladies and gentlemen... and then dive straight into rebuttal. A brief introduction allows the speaker to start rebuttal quickly — when the audience and adjudicator most want to hear it! www.learndebating.com C ASE P REPARATION ( PART 2)
Recommend
More recommend
