What is a debate?
A debate is a formal
argumentative contest between two sides. One side of the debate proposes (agrees
with a given debate topic) while the other side opposes (disagrees with the debate
topic).
Examples of debate topics:
1. House chores should be shared equally between boys and girls.
2. Democracy is better compared to other forms of government.
3. Day schools are better than boarding schools.
4. Being good in academics than being good in sports.
5. Grading of students based on their performance should be abolished.
6. Wearing of school uniform should be abolished.
7. The use of mobile phones in school should be allowed.
8. Voting age should be allowed to allow students to vote in the national elections.
9. Being happy is better than being successful.
10. Being kind is better than being honest.
11. Death penalty should be legalised.
12. Abortion should be legalised.
13. Covid-19 vaccines should be mandatory for all.
14. Mixed schools are better than single-gender schools.
15. Religion brings more harm than good to humans.
16. Technology has brought more good than harm in our lives.
17. Classical music is better than modern music.
18. The use of Marijuana should be legalised as a recreational drug.
19. Euthanasia should be legalised.
20. Formal employment is better than informal employment.
21. Residing in the countryside is better than living in town.
A debate expresses certain
ideals such as arguing reasonably and being tolerant to divergent points of
view.
Before the debate,
both the proposing and the opposing teams are given enough time to prepare for
the debate.
During the debate, The
proposing team speaks first while the opposing team refutes any claims made by
the proposers by giving counter-arguments
Both the proposing and
the opposing sides of the debate are given equal opportunities to present their
positions and offer their arguments or questions.
The debate also contains judge(s) who are neutral and serve to evaluate the persuasiveness of the arguments of either side of the opposers and proposers before awarding points to the most persuasive side.
How to prepare for a debate:
The preparation time of a
debate is the time between the announcement of a debate motion and the actual
time when the debate actually takes place.
To prepare for a debate, one should:
- Do thorough research on the motion to get all the facts needed to support your arguments. The research can be done by reading, watching documentaries, asking questions to the teachers, discussing with other students etc.
- Make written notes to be used for reference during the debate.
- Rehearse how you will voice out your arguments. This can be done in front of a mirror or in front of friends.
- Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing to overcome anxiety.
- Prepare an appropriate dress code to suit the occasion.
What to do during debating
To increase the
chances of successfully debating a motion, one should:
- Express arguments or counter-arguments in a persuasive and confident way.
- Use tonal variation to make your presentation interesting.
- Speak audibly enough so as to be heard by everyone. However, do not shout.
- Maintain meaningful eye contact with the audience.
- Be clear and concise in order to be understood by the audience.
- Thoroughly explain and support your arguments with facts and evidence.
- Use meaningful gestures and facial expressions to make your message elaborate.
- Divide your arguments in way that makes them easy to understand
How to use heckles in a debate
Heckles are both
verbal and non-verbal. In a debate, heckles involve brief phrases containing
one or two words or non-verbal actions that are directed towards the judge(s)
of the debate.
Heckles are used as a
way of reminding the judge to pay attention to a point that has been expressed
by a speaker.
Verbal heckles in a debate include:
- Objective responses.
- Evidence centred responses
- Highlighting/Pointing out particular information.
Note: verbal heckles
are usually voiced when a member of the opposing side stands up to alert the judge
to judge a problem before the speaker takes over.
Heckles are said after
standing up by one member of the opposing side.
These are meant to alert the judge to a problem in the opposing side’s
argument.
Non-verbal heckles in a debate include:
- Clapping
- Stamping of the feet
- Knuckling the desks
- Rapping palms on the desk