ALWAYS REMEMBER

Speakers are not born, they are made.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement

BENEFITS OF DEBATING and multi Cultivates quick

dimensional, logical thinking.

Enhances the ability to develop reasoned opinions. Gives a better understanding of the current events and the world around us. Improves self-confidence, speaking style and command of language. Enriches your overall leadership qualities.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

GOOD DEBATERS POSSESS

Ability to generate ideas.

Good knowledge of current issues. Ability to think critically and logically. Ability to present the ideas systematically. Ability to handle culturally diverse and challenging situations with great ease and to ones their (own) enjoyment.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DIFFERENT FORMATS OF DEBATES

Parliamentary & Non-parliamentary
Parliamentary debates allow Points of Information (POI) while Non-Parliamentary debates do not.

Malaysian Conventional
3 members to a team Topics given in advance POIs not allowed

American Parliamentary
2 members to a team POIs are allowed
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DIFFERENT FORMATS OF DEBATES

Royal Malaysian/ Asian
3 members to a team POIS are allowed.

British Parliamentary (World Debates)

Set up in a British Parliamentary Format of Debate
2 member to team and 4 teams in a debate POIs are allowed Closing Gov. Opening Gov.

Closing Opp. Opening Opp.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

A DEBATE IS JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF:

1. Matter: What you present (i.e. the content) 2. Manner: How you present (i.e. the style) 3. Method: Organisation/ structure of your presentation
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ELEMENTS OF MATTER
1. Definitions: 4. Rebuttals: - Set up of the debate - Must be logical - Must be relevant 2. Arguments: - Must be prompt - Must be logical - Must be relevant 3. Evidences: - Must be relevant - Evidential value (strength)
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DEFINING A TOPIC
Explain the key-words in the topic. Identify what you want to prove and what is your stand. This is called the theme of your team. If there is a measurement involved, set up the yardstick or criteria for such measurement.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

RULES OF DEFINITION Characteristics of a Proper Definition:

It It It It must must must must bear a close relation to the motion. not be truistic. not employ time or place setting. not be based on overly specific knowledge

Kinds of Definitions:
Literal with key-words definition. Metaphorical definition. Issue based &/or specified definition (different from time-place setting).
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

CHALLENGE OF DEFINITION Grounds for Challenge:

You can only challenge a definition if it violates any of the criteria stated earlier. Frequently used terms in challenging definitions are: wholly unreasonable, squirrel, time-place set, truistic.
You cannot challenge a definition simply because you have a more reasonable or better definition.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

CHALLENGE OF Challenge mustDEFINITION opposition, not come from the leader of the
later. Leader of the opposition must provide an alternative definition. In most of the cases, the teams must introduce an 'even if argument. An `Even if' argument is not possible in some cases. (e.g. truistic definition & definition running counter to the resolution i.e. where govt. has taken the oppositions case). In a definition debate, all the speakers except the PM argue the following:
Why challenge? Validity/ invalidity of the two definitions. Even if we are to accept the other side's definition, these are the weaknesses of their case. Positive case under their own definition.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

GETTING THE RIGHT ARGUMENTS the topic. First, identify what you have to prove under

Then, identify what helps you to prove it. Put them in the format of an argument or a set of arguments.

Not everything that you know on the subject is relevant.

Anticipate the questions that may be raised against your arguments and see if you have good answers to them. Block the opportunity for those questions to be raised by addressing them briefly as you explain the argument.

Present the arguments in order of their strength.

Avoid empty rhetoric and emotionalism - be rational.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ESTABLISHING AN ARGUMENT
Basic statement

Logical explanations of why and how the basic statement stands Proofs/ evidences/ examples that factually establish your basic statement Conclusion/ how it proves your teams theme
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

EFFECTIVE REBUTTALS
Rebuttals Attacks (Rebut the Arguments) Defence (Rebut the Rebuttals)

Do not rebut the example, attack the very premise of the argument of the other side. Only then contrary examples can be supplemented.

It is advisable to provide multiple rebuttals to each argument of the other side.

Rebuttals should also be in conformity with your case. Rebut the rebuttals of your case by the other side in order to defend your case.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

ELEMENTS OF MANNER/STYLE Respectable attitude towards the

and the other team. Vocal style: intonation etc. Eye contact. volume, clarity,

judges pace,

Use of notes: not to read a written text. Body language: hand gestures, pacing, standing etc.

Impression of sincerity.
Humour, wit, appropriate and healthy sarcasm.
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

- Team structure
-

ELEMENTS OF METHOD
Continuity of teams theme in all the speeches. Consistency among all the speakers (no contradictions) Reinforcement of team members' arguments Clear & logical separation between arguments. Attractive opening/ outline of the speech. Proper organisation & priority of the arguments. Organisation of rebuttals. Appropriate timing of the speech Summary of the speech.

- Individual Structure

- Responses to the dynamics of the debate

- Right thing at the right time.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

- Ability to follow the progression of and changes in the debate, and to re-act accordingly.

Definitions/ theme of the team

MODEL INDIVIDUAL SPEECH

Rebuttals (attacks and defence) Reiteration and defence of your own teams case Presentation of your own arguments

Conclusion (why your teams case stands and other teams case does not)
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

TEAMS ROLES: ASIAN/ AUSTRALS PROPOSITION/ OPPOSITION:

GOVERNMENT: To negate the motion which To support the motion involves: which involves: Responding to the Defining the motion, Government's definition, Constructing a case in Constructing a positive case in favour of the opposition to the motion, motion, Providing substantive material and arguments in Providing substantive materials and support of the (opposition) arguments in support case, of the case, Responding to the arguments Responding to any delivered by the challenges made to Government. that case by the Opposition. Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

TEAM ROLES: BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY

OPENING GOV.
- Defines - Builds a positive case to support the motion - Responds to the Opp.s case.

OPENING OPP.
- Responds to the governments case

- Builds a case to oppose the motion

CLOSING GOV.

CLOSING OPP.

- Supports the Opening Gov.s - Supports the Opening Opp.s case case, - Adds new dimensions, arguments to further substantiate the governments case.

- Adds new dimension, arguments in Opp.s case

- Responds to governments case

- Responds to the Opp.s case Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/ AUSTRALS PROPOSITION/ 1st Speaker /Prime Minister

GOVERNMENT: Defines the topic. Gives the case structure and theme. Presents own arguments. Provides a summary of his speech. (What I've given u so far..).
Rebuts. Reiterates and defends his first speakers arguments. Presents own argument. Provides a summary of his speech.

2nd Speaker

3rd Speaker

Rebuts substantially. Reiterates and defends his own team's case. Provides a summary of his speech. Presents a comparative overview of the clash points in the debate proving why his teams case stands

Reply Speaker
Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

 1st Speaker /Opposition Leader Responds to the definition (i.e. Accepts, Rejects or Clarifies). Rebuts the Prime Ministers arguments. Gives the case structure and theme of his team. Presents own arguments. Provides a summary of his speech.

SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/ AUSTRALS OPPOSITION:

2nd Speaker Same as the proposition 2nd speaker

3rd Speaker Same as the proposition 3rd speaker Reply Speaker Same as the proposition reply speaker Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

POINTS OF INFORMATION (POIs)

A POI can be in a question or statement form and should not take more than 15 seconds. Each speaker should accept at least two POIs. All three members of the team should try to give POIs, but they must not be disruptive. POIs are judged on the basis of:
- the threat they pose to the strength of the argument of the debater. - value of its wit and humour.

Responses to the POIs are judged on the basis of: promptness and confidence in answering. strength of the response. value of wit and humour in the response.

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM