OMS INSIGHTS

Parliamentary
Debate FORMAT
(RULES AND PROCEDURES)
 Introduction

 Parliamentary Debate is the most popular style of

debating in the world
 We use the 6 person format
 4 basic categories of rules include:
 # of teams & debaters
 Order of speeches
 Time limits
 Decision-making procedure
 2 Teams

 Proposition—3 members
 Makes the case

 Opens the debate w/ 1st speech

 Has the burden of proof

 Closes the debate w/ 6th speech

 Opposition—3 members
 Opposes the proposition

(argues against proposition’s support)

 Proposition

 Supports motion (argues for proposition, topic,

resolution)
 Opens debate
 Interprets the topic
 Goal is to prove motion is more true than false
 Closes debate
 Opposition

 Opposes proposition team

 Argues against prop’s support for motion
 Goal is to prevent prop from proving motion is
more true than false
 Order of Speeches

 6 speeches
4 constructive
constructs arguments for each side &
responds to arguments from the other side
establishes core arguments for each
team’s side of the topic
2 rebuttal
summarizes major arguments for each
side and proposes reasons why each team should
win debate
 Speeches, cont.

 1st Proposition Constructive 5 minutes*

 1st Opposition Constructive 5 minutes*
 2nd Proposition Constructive 5 minutes*
 2nd Opposition Constructive 5 minutes*
*POIs are allowed during the middle 3 minutes of constructive speeches

 Opposition Rebuttal 3 minutes

 Proposition Rebuttal 3 minutes
*No POIs are allowed during rebuttal speeches
 Terminology & Times

 Hold the Floor

 Debater who is currently speaking
 The ability to speak without being “out of order”
 Out of Order
 `speaking out of turn
 Not waiting to be recognized
 Attempting to make a POI during Protected Time
 Point of Information (POI)
 A question or statement offered by a debater who does not currently “hold the floor”
 Only made by the team not currently speaking
 Must be recognized (called on) to speak before beginning
 Allowed only during the middle 3 minutes of constructive speeches
 Allowed 15 seconds only
 Protected Time
 Time during which POIs may not be attempted
 1st and last minute of each constructive speech
 Both rebuttal speeches
 Timekeeper
 Official who keeps track of
 preparation time
 speakers’
 POIs
 protected time
 Notes time changes with an audible “knock” and/or with hand signals/cards
 Prep Time & Notes

 Generally 15 minutes to prepare

 Notes are vital since
 No published material (printouts from earlier research) is
allowed during debate
 Most “quoted” evidence is not allowed

 Only prep time notes & notes written during

debate may be used
 Debaters must accurately communicate facts
based on their knowledge & prior research to
the audience, judge, and other team
 Speaker responsibilities

 Constructive speeches build arguments for

prop and opp
 Rebuttal speeches are an opportunity to
contrast main lines of argument of the prop &
opp
 All speakers are responsible for
 Effective presentation
 Defense
 Refutation
 1st proposition constructive
(1st prop)
 Makes a case for the proposition
 offers 3-4 arguments w/ supporting evidence providing logical proof
that the motion is more true than false
 Uses enough reasons & examples to make concise, complete, &
compelling arguments for each argument
 Interprets the topic
 defines any unclear terms/clarifies foundation of argument

 May offer a brief history of topic

 helpful b/c provides judge & audience with the same background
info
 Offers a summary showing how these arguments prove the
proposition
 General refutation tactics
(can be used by both sides)

 Provides clash
 When 2 arguments directly oppose each other
 Undermines prop’s logic
 Argues topic doesn’t hold (can’t be proven)
 Uses direct and indirect refutation
 Direct refutation
 Refutes the main points of the case
 Critically evaluates the 1st prop’s agruments
 Points out inconsistencies, gaps in logic, argument fallacies, improper causal chains, & exaggerated claims
 Offers counters to prop’s examples
 Indirect argumentation
 Involves issues that are not formally included in the prop’s case
 Uses related topics, not specifically mentioned by prop
 A combo of both is the most effective
 Strategic agreement
 Opposition does not have to disagree with everything Prop says
 Strategic agreement is when the opp agrees with the prop
 Helps opp remove arguments that would be hard to win
 Helps opp focus on critical points they need
 1st opposition constructive
(1st opp)
 Accounts for all major prop arguments
 Uses a formal, professional manner
 1stimpression communicates to judge that the opp team has a
strong strategy
 Identifies points of agreement
 Relocates core issues
 Directly/indirectly disputes prop’s claims
 Identifies and addresses 2-3 major lines of
argument against prop
 Ex. (using direct ref.) the 1st opp attacks 2 core prop
issues & (using indir. ref.) introduces a new argument not
mentioned in the prop’s opening speech
 2nd proposition constructive
(2nd prop)
 Last opportunity to introduce new arguments
 Immediately precedes opposition block
 Must convincingly prove prop’s case

 Reestablishes principles of the prop’s case

 Briefly summarizes 1st prop’s arguments, specifically & in order
 Amplifies opening presentation
 Supplements 1st prop’s reasoning
 Provides additional examples

 Answers all opp’s major objections/arguments

 Uses refutation of opp arguments to further expand prop case

 Summarizes debate & explains why prop should win

 Opposition block

 2nd opposition constructive speech

 Opposition rebuttal speech

Back to back opposition speeches allow for 8

consecutive minutes to advance the
opposition’s arguments
This can be a serious assault on the proposition—
especially if the 2nd prop or the prop rebuttal
speakers do not convincingly prove their case.
 2nd constructive opposition
(2nd opp)
 Final constructive speech for opp
 May continue 1st opp’s objections
 Expands arguments
 Presents new arguments--last chance—but do this carefully—
 opp will not get a chance to refute any attacks on these by prop rebuttal
 Too many new arguments (or too much expansion) can lessen
effectiveness
 Evaluates inconsistencies between 1st & 2nd props
 Summarizes issues effectively
 Explains impact of each argument carefully
 Impact—the way an argument plays a decisive role in the outcome of
a debate (refutation’s “therefore” step)
 Opposition rebuttal

 Opp summary speech

 No new arguments

 Contrasts main lines of arguments

 Chooses 2-4 most critical issues which might tip debate

towards opp & focuses attention on them
 Explains why opp should win
 Proposition rebuttal

 Final speech
 Summarizes entire debate
 Extends constructive prop arguments
 Answers major opp arguments
 May also answer any new arguments made by 2nd
opp (since this is the 1st chance prop has to refute them)
 Offers multiple independent proofs of topic to
increase probability of victory
 Explains why prop should win
 Debate Order, again

 1st Proposition Constructive 5 minutes*

 1st Opposition Constructive 5 minutes*
 2nd Proposition Constructive 5 minutes*
 2nd Opposition Constructive 5 minutes*
*POIs are allowed during the middle 3 minutes of constructive speeches
 Opposition Rebuttal 3 minutes
 Proposition Rebuttal 3 minutes
*No POIs are allowed during rebuttal speeches

Following Prop Rebuttal

 JUDGE’S DECISION
 SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR OPPONENTS
 ENJOY YOUR BREAK!