7. In all debates material from both teams
will relate, or come under the umbrella, of
a larger broader issue.
8. In debates, there will be several
significant areas of clash or main issues
that the result of the debate depends on.
9. E.g.
- What is the correct moral position in
the debate?
- How will a particular stakeholder be
impacted by the policy?
- What will the societal impact of a policy
be?
10. For example in a debate on “This house would
remove sanctions on Cuba,” the main issues
could be:
- Is it moral to impose sanctions on Cuba?
- Are sanctions effective in creating internal
regime change in Cuba?
11. These areas of clash emerge from the
material from both teams in the debate -
whether it be substantive material or
rebuttal.
12. The areas of clash will always depend on
the material in a particular debate.
They should cover the important material
in that debate.
13. Part of judging is deciding which team
won each area of clash.
The other part is weighing the importance
of each area in terms of the overall
debate.
14. How do you decide which team
has won an area of clash?
16. You should first look at how well
substantiated or developed a point is in a
team’s case - how much did they prove
the material on its own?
17. This includes:
-Looking at mechanisms (have they
explained why the point/outcome will
happen in the way they say it will)
18. -Do they have persuasive examples that
assist to prove the point they are
making?
-What is the effect of the point they are
making? How much does it matter?
19. Second, you should look at how each
team has engaged with the opposing
team’s material (“rebuttal”).
20. Rebuttal relates both to negating material
from the opposing team and also in many
cases reducing its significance in a
debate.
24. Look at the material of both teams, how
they have engaged, and decide which
team has been more persuasive for the
issue at the end.
25. This can involve deciding what is the
most likely response by
stakeholders/actors to a policy based on
both teams material?
E.g. How citizens of Cuba react to
sanctions
26. How do you decide a winner
based on these areas of clash?
28. Depends on:
- To what extent has a team won an area of
clash?
- What has a team proven through that area of
clash? What is its significance in the debate?
- Overall, what appeared to be the biggest issue
in the debate?