This document provides information about debate strategies and structure. It discusses the goals of a debate to convince the audience of one side's argument. It outlines five debate strategies: 1) refer back to your argument tag, 2) explain your argument, 3) characterize your opponent's response fairly, 4) resolve the issue by showing why you are right, and 5) impact the importance of winning the argument. It also describes the roles and order of speakers in a debate competition, including an affirmative and negative first speaker, rebuttals from second speakers, and a focus on rebuttal for third speakers. Adjudicators consider debates based on manner, matter, and method.

1. Debate and Speech
Division

2. DEBATE

3. When was the last time that
you debated?
Every one has debated, and almost
everyone has debated more recently
than they think. Debating is all around
us. we debate about almost everything.
Debating is everywhere, and everyone
can do it.

4. The goal of a debate is to convince
your audience that your side of the
topic is true

5. DEBATE
STRATEGIES

6. 1. Refer back to the tag of your
argument
This step is where you indicate to the
judge what argument you want to
extend. Make a specific reference. This
could include a piece of evidence.

7. 2. Explain your argument
In this stage you comprehensively
explain your argument. This step may
take one sentence or several, depending
on the time pressure in the speech.

8. 3. Characterize your opponent’s
response to your argument.
Your description should be fair. Do not
be critical of the other side‟s argument.
Don‟t call it “stupid” or “silly”. You will
lose credibility with the judge if you do
that.

9. 4. Resolve the issue
At this stage you explain why you are
right and they are wrong. It could be
something as simple as pointing out
that your evidence is more recent or
qualified.

10. 5. Impact the importance of
winning the argument
The final step involves providing an
impact assessment. You want to get
maximum credit for winning the
particular clash battle so tell the judge
what it is exactly that you win if they do
resolve the issue in your favor.

11. DEBATE
COMPETITION

12. Debate Competition
Chairperson
1
Affirmative
1
Opposite
team
team
2
Speaking
2
Area
3 3
Audience
Adjudicator

13. Guide Sheets
A chairperson‟s sheet. This is a suggested guide to
the duties of a chairperson. It
includes an example of each duty. A chairperson
can simply fill in the gaps if he or she wishes.
A timekeeper‟s guide. This sets out the basic
duties of a timekeeper. It includes a
template to record each speaker‟s time, if desired.

14. Adjudicators use three
categories to consider debates:
Þ Manner describes the way that a particular speech is
presented: „how you say it‟.
For example, how interesting, sincere or humorous
is the speaker
Þ Matter describes the arguments that you present,
both in their general strengthand in the way that
you support and explain them. Like manner, the
average
Þ Method describes the structure of your speech. It can
often become a „mixed bag‟ category involving all
those parts of your speech that don‟t seem to fit into
either manner or matter.

15. The First Speaker
The first affirmative The first negative
 A formal introduction  A brief introduction
 The definition, and any  Rebuttal
other definitional  The negative team‟s
clarifications case approach
 The affirmative team‟s  The split
case approach
 An outline of argument
 The split
 The arguments
 An outline of argument
 A summary of
 The arguments arguments
 A summary of  A conclusion.
arguments
 A conclusion.

16. The Second Speaker
Specifically, the second affirmative and
second negative have the following duties:
· A brief introduction
· Rebuttal
· A brief link to the team‟s case approach
· An outline of argument
· The arguments
· A summary of arguments
· A conclusion.

17. The Third Speaker
The third speakers must spend most of
their speeches rebutting. They must also
summarise. The structure of a third
speaker‟s speech will be covered in more
detail later.

18. Signposting
In debating, a „signpost‟ is essentially a
label that tells your audience, adjudicator
and opposition. an indication of where you
are in your speech. A signpost does not need
to be complicated, but it does need to be
clear.

19. Rebuttals
Rebuttals is the part of debate that attempts
to disarm the opponents arguments.
Sometimes the rebuttal section should come
before the arguments supporting your
position and sometimes after.

20. conclusion
The aim of a debate, as with the aim of any
game, is to win. There is no better way to
improve your debating, and to have fun doing so,
than to enter every debate determined to do
whatever possible – within the rules and the
spirit of the contest – to win.

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION