This document outlines the structure and procedures of formal debate. It discusses the roles of each speaker, including presenting arguments, rebuttals, and summaries. Formal debates have strict rules and involve arguing a motion using logic over shouting. Speakers must make their points within time limits and accept questions from other participants to defend their arguments. The goal is a structured competition of ideas, with both sides aiming to logically prove their resolution is the stronger position.

2. “formal”
argumentation—
doesn’t involve
shouting
Has strict rules of
conduct and
sophisticated
arguing
techniques
Competition using
words and logic
Can be
Parliamentary or in
Oregon-Oxford
DEBATE

3. very minimal preparation (15-30
minutes)
not constrained on necessity,
beneficiality and practicability
arguments must be understood by a
person with an average
understanding of the topic

4. topics for discussion are called
MOTIONS
Ex: “This house believes that
Facebook is better than Twitter.”
2 sides are: GOVERNMENT
and OPPOSITION

5. topics for discussion are called
MOTIONS
Ex: “This house believes that
Facebook is better than Twitter.”
types: closed, semi-closed
and open motions

6. has a very specific issue
to be debated about
often requires little addition
to form the set-up
Ex: “THBT the Philippines should
adopt a national ID system”

7. gives room for the Prime Minister
to insert degrees to the set-up
allows the speaker to formulate
exact questions of the debate
Ex: “THBT democracy needs Marx.”

8. presents a thematic idea that can
apply to any number of issues
PM has a great degree of freedom
in setting up the debate
Ex: “THBT staying in heaven is
better than hell.”

11. PM
Define and
set up
debate
Present
position
and case
LO
Respond to
definition
Present
position
and case

12. PM
make 1-2
arguments Cite
fallacies of
PM
LO
Rebut
government
case
Make 1-2
arguments

13. DPM
defend
case
attack
LO’s case
DLO
defend
case
attack DPM
and PM’s
case

14. DPM
Make 1-2
arguments
cite
fallacies of
LO
DLO
make 1-2
arguments
cite
fallacies of
DPM

15. GW
Summarize
team’s case
summarize
main issues
of debate
OW
Summarize
team’s case
summarize
main issues
of debate

16. GW
rebut and
analyze
main issues
summarize
main issues
of debate
OW
rebut and
analyze
main issues
summarize
main issues
of debate

17. GW
respond to
new
arguments
of LO
cite fallacies
of LO
OW
respond to
GW’s points
must not
bring new
arguments

18. GR
summarize
debate
summarize
position of
team and
opponent
OR
summarize
debate
summarize
position of
team and
opponent

19. GR
compare
and show
why your
team is
better
OR
compare
and show
why your
team is
better

20. PM, LO, DPM, DLO, GW, OW
speaks for 7 minutes
can accept Points of Information or
POI between 1st and 7th minute

21. PM, LO, DPM, DLO, GW, OW
can present rebuttals, examples,
new analysis
can make new arguments (except
whips)

22. OR and GR
speaks for 4 minutes
CANNOT accept POIs; must only
compare and analyze things discussed
in the debate

23. to offer POI, speaker must stand
up, raise an arm, or say POI
cannot be said until the person
speaking gives permission
POI must not be rude and try to
disrupt a speaker; must be short

24. to reject, say no thank you, not
at this time, sit down please, etc
Speaker must take one or 2
POIs
can be a question, comment,
argument or rebuttal which can
be said within 15 seconds

25. OREGON-OXFORD
TEAMS ARE CALLED:
AFFIRMATIVE SIDE and
NEGATIVE SIDE

26. OREGON-OXFORD
TOPIC/ISSUETO BE
DEBATED UPON IS
CALLED:
PROPOSITION

27. OREGON-OXFORD
PROPOSITION IS
STATEDTHISWAY:
“Resolved that death
penalty be legalized.”

28. Proposition = issue or
topic to be debated
upon
“Resolved that classes
be moved to September”

29. Burden of proof
Prove all aspects of the
case: necessity,
beneficiality, practicability
Cannot win based on
inability of the negative

30. Burden of rebuttal
Must destroy the
necessity, beneficiality and
practicability arguments of
(+)
Cannot discuss anything the
affirmative didn’t discuss

31. Define the key terms
Present the team’s line:
introduce role of each
speaker; set the limits
Discuss the necessity
arguments

32. We, on the affirmative side firmly
believe that classes be moved to
September. I as the 1st speaker shall
talk about the necessity of the
proposition while my 2nd and 3rd
speakers shall discuss the beneficiality
and practicability respectively…

33. Before I proceed to my arguments, let
me first define the terms and set the
parameters of this debate. First,
classes refer to the start of the
academic year in all schools in the
Philippines. Second, that only the pilot
schools shall follow this scheme…

34. Accept or reject the
definition
Present the team’s line;
introduce role of each
speaker; rebut some points
by 1st A
Discuss the NON-
necessity arguments

35. We on the negative side firmly believe
that classes in the Philippines must not
start in September. I as the 1st speaker
am tasked to discuss the non-necessity
of the proposition while my 2nd and 3rd
speakers will discuss the non-
beneficiality and non-practicability
respectively.

36. Moving the start of classes to
September is not necessary because
of the following reasons: first, there are
still months that are congruent with the
educational system of foreign
institutions; second, there are minimal
weather disturbances in the months of
June and July…

37. Re-affirm team’s line
Rebut the main points of 1st
N; speech must be rich with
this one
Discuss the beneficiality
arguments

38. Good morning. Let me reiterate that
the facts established by our team
through our 1st speaker were not
destroyed by the previous speaker
from the negative. He stated that there
are minimal weather disturbances
when in fact, we mentioned about
avoiding such disruptions to classes…

39. Re-affirm team’s line
Rebut the main points of 2nd
A; speech must be rich with
this one
Discuss the NON-
beneficiality arguments

40. Board of adjudicators, ladies and lords
of this house, a pleasant morning! We
on the negative side firmly disagree
that classes be moved to September
and we would like to emphasize and
strengthen our rebuttals that the
opposing team failed to defend on their
side…

41. Re-affirm team’s line
Rebut the main points of 2nd
N and all remaining
arguments of (-); summarize
the +’s arguments
Discuss the practicability
arguments

42. Ladies and lords of this house, it was made
clear right at the parameters set by our
team captain that this debate must focus on
moving classes to September and thus, we
on the affirmative side could not bear to
listen to the negative’s complaints about our
educational system, lack of books,
classrooms and etc that are not the main
point of this argumentation…

43. Re-affirm team’s line
Rebut the main points of 3rd
A and all remaining
arguments of (+); summarize
the -’s arguments
Discuss the NON-
practicability arguments

44. A pleasant morning, ladies and
gentlemen. What the previous speaker
from the affirmative said are entirely
hasty generalizations and steps that are
quite difficult to undertake. What I will be
discussing to you ladies and lords of this
house are the arguments on the non-
practicability of this proposition/

45. chance to ask questions to
the other team
lasts for 2 minutes, so
interpellators must maximize
the time given to them
questions can be categorical
or can require explanation

46. delivered by the TEAM
CAPTAIN
contains summary of team’s
arguments, your strongest
points, other team’s fallacies
maximum of 5 minutes