This document discusses the differences between public speaking and debating, and provides tips for being a great debater. It analyzes two televised debates between Alastair Darling and Alex Salmond on Scottish independence. In the first debate, both presented their arguments well but responded to each other with derision. In the second debate, Salmond improved his analysis of arguments in response to Darling, while Darling relied on the same arguments and became more hostile. Overall, Salmond performed better across both debates according to analysis and public opinion polls. The document concludes with advice on how to introduce, define, explain, and analyze arguments as an effective debater.

1. Debating Scottish
Independence
Aberdeen University - 4th September 2014
By Tony Koutsoumbos

2. Contents
 Public speaking v Debating
 How to judge a debate
 What makes a great debater
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3. Public speaking v Debating
What is the difference between public
speaking and debating?
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4. Public speaking v Debating
Monologue v Dialogue Impact v Scrutiny
Delivery v Content Like v Agree
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5. Public speaking v Debating
Does this mean that arguments mean
more than personality in a debate?
If the format allows for cross-examination
of the arguments, then
yes…
A bad argument like counterfeit
currency only reveals itself under close
examination.
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6. Public speaking v Debating
Is this true of the televised debates
between Alastair Darling and Alex
Salmond?
Debate #1 Debate #2
Arguments Personality Total Arguments Personality Total
Salmond 40 47 37 56 54 65
Darling 51 32 44 36 32 26
Unknown 9 14 15 8 14 9
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Source: snap public opinion polls of Scottish voters taken after both debates

7. How to judge a debate
The post debate polls tell us whose
arguments the public preferred, but how
can we analyse the quality of the
arguments themselves?
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8. How to judge a debate
Golden rule:
• Burden of proof lies with the person
proposing a change from the status quo
In other words:
• Alex Salmond has to prove that leaving
the UK would be best for Scotland
• Alastair Darling only needs to prove it
wouldn’t – he doesn’t need to prove
staying in would be best for Scotland (but
it does help)
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9. How to judge a debate
What to look for:
 Definitions
◦ Do both sides agree what they are debating?
 Priorities
◦ How are they measuring the impact of
independence?
 Analysis
◦ Are they making arguments or assertions?
 Engagement
◦ Are they listening and responding to each other?
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10. Analysis of Debate #1
Watch the highlights and draw your own
conclusions:
 Both agree social justice and economic prosperity
are top priorities
 They clash on democracy, currency union, and
Scotland’s ability to succeed alone
 Both present their own arguments well enough, but
respond to each other with derision and personal
attacks
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11. Analysis of Debate #2
Now watch the highlights of the second
debate
 Priority now is protecting public spending on
welfare and NHS
 They clash on whether UK government policy or
uncertainty over currency is biggest threat
 Salmond provides analysis to explain why Scotland
will keep the pound– Darling responds with
increased aggression
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12. Verdict after both debates
 Salmond learnt his lesson after the poor showing at
the first debate and made a much greater to analyse
and respond to Darling’s arguments
 Darling became complacent after victory of first
debate and re-iterated exactly the same arguments,
while becoming increasingly hostile
 A debate judge would most likely reach the same
conclusion as Scottish public in both debates
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13. What makes a great debater
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What steps can we take to ensure we
repeat everything Alex Salmond and Alistair
Darling did right and avoid what they did
wrong?

14. What makes a great debater
 Introduce – say what you’re going to say
 Define – your idea and your priorities
 Explain – how you will apply your idea
 Analyse – what makes it a good idea
 Summarise – say what you’ve said
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15. Answering difficult questions
Problem Solution Outcome
Question Premise Response
E.g. what is your plan
B?
Plan A (keeping the
pound) is not an
option since the UK
government ruled it
out and this is bad for
the Scottish economy
because…
Why it is unlikely that
the UK government
will deny Scotland use
of the pound.
Why the Scottish
economy will not
suffer even if it does.
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The key to answering a difficult question is to understand what is really being asked – this
means addressing the assumptions behind the question (the premise) as well as the
question itself.
Note: if you can’t answer the question and you can’t prove it’s irrelevant to the debate,
then you know it’s time to re-examine your argument.

16. Debating Do’s and Don’ts
DO DON’T
• Say what key points you are
going to make before launching
into them – makes it easier for
audience to follow you
• Take your time to clearly and
slowly prove the few points
most central to your argument
• Analyse your opponent’s
arguments for any weaknesses
or inconsistencies
• Address your questioner
(opponent or audience) directly,
politely, and by name
• Fill your speech with ambiguous
buzzwords and high rhetoric –
you will only get away with it if
your opponent is as bad as you
• Try and cram the entire
contents of Wikipedia into a five
minute speech
• Resort to personal attacks– only
people who already agree with
you will have any time for it
• Point angrily at your questioner
and definitely don’t dismiss their
question as ‘stupid’ or
‘nonsense’
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17. Further Reading
 An in-depth analysis of the first debate
 The Future of Scotland and the UK
 Aggregated opinion polls on
referendum
 Fact-checking the referendum debate
You can find out more about my
background and experience at
www.debate-training.co.uk
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