Debate notes for high school public speaking - very basic but easy to follow. Also good for English 1 and English 2.

1. DEBATE
THE BASICS

2. NEGOTIATION OR
DEBATE?
Negotiation: A cooperative relationship in which both sides want to
reach and agreement.
Debate: Latin for “to battle.”

3. NEGOTIATION
TECHNIQUES
1. Be positive. Avoid words such as:
Cornered Crisis Excuse
Loser Nervous Unreasonable
Will not Guess Hopeless
Afraid Frustrating Fail
Bad luck Fault Demand
Blame Disaster Delay
Cannot Unaware Tired
Cheated Impossible Make do

4. USE 3-PART MESSAGES
Don’t use this Jedi mind trick for anything but good in the world,
please.
When you (X)
I feel (Y)
because (Z)
THEREFORE – and this is where you insert what you’re going to
ask from your audience.

5. BE PREPARED
KNOW what you’re going to be dealing with.
Anticipate the arguments you’ll face.
Don’t get blindsided.

6. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
NEGOTIATION DOESN’T
WORK?
DEBATE

7. PROPOSITION
The statement or the point that is to be debated.
•School uniforms should be required in public schools.
•Females are more successful in athletics and academics than males
at CHS.
•Carolina is better than Clemson.

8. RESOLUTION
A formal statement of opinion presenting the proposition. The
debate is formally started when the speaker for the affirmative
(more to come on that shortly…) makes the resolution statement.
For example:
“Resolved. School uniforms should be required in public schools.”
“Resolved. Females are more successful in athletics and academics
than males at CHS.”
“Resolved: Carolina is better than Clemson.”

9. AFFIRMATIVE
YES, that is true!
This side tries to prove
that the statement is
true.
NEGATIVE
NO, that is false!
This side tries to prove
that the statement is
false.

10. EVIDENCE
Information that helps prove something.
HOW DO YOU KNOW????
Quotes from famous authors, scientists, and philosophers
Statistics from research articles and journals
First-hand experiences that clearly relate to the topic
PAINT THE PICTURE of what you want to
prove with strong imagery.
You are not just up there talking.
You are in a battle and your
WEAPONS are your WORDS.

11. CROSSFIRE
Questioning one another.
In crossfire, both debaters sit with their teams.
Teams may then respectfully ask for more proof of evidence
or ask clarifying questions that will help shape rebuttals.
A team member who attempts to dominate his own team or
who is rude to the opposing team will lose points.
Don’t forget what Mr. Robert Frost said:
“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing
your temper or your self-confidence.”
Will you appear educated in your ability to LISTEN???

12. REBUTTAL
A speech that contradicts an earlier statement.
Your team will earn more points by contradicting statements from
the opposing team.

13. DEBATE FORMAT
FIRST ROUND: ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY
First Speaker, Affirmative = up to 3 minutes
First Speaker, Negative = up to 3 minutes
Crossfire = up to 2 minutes
****3 minutes to research and conference with team****
SECOND ROUND: REBUTTAL. ADDRESS ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY OTHER TEAM
FORMALLY, FURTHER YOUR ARGUMENT.
Second Speaker, Affirmative = up to 3 minutes
Second Speaker, Negative = up to 3 minutes
Crossfire = up to 2 minutes
****3 minutes to research and conference with team****
THIRD ROUND: REBUTTAL and LAST CHANCE TO DRIVE HOME YOUR POINTS –
LEAVE NO DOUBT
Final Focus: Affirmative: up to 1 ½ minutes
Final Focus: Negative : up to 1 ½ minutes
Remember civil discourse is KEY!!
You can lose a debate for speaking rudely even if you have the best information.

14. SCORING
You get points when you support your argument with strong
evidence.
You lose points when your opponent refutes your evidence.
You are also judged on your ability to handle yourself
appropriately respecting civil discourse.
Rude debaters lose points.

15. STRATEGY
• Work hard and don’t waste time.
• Anticipate what the other team will say.
• Build a sound case. Pick the three or four strongest reasons for
your side and support them with strong evidence.
• During the debate LISTEN! Find weaknesses in the other side.
Team members who are not speaking should be actively
researching facts brought up by the other side.
• The speaker should also take notes while the other side is talking.
• Speak clearly and logically.

16. DEBATE TOPICS
Please got to Edmodo RIGHT NOW and post topics you’d like
to debate.

17. RULES
You may not be happy with your team or your topic. Get over
it quickly as changes will not be made.
If you share information that could benefit one team over
another, you will be given an F for this assignment.
Civil discourse is expected throughout this assignment.

18. MEN ARE BETTER
DRIVERS THAN WOMEN
Affirmative (Left
side facing
podium)
Jax
Ryan
Will M.
Harrison
Alex
Negative (Right)
Katie
Elise
Breland
Belle
Erik

19. WOMEN ARE MORE
SUCCESSFUL IN ATHLETICS
AT CHS THAN MALES
Affirmative
Alyssa
Terri
Brandi
Shaleighya
Negative
Tommy
Thomas
Will T
Graham
Brandon

20. WORK SCHEDULE
December 2: Initial research
December 4: Complete research/Form arguments/Anticipate
the other side
December 6: PRACTICE speeches with teams, team members
provide feedback for improvement
December 10: DEBATE – Audience members (the other
debate topic groups) will judge. Special guests may also
judge.

21. DEBATE
NO eating – if you need a snack, you better step out in the
hall before the bell rings.
All phones are to be IN book bags when the bell rings. If I see
your phone, that’s points off for you and you hand it over.
iPads may be on for this work only. If you’re doing anything
else, it’s mine even if you have your speech on it.
You have a few minutes to review with your team. Remember
that you should do your best to maximize your speaking time
with PREPARED work – not by winging it. This would be a
good time for each speaker to practice his or her speech with
the group for content and time.
Who will be the researcher? Everyone on the team should
have paper and pen/pencil to take notes during the debate.

22. Topic____________
Affirmative/Negative
Levels of Performance
Judge_______________________________________
Criteria 1 2 3 4 SCORE
Organization and Clarity:
View points and
responses are outlined
both clearly and orderly.
Unclear in most
parts
Clear in some parts
but not over all
Most clear and
orderly in all parts
Completely clear and
orderly presentation
Use of Arguments:
reasons are given to
support viewpoint.
Few or no relevant
reasons given
Some relevant
reasons given
Most reasons
given: most
relevant
Most relevant reasons
given in support
Use of Examples and
Facts: examples and
facts are given to support
reasons.
Few or no relevant
supporting
examples/facts
Some relevant
examples/facts
given
Many
examples/facts
given: most
relevant
Many relevant
supporting examples
and facts given
Use of Rebuttal:
arguments made by the
other teams are
responded to and dealt
with effectively.
No effective counter-arguments
made
Few effective
counter-arguments
made
Some effective
counter-arguments
made
Many effective counter-arguments
made
Presentation Style: tone
of voice, use of gestures,
and level of enthusiasm
are convincing to
audience.
Few style features
were used; not
convincingly
Few style features
were used
convincingly
All style features
were used, most
convincingly
All style features were
used convincingly
Total Points:
How could this team improve their debate performance?
What were the strengths for this team?

23. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE BACK
OF A SCORESHEET. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES AND
PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF CAREFUL THOUGHT.
1. Do you believe your team or the opposing team won the
debate? Why?
2. What would you do differently now that you’ve completed
this assignment?
3. Who was most helpful in your group? Who was least
helpful?
4. On a scale of 1-100, what grade do you think you earned
for the research and preparation phase?
5. On a scale of 1-100, what grade do you think you earned
for the actual debate?

24. MEN ARE SMARTER
THAN WOMEN
2 literary quotes
2 famous quotes
2 scientific studies
2 quotes from people within this building