Our motto, “UT BENE DISPUTARE,” loosely translated from Latin, means “WE DEBATE WELL.” We have been an active participant in the Qatar National Schools’ Debate League at both Preparatory (Junior) and Senior level for ten consecutive years now and have been doing quite well, thank you!
The question most prominent in your mind right now would probably be, “What is Debate?”
The dictionary definition informs us that debate as a noun means:
a formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote.
and, as a verb, to debate is to:
argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner.
What that means is that our debaters should be able to rant, rave, be stubborn and downright insistent that their opinions are the right ones because they know (as always) that what they say is all that matters and that anyone who thinks differently will have to prove them wrong.
Well, at NIA Debate we teach prospective debaters how to prove the other side wrong and make them feel sorry that they even dared challenge their intelligent and well-prepared arguments.
What is formal about debate?
This simply means that trainees soon become part of a team which comprises three members. Each member is called a speaker and has a specific role. During a debate, the role of each member is determined by whether they are the PROPOSITION team (FOR the motion) or in OPPOSITION (against the motion).
The purpose of each team is to either PROPOSE or OPPOSE what is called a MOTION (the topic teams are arguing about). Each team will have to prepare arguments both FOR and AGAINST the MOTION for they won’t know on which side of the fence they are until 20 minutes before the debate commences.
A team consists of a FIRST, SECOND and THIRD speaker. A fourth speaker, the REPLY SPEAKER, may be either the FIRST or SECOND speaker and can never be the THIRD speaker. The REPLY speaker closes the debate for his/her side. Each speaker has an opportunity to present their teams’ arguments and reject/refute/rebut those of the other team.
SPEAKER ROLES:
Each speaker has 6 minutes except the REPLY speaker, who has 4 minutes.
PROPOSITION
1ST SPEAKER:
Opens the debate. Introduces the motion and DEFINES it. States what his/her team’s stance is on the motion and informs the judges and audience what the format of the team’s presentation will be. Introduces one or two strong arguments in favour of the motion by providing EVIDENCE to support the team’s argument.
2ND SPEAKER:
Provides supporting evidence to back-up what the 1st SPEAKER has said, REFUTES team OPPOSITION’s first speaker’s argument and PRESENTS more arguments and evidence in favour of her/his team’s proposal.
3rd SPEAKER:
REFUTES the arguments presented by the opposition. Provides further details in support of the 1st and 2nd speaker’s in the team and shows how, given the arguments provided in the debate, the proposition wins the debate. Does not present any NEW points.
REPLY SPEAKER:
Summarizes the debate. Shows the judge/s the CLASH POINTS / MAJOR ISSUES in the debate and why proposition has won these arguments.
OPPOSITION
1ST SPEAKER:
Challenges proposition’s definition of the MOTION (if necessary). Refutes or undermines proposition’s case and shows why propositions position is wrong. Presents his/her own arguments against the motion by providing EVIDENCE in support.
2nd SPEAKER:
Defends the team’s 1st speaker and continues to refute proposition’s arguments. Extends the team’s arguments against the case by providing more evidence.
3rd SPEAKER:
Continues to refute proposition’s major points and explains how, given the arguments in the debate, the opposition team has won the debate. Does not present any NEW arguments.
REPLY SPEAKER:
Summarizes the debate. Shows the judge/s the CLASH POINTS / MAJOR ISSUES in the debate and why opposition has won these arguments.
In REPLY SPEECHES, OPPOSITION goes first, and PROPOSITION ends the debate.
POI’S (Points of information):
POI’s are strategic tools which a team can use to refute / challenge a speaker’s arguments. Team members can ask questions about the other team by either questioning the logic in their argument or to disrupt the flow of their presentation. However, try to keep these to a minimum (2 or 3 are ok). You have 30 seconds in which to ask your question or make a point. The speaker may reject a POI or promise to respond later. After a POI, the speaker should be given 30 seconds before another may be asked.
A POI may NOT be lodged during REPLY SPEECHES and can only be presented after the speaker who has the floor has spoken for 1 minute.
JUDGES:
Judges award marks on based on CONTENT (40 marks), STYLE (40) and STRATEGY (20). Speakers are judged INDIVIDUALLY and as A TEAM. The team with the highest total score wins the debate.
It is very rare for a speaker to attain a total higher than 76. An average score will be about 70. It also seldom happens that a speaker achieves less than 65.
