Introduction to 3-on-3
Debating
Victor Finkel
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Outline
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why debate?
What is debate?
Matter/Manner/Method
How to prepare a case
Adjudication
Hot tips
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Why Debate?
a. Because debate is fun
b. Because debate is useful
c. Because you get to travel the
world, meet new people and
kick their butts!
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Debate is structured
argument
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Why do we do it?
“US launches predator strikes in Pakistan”
“US to sell Uranium to India”
“Gay marriage bill vetoed”
“Cap on CEO pay strives to end era of
excess”
“GLOBAL WARMING IS OVERRATED”
“You should totally sleep with me for 3 reasons; First…”
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What is Debate?
Ah hah
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Debate - an
overview
•
•
•
•
•
Assigned topic and side
Understand context
Identify problem
Propose solution
Convince everyone why
it’s right!
“I found the old format much more
exciting”
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3-on-3 Debate:
the format
AFFIRMATIVE
NEGATIVE
1st Aff
30 minute
prep
1st Neg
2nd Aff
2nd Neg
3rd Aff
6-8 minute
speeches
3rd Neg
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MATTER, MANNER and
METHOD
The elements that contribute to
persuasiveness in debates
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MATTER
What you say
“Arguments”
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Elements of an
argument
•
•
•
•
•
Say it, Explain it, Illustrate it
Or..
IDEA, ANALYSIS, EVIDENCE
These are the elements of an argument
Does it help you prove your case?
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LOGIC and
RELEVANCE
• Why is it true?
• Who Cares?
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Rebuttal
• Same elements
are true for
building
arguments and
destroying them.
• Targeting the
Idea > Analaysis
> Evidence
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MANNER
Fundamentals
- Language
- Vocal Style
- Body Language
Key is to be Credible
> It’s OK to fake it
Natural Style is GOOD
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Body Language
• Eye Contact
• Images of people
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METHOD
• How you present your case
• Enable Audience to understand, follow
and REMEMBER what you have said
• Introduce, Analyse, Conclude
• Rule of 3s - 3 arguments, 3 questions, 3
times, etc
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Speech
Arg 1
Arg 2
Arg 3
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Speaker Roles
1st Affirmative
• Context
• Definition
• Team Line
• Team Split
• Arguments (5 - 6
minutes)
1st Negative
•
Definition Issues
•
•
•
•
Team Line (1 min)
Rebut (3 mins)
Team Split
Arguments (4 mins)
ROLE: Establish the grounds on which the
debate will be fought
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2nd Affirmative
• Summarise debate
so far
• Rebut (3 mins)
• Personal Split
• Arguments (4 mins)
2nd Negative
• Summarise debate
so far
• Rebut (3 mins)
• Personal Split
• Arguments (4 mins)
ROLE: Move the debate forward by devoping analysis of
existing arguments and introducing new lines of argument
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3rd Affirmative
• Intro - biggest point
• Rebut (7 mins)
• Summarise and
Conclude
•
3rd Negative
• Intro - biggest point
• Rebut (7 mins)
• Summarise and
Conclude
New Argument (Optional but not
encouraged)
ROLE: Organise the debate into clear questions/themes
to make understanding it easier - then show why you won
all of them! “Thematic Rebuttal”
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Secret Topic, 30
minutes ARGHH!
 NO 1 Rule - DON’T
PANIC!
 You know more than
you think
 Key is to structure the
time you have
 Choice of 3 topics
 Mutual Preference
System
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Choice of Topics:
Example
Team of Arts students
1
3
2
Team of Eco. students
That all you need is love
That China should float the Yuan
That trees should have the same legal
rights as animals
3
2
1
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Timeline for Prep
Activity
Time
Who
Brainstorm
arguments
Prioritise
arguments, build
case and split
Flesh out
arguments
10 minutes
Individually, then
together
together
10 minutes
Individually, with
3rd speaker help
Brainstorm
opposition case
Walking to the
debate!
together
10 minutes
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My Rebuttal (at
1st or 2nd)
Them
• Smoking kills
– Studies show death
rate
My Response
-> If people want to
die, it’s their choice
-> Studies flawed
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Constructive
Arguments
Giving arms to Afghani Tribal Militias will
undermine Al Qaeda's power in the hills
1.
Pashtun tribes have self-intereset at heart -> will follow whoever
presents the most benefit. By providing weapons, we become the
ally of choice.
1.
2.
Without weapons to defend themselves they are blackmailed by Al
Qaeda
1.
2.
3.
E.g. Under Soviet Union, were very happy to engage with the most
powerful
E.g. Al Qaeda has taken sons of tribal leaders hostage
E.g. One tribe that resisted Al Qaeda initially was made an example of Suicide bombers exploded in a family wedding killing dozens
By providing weapons, Militias will be both able to defend
themselves and will be motivated to align with west
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Adjudication
• Winning team decided
by one or panel of
adjudicators, deciding
independently
• Cannot award a draw
• Score range for a
speech is 70-80
• Provide constructive
feedback
• Adjudication is the best
way to learn
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
80: phenomenal (me)
79: outstanding
78: excellent
77: very good
76: above average
75: average speech
74: almost there! (amit)
73: room to improve!
72: lots of room to improve!
71: lots and lots of room to
improve!
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Tournaments
SEMESTER 1 (3-on-3)
• Freshers (MAD)
– For virgin IV debaters
• Easters (Brisbane)
– The National novice comp
• President’s Cup (Melbourne)
– Debate with fun people
• Sorensen (MAD)
– Major 3-on-3 comp, novice rule
• ADAM (Melbourne)
– Pre-Australs and great practice
• AUSTRALS @ MONASH
– MAD’s favourite IV
SEMESTER 2 (British Parliamentary)
• Pro-Am Comp
• Open BP Comp
• Freehills
• Women’s (Sydney?)
• ANU Mini (Canberra)
• Sydney Mini (Sydney)
• Vic Mini (New Zealand)
• Melbourne Mini (Melbourne)
• WUPID (Malaysia)
• WORLDS (Turkey)
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Hot Tips
• Don’t write out Speeches word for word!
– You’ll remember to say “Good Evening” without writing it
for yourself
• Consider writing manner cues for yourself
• Try and keep a summary of feedback from your
adjudicators - quickest way to learn
• Everyone will be learning; uni is a great equalizer
• Have fun!
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Definitions
•
•
•
•
Interpreting the topic into a debate
Define the meaning, not the words
Show why the meaning is linked to the words
In 3-on-3, definitions are usually clearly stated by the
topic
• Context is the best way to go
• BE FAIR
• Winning by definition doesn’t work
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“That google has gone too
far”
Sometimes, topics are not clear
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Unreasonable
Definitions
• No logical link
• Place/Time Set
• Truistic
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Definitional
Challenges
• NEVER DO IT
• But if you have to, do it, and do it at the start
of your first speech
• Explain Why
–
–
–
–
State why unreasonable - e.g. no link
Explain this - what the ARP would think
Propose an alternative, REASONABLE def
Rebut EVEN IF
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Models
• Sometimes a debate needs an
explanation of how it will work
• Set up as part of the definition
• Details cannot emerge later
• E.g. Withdrawl from Iraq
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