Debate Template
International Format
Canadian National Debating Format: A brief guide
This is the style that the senior division of this tournament will be debating in. Each team
consists of two debaters, and the teams are called the “Proposition” and “Opposition”. Like crossexamination, the resolution must be interpreted in a fair and accurate way to reflect the “intended
debate”. Squirreling is not allowed. Each speaker makes a constructive speech and a rebuttal,
and may offer points of information during the oppositions' speeches. The order and length of
speeches is:
Order Time (min):
(Proposition) First Prop Speaker - Constructive Speech 8 minutes
(Opposition) First Opp Speaker - Constructive Speech 8 minutes
(Proposition) Second Prop Speaker - Constructive Speech 8 minutes
(Opposition) Second Opp Speaker - Constructive Speech 8 minutes
(Opposition) First Opp Speaker - Summary/Rebuttal 4 minutes
(Proposition) First Prop Speaker - Summary/Rebuttal 4 minutes
Speaker Roles:
First Proposition Speaker: has to define the terms, establish the caseline and give the case
division (who covers what points). This speaker will normally have two or three constructive
arguments. The first speaker must make the team’s approach crystal clear.
First Opposition Speaker: must clash with the points just made by the first proposition and
advance the caseline, case division and normally the first two arguments of the opposition side. In
World’s Style, this division is usually 2 minutes and 6 minutes, although for our purposes these
are just guidelines. The debater should be evaluated on the overall effectiveness of the speech.
Constructive argumentation or refutation may be done first, and once again, the judges will
consider the effectiveness of the strategy chosen.
Second Proposition Speaker: has to clash with the case presented by the first opposition
speaker, and should advance one or two more constructive arguments for the proposition. The
speaker should also take time to rebuild the proposition case. The arguments must have been
announced in the first proposition speech.
Second Opposition Speaker: should also introduce one or two constructive arguments. These
new arguments must have been announced in the first opposition speech. This speaker should
also take time to clash with the new constructive matter presented by the second proposition, and
summarize the opposition case presented. He/she should NOT engage in an overall summary /
rebuttal of the debate.
Summary/ Rebuttal Speeches:
The first speaker on each side, starting with the Opposition, will deliver a four minute
summary/rebuttal speech. There is no set format for this speech, given the variety of valid
strategies and techniques used. In general, speakers should attempt to summarize the key
themes or ideas that have taken place in the debate. This speech tries to put the debate in
context and explain the ‘crux’, or the internal logic of both cases and explains why, on this basis,
his/her team has to win. It can examine and summarize the arguments presented, but should
focus on the major areas of contention that evolved during the round. During those speeches no
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new constructive arguments may be introduced except by the proposition debater who is
exercising his/her right to reply to new arguments tendered during the final Opposition
constructive speech.
Notes to Speakers:
Points of information: A point of information, or POI, is a question directed to the current speaker
from the opposing side. To offer a POI, debaters simply stand up and wait to be acknowledged. If
refused, they must sit down without objection. If acknowledged, they may ask a short (15 sec or
less) question. The current speaker's time does not stop for the question, and if they feel a
question is too long, they may ask the debater to sit down. Once a question is asked, the debater
must respond in some way. Though this is hardly a rule, debaters should generally accept at least
two points of information during their speech. How well a debater handles themselves in the
rough and tumble of offering and accepting POI’s is key in this style of debate.
Protected time: The team opposing the current speaker may offer points of information to the
speaker, except in protected time. The first and last minute of each speech are protected
Other Points: Points of clarification, order, points of personal privilege and heckling are all
prohibited.
Time-Keeping:
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Judges are responsible for timing each debater.
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Each minute, the judge will indicate with their fingers how many minutes are left in the
speech.
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The judge will bang the table once at the 1 minute mark of each speech to indicate that
the floor is open to POI’s, and once again at the start of the last minute mark to indicate
that the speaker is once again in protected time.
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During “protected time” no POI’s (points of information) will be allowed.
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The judge will bang twice on the table to indicate that the speech time has elapsed and
that the debater has 15 seconds to finish speaking.
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First Government Speaker (Prime Minister)
Script (8 minutes)
SLOW DOWN !!!
Madame/Mr. Speaker, -- the Bill before the House today is
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The Government defines the key terms of this Bill as follows:
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The Government will be presenting three (or four) main points in
support of the Bill:
1.
That_____________________________________________________________
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2.
That_____________________________________________________________
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3.
That_____________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________; and
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4.
That_____________________________________________________________
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I will be addressing the first point, that ______________________________
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and my partner, first and last name, the Minister of ___________ will
be speaking on the second point, that, _____________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
My partner, first and last name, will also address the third point,
that, ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
I turn now to the Government’s first point in support of the Bill:
SPEAK SLOWLY!!!
That___________________________________________________________________
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(Present first argument here - you have approximately 6 minutes)
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That concludes the Government’s first point, that ___________________
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Honourable Members, you have heard from me why this resolution,
(Repeat resolution) must be supported.
My colleague, first and last name, the Minister of _______________will
be explaining
(Repeat second argument)______________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________; and,
(Repeat third argument)________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________.
For these reasons it is in the interests of all Canadians to see this
valuable piece of legislation passed. I call on all Members of the
house to join me in offering unanimous support for this Bill.
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Second Government Speaker (Minister of_____________) Parliamentary
Debating Script (8 minutes)
SPEAK SLOWLY!!
Madame/Mr. Speaker – the Bill before the House today is
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The Government is presenting three main points in support of the
Bill:
1.
That_____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________;
2.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________; and
3.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________.
M. Speaker, the Prime Minister presented the first point. I will
present the second and third point to this House.
Before I present these points, however, I would like to briefly rebut
a few of the points raised by the Honourable Member opposite:
{REFER TO YOUR ATTACHED REBUTTAL] You have
approximately two minutes to tear down your opponents first
argument.
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I now turn to the Government’s case in support of the Bill. The
Government’s second argument in support of this Bill is:
That__________________________________________________________________
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(Present second argument here - 3 minutes)
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That concludes the Government’s second argument. I now move to
the Government’s third point:
That__________________________________________________________________
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(Present third argument here - 3 minutes)
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M. Speaker, that concludes the Government’s case in support of
this Bill.
M. Speaker, you have heard from the Prime Minister why this
proposition should be supported:
(Repeat first argument)_________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
and you have heard from me why
(Repeat second argument)______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
and
(Repeat third argument)________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
M. Speaker, for these reasons, this Bill is important to all
Canadians, and I echo the Prime Minister’s words in calling on all
Members of this House to support this valuable piece of legislation.
M. Speaker, this Bill must – and will – pass!
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M. Speaker, honorable judges, guests, you have heard from my
partner and I reasons for why this proposition should pass. You have
also heard FLAWED arguments from our opponents who oppose this
proposition. I would like, at this time to give further rebuttal to our
opponents and to clarify our reasons for supporting the proposition
before us today.
Following this, I would like to give a brief summary of why I and my
partner, first and last name, oppose this bill.
Provide a final rebuttal and a summary of your case, repeating one
more time each of your contentions. You have approximately 4
minutes.
M. Speaker, this Bill presents a positive contribution to the
Canadian way of life. It is an extremely useful piece of legislation
and for the reasons we have given it must be supported.
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First Opposition Speaker (Honourable Member) Parliamentary
Debating Script (8 minutes)
SPEAK SLOWLY!
Madame/Mr. Speaker – the Bill before the House today is
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Before I enter into the Opposition’s first argument in detail,
however, I would like to deal with a few of the issues raised by the
Prime Minister:
[ATTACH REBUTTAL PAGE] You have
approximately 2 minutes to destroy your opponents arguments.
M. Speaker, I now return to the opposition’s case against the bill.
[M. Speaker, the Opposition disputes the definitions of the following
terms in the Bill as proposed by the Government:]
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M. Speaker, this Bill must not be passed into law for the following
reasons:
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1.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________;
2.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________; and
3.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________.
I will be addressing the first point. My colleague, the Leader of the
Opposition, will address the second and third points.
SLOW DOWN!!
I turn now to the Opposition’s first argument against this Bill:
That___________________________________________________________________
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(Begin first argument here, you have about 6 minutes)
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That concludes the Opposition’s first argument.
M. Speaker, you have heard from me why
(Repeat first argument)_________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
My partner, first and last name will be explaining
(Repeat second argument)______________________________________________
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and
(Repeat third argument)________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________.
M. Speaker, this Bill is not in the interests of Canadians. It is a step
backwards! I call on the Government Members to come to their
senses and reject this piece of legislation!! Thank you
Second Opposition Speaker (Leader of the Opposition) Parliamentary
Debating Script (8 minutes)
SPEAK SLOWLY!!!
Madame/Mr. Speaker – the Bill before the House today is
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
M. Speaker, this Bill must not pass!
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Before I begin my case against this Bill, however, I would like to
briefly rebut a few of the points raised by the Government speakers:
[REFER TO YOUR ATTACHED REBUTTAL you have approximately
two minutes]
I now turn to the Opposition’s case against this Bill. As you heard
from my colleague, the Honourable Member from Okanagan
Coquihalla, we are presenting three main arguments against the
resolution:
1.
That _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________;
2.
That_____________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________; and
3.
That_____________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________.
The Honourable Member has already explained our first point. I will
deal with the second and third points against this Bill.
I turn now to the Opposition’s second argument against this Bill:
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That___________________________________________________________________
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(Begin argument here you have approximately 3 minutes)
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That concludes the Opposition’s second argument. I now move to
the Opposition’s third argument:
That___________________________________________________________________
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(Begin third argument here you have approximately 3 minutes)
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That concludes the Opposition’s third argument against this bill.
M. Speaker, you have heard from the Honourable Member from
Okanagan Coquihalla why
(Repeat first argument)_________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________,
and you have heard from me why
(Repeat second argument)______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________,
and
(Repeat third argument)________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________.
This concludes our arguments against the proposition before us
today. I would like, for the sake of clarity, to again point out that
our opposition to the proposition and to give further rebuttal to the
points made by our opponents.
Following this, I would like to give a brief summary of why my
partner, first and last name, and I oppose this bill.
Provide a final rebuttal and a summary of your case, repeating one
more time each of your contentions. You have approximately 4
minutes.
M. Speaker, this Bill presents a threat to the Canadian way of life.
It is an extremely harmful piece of legislation and for the reasons we
have given it must not pass.
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