DEBATE SEMINAR:
JOVED SURABAYA 2016
Roderick – Romario – Omar - Nadya
WHAT IS DEBATING?
• Debating is a CLASH of opposing ideas.
• The aim of teams in a debate is to show why your
team’s case is stronger than the opposing team’s.
• Teams seek to win by showing strength of logic,
relevance, and in-depth analysis of arguments,
and not merely by stating examples, fact, and
evidences.
Asian Parliamentary Rules
• In an Asian Parliamentary debate, there are two teams
representing two sides in a debate: the Government
and the Opposition.
• The government must propose the motion and the
opposition must oppose the motion.
• Casebuilding time: 30 minutes.
• Speaking duration:
– Substantive Speeches: 7 minutes and 20 seconds
– Reply Speeches: 4 minutes and 20 seconds
Asian Parliamentary Format
+
Bench
Bench
Opposition
Government
1
1
Prime Minister
Leader of Opposition
2
2
Deputy Leader of Opposition
Deputy Prime Minister
3
3
Government Whip
Opposition Whip
Opposition Reply
Government Reply
Adjudicators
Prime Minister
–Provide a clear setup of the debate
• Context
• Definition
• Stance
• Model (if needed)
–Provide arguments to support motion
Leader of Opposition
–Clarify definition (if necessary)
–Show the difference of stance
(negation)
–Offer responses / rebuttals
–Provide arguments to oppose the
motion
The Deputies
• Deputy Prime Minister & Deputy
Leader of The Opposition
– Offer responses / rebuttals
– Provide arguments to develop the team’s
case
The Whips
• Government Whip & Opposition Whip
– Summation of the debate
– Provide an array of attacks to opposing team’s
case in a holistic manner (Clashes)
– Glorify Team’s case (Rebuilding)
– No new matter may be delivered!
New Matter
• A completely new line of argumentation that
has never been discussed before in the
previous speakers.
• Not including new examples, precedence, and
rebuttals. They are all allowed! 
Reply Speakers
• Provide a biased adjudication of the debate.
• Point out the BOPs (Burden of Proofs) that
needs to be answered in the debate.
• Cluster arguments and responses into clashes.
• Show to the adjudicator how your team
managed to win the clashes.
Definitions
• Motion should be defined as a whole
• Definition may contain:
◦ definition of key lexical units (words/phrases)
◦ parameters
• Definition must be reasonable:
◦ have clear and logical link to motion
◦ debatable (a reasonable opposition exists)
Definition shouldn’t be …
–Truistic (not debatable)
• Ex: THBT what goes up must always
come down.
–Tautological / circular (self-proving)
• Ex: THBT extremism is a catalyst for
progress
–Squirreling (no logical link to motion)
• Ex: THW ban private prisons.
Arguments
• Arguments should have A-R-E:
– Assertion: statement of the argument;
– Reasoning: a logical explanation of the argument;
– Evidence: examples (facts, statistics, etc.) to
support the argument.
• Arguments should be linked back to the
motion.
THW Legalize Marijuana
• Argument:
– A: The consumption of marijuana is a form of a
person’s right to pursue happiness.
– R:
• a) What is the right to pursuit happiness?
• b)Why is it important?
• C) Why is Marijuana included in this right?
– E: Similar types of pursuit of happiness (eg.
Smoking)
– L: So....
Rebuttals
• argument attacking the opposing team’s
argument, e.g. by showing that it:
– is based on wrong fact
– is illogical
– is irrelevant to the proof of the motion
– involves unacceptable implications
– should be accorded less weight
• doesn’t have to be point-by-point
– rebut the theme line or main arguments
Manners
Manners can add to a speaker’s score. An
effective delivery may make a simple idea
seem very compelling.
• Clarity
– Most important manner!
• Additional elements:
– Humor
– Wit (Crafty Packages and Catchy Words)