English-Speaking Union Schools Mace
Guidelines for debaters
Research and brainstorming
Although only two team
members from your school
will be taking part in each
debate in the Mace it really
helps (if you can arrange it)
if you can prepare for your
debate with two further
students. They will give you
even more ideas and you
can then have some practise
debates against them to give
you some experience.
Seven minutes is a long time to fill if you don’t know
anything about your subject, so good brainstorming
and research is essential.
Initial brainstorm
You’ll usually get the topic for your Mace round, and the
side you will be arguing on, about two weeks before the
round.
A good first step is to do a brainstorm of everything you
know already about the topic. Don’t restrict yourself
to things which relate to your side of the debate; it’s
important to think about the other side’s arguments as
well, as then you can think of ways to counter them. In
addition, some of the cleverest arguments in debate are
quite subtle and relate to topics that might at first seem
closer to the other side’s line of argument.
Once you have done the initial brainstorm, group the
thoughts you have so far into a few different areas and
decide which team member will do further research into
each area.
Research
The best sources for research are articles in ‘quality’
newspapers, journals and the internet. Most of the
motions set for debate are topical, so make sure your
information is up-to-date. You also need to make sure
your information is reliable (a particular problem with
some internet sites). Keep a note of your where your
information came from so you can refer to your exact
source in your speech.
Your school librarian should be able to help you, and the
BBC website often contains good information, analysis
and links to other sites.
Secondary brainstorm
Now you’ve completed your research, brainstorm the
topic again, but this time divide your arguments into
two columns: ‘In favour/Pros’ and ‘Against/Cons’.
Note down all the arguments you can think of including
weak ones. Some arguments that you might initially
dismiss as useless may turn out to be valuable main
points, subpoints or bits of rebuttal once you have a list
of all the arguments which are likely to come up.
The first arguments you come up with often provoke
questions about what the motion means. These are
useful in determining possible definitions.
Now turn the page to see how you can start to structure
the arguments which you have just brainstormed.
www.debatabase.org and ‘Pros & Cons’
Some of you may be familiar with Pros & Cons: a
debater’s handbook or its massively larger online
equivalent www.debatabase.org. Debatabase, in
particular, may seem to be the answer to all your
research needs. But beware! Here are some reasons
why you need to put in your own work:
• These resources are just a starting point. You must
research many more up-to-date facts and figures
for a comprehensive 7 minute speech.
• If you have looked at these resources, you can
assume your opponents have, too. You need
to come up with your own novel and surprising
arguments to catch them out.
• Many experienced judges are aware of these
resources and won’t look favourably on a case
you have just lifted from one website.
English-Speaking Union Schools Mace, the national debating championship, 2009-10 | © ESU 2009
Guidelines for debaters
Structuring your arguments
By the end of research and brainstorming you should
have thought of all the arguments you can (and come
up with a definition if you are the proposition). Put the
list of your opponents’ arguments aside for the moment,
but go through it again before the debate to make sure
that you have a reply or piece of rebuttal ready for every
argument they might make.
Now you should concentrate on your own side, so that
you can choose which arguments you are going to use,
in what order.
Why structure is important
When you are making a speech you are delivering a
great deal of information to your audience in a short
space of time. Most people don’t have a very long
attention span and it is unlikely they will take in all the
information unless you make it easy for them.
• You should not have more than three or perhaps
four different arguments in your speech. No one will
remember your points if you have 17 of them.
• One or two substantial points is also OK (especially
for second speakers who do lots of rebuttal), but you
may need to divide large points into subpoints.
Remember that you get 25% of your mark for
‘Organisation & Prioritisation’.
Structuring your team’s case
First you need to decide which speaker is going to make
which points. You are likely to have some arguments that
are very powerful or are based on some fundamental
principles that your side believes. These should come
first, so that the audience knows from the start why you
believe what you do.
You should divide the other points between the two
speakers in a way that makes sense. Sometimes
one or both speeches might develop a theme
(e.g. ‘economic’ arguments or ‘practicalities’). On other
occasions the division is made simply because some
points are more important than others.
You should also have some arguments that only make
sense in response to what the other side will say. The
first opposition and both second speakers should keep
room in their speeches for these points of rebuttal and
slot them in where it is appropriate during the actual
debate.
You may have some points that don’t fit in easily with
your main arguments, or have been excluded by the
definition you have chosen, or are just very weak. You
may choose not to use these at all.
Signposting your individual speech
Make sure your introduction previews all the points you
will make. Then keep the audience informed of where
you are by using phrases like “And now on to my second
point ...” or by using effective pauses.
Timing
Poor timing during your speech will be penalised under
‘Organisation & Prioritisation’:
• If you have two points of equal importance, make
sure you spend the same amount of time on both;
don’t overrun on your first one and try to cram the
second into the last minute.
• Don’t let one speaker hog all the big points, leaving
them with too much to say and leaving their partner
lost for words.
The basis of effective arguments: Making them REAL
Once you have the outline structure for your side and
your speech you need to give some thought to how
you can make each argument as effective as possible.
We suggest you use the following mnemonic to
structure each individual argument:
R
E
Reason
One of the
arguments
why we
should agree
with your side
of the motion
Evidence
Give some
facts or
examples
that support
your
reason
A
L
Analysis
Link
Show us
Link everything
exactly how
back to why
your
we should
evidence
agree with
supports your
your side
reason
For example in “This House would abolish the UN”:
R The UN hasn’t stopped wars
E War in the Balkans and in Lebanon
A The UN took far too long to act in both cases and
even when they did they didn’t do much. There is
just too much disagreement between members.
L The UN hasn’t created peace, one of its main aims.
So we should abolish this failed institution.
Evidence doesn’t always have to be facts and statistics.
Sometimes hypothetical cases work well.
Giving plenty of Evidence and then Analysing it
well makes your argument vivid in the minds of the
audience. In short, it will persuade them that it is a
REAL situation that is of REAL importance.
English-Speaking Union Schools Mace, the national debating championship, 2009-10 | © ESU 2009
Guidelines for debaters
Writing out your speech
Good debaters
never write out a
speech word for
word. If you do, you
will find it very difficult
to engage with the
audience as your head
will be buried in your
paper.
A fully written out
speech also makes it
very difficult to add in
notes on rebuttal and
makes you stumble
if you accept a Point
of Information which
requires you to depart
from your pre-planned
speech.
You may need
more notes on your
evidence than on your
analysis; you should
know your material
well enough to deliver
analysis without notes.
It takes a bit of
practice to get
confident speaking
from notes, but the
results are worth it;
think more in terms of
having a well-informed
chat with the audience
than giving a formal
speech.
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Start your
speech with a
preview of what
you are going
to say.
If you are the first
speaker, also
tell us what your
partner is going
to say.
If you are the
second speaker,
remind us briefly
what your
partner said in
their speech.
Close with a
strong, catchy
statement (you
could break the
rule again here
and write some
of this out in full
if you want) and
a review of what
you’ve said.
I beg to propose.
A4 paper v. palm cards – You decide ...
The main advantage of using A4 paper is that you can
see all of your notes at once. You can easily find facts
or figures from another point in the speech if you need
them to answer a Point of Information, for example.
The downside is that it can be more cumbersome.
Some debaters use palm cards, which leave you freer
to gesture with your hands and may cut down the
chances of you getting lost.
You can reorder the points on your palm cards very
easily just before you get up to speak and add in extra
ones on which you have written bits of rebuttal.
English-Speaking Union Schools Mace, the national debating championship, 2009-10 | © ESU 2009
Guidelines for debaters
Expression & Delivery
Debating isn’t just about the arguments you make and
how they’re structured; debates happen in front of an
audience, so your message must get through to them
effectively. So 25% of your marks are for ‘Expression &
Delivery’.
Can you be heard?
People have come to hear what you have to say, so it’s
vital that you speak loudly enough that people at the
back of the room don’t have to strain to hear you. You
can usually gauge from people’s facial reactions if they
are picking up what you are saying or not.
A pause between each point can be a good way to
change gear and let your audience know you are setting
off in a new direction.
You could try writing down your instructions on how to
deliver each point in coloured pen on your notes sheet,
or using a sheet of stickers with different emotions,
speeds and volumes on that you can stick on your
speech just before you get up to speak.
Body language
On the other hand, if you have a very loud voice and are
in quite a small room, make sure you are not deafening
the people in the front row!
You can then start to concentrate on developing really
effective body language. You should stay in a good
comfortable stance for most of your speech and use
gestures deliberately to emphasise particular points
that you want people to pay attention to.
Where to stand
Most important is to have eye contact with the audience,
which is easiest if you are using notes.
You are welcome to stand either in front of or behind the
tables to deliver your speech. Whichever you do, make
sure that you engage with the audience and don’t only
look at your opponents.
Standing behind
your desk means
that you can keep
notes on the table
and reorganise
them easily during
your speech, and
you won’t end up
wandering about
too much.
Standing in front
of the desks
leaves you freer
to move around
and connect with
the audience, but
remember to take
all of your notes
with you stand up
to speak!
Varying your tone and pace
It isn’t unusual for debaters to speak in a monotone;
that doesn’t necessarily mean that their voice is slow
and dull, just that they have the same tone all the way
through, which can be as boring.
Try assigning a different mood to each section of your
speech. For example, the speech on the previous page
could be delivered in the following way:
• Introduction: Calm but pacy
• Point 1: Calm and slower – deliberately
• Point 2: Angrier
• Point 3: With a sense of fear/danger
• Conclusion: Amused
You may not be aware of it, but you may have a habit
that distracts your audience from listening to you when
you speak. Some people put their hands over their
mouth, jangle coins in their pocket, wave their arms or
their notes all over the place, walk back and forth too
much or scratch body parts! Ask school colleagues if
you do any of these and then practise in front of the
mirror to stop yourself.
Word choice
Make sure that your word choice is appropriate to the
age of the audience and that you explain any technical
terms or abbreviations as needed. Using the correct
terminology in a consistent way will help you appear
professional.
Using powerful adjectives and carefully chosen
emotional vocabulary will help you win the audience
over.
Being appropriate
You should aim to sound natural; the judges aren’t
looking for a ‘Received Pronunciation’ accent, just
someone who is clear and interesting. Neither do you
need to use traditional debating vocabulary like ‘the
honourable gentleman’.
Humour can be a useful tool, depending on the topic
being discussed, but you must be very careful. It must
only be used if it is relevant. You must not make any
comments that people may find offensive. Ridicule
arguments, not people. Things not to say include:
✗ “If you’d bothered to listen to my speech you would
have heard that ...”
✗ “No, I won’t take a Point of Information until you take
that awful tie off.”
English-Speaking Union Schools Mace, the national debating championship, 2009-10 | © ESU 2009