BPD
British Parliamentary Debating
By
Lio Kaufman
Introduction
• Who am I?
– Study at the University of Glamorgan in Wales
– I am the 1st Chair of our Debating Society
– Agne’s Debating Partner in the Welsh Mace
• What am I Going to Tell You?
– Present a Basic Introduction to BPD
– The Role of the positions and their Structure
– Fulfilling your Roles in the eyes of the judge
What is BPD?
A competitive sport whereby 4 teams in opposing
sides try to convince an audience that a point of view
regarding a controversial issue is better than the
alternative provided.
Discuss v Debate
• Discuss – Negotiate or compromise conflicting points
of view in order to cooperate.
• Debate – Highlight the opposing opinions surrounding a
topic as a tool for decision making and analysis.
Terminology
• This House
– The British House of Common
– The EU (UN?... US?)
• Motions
– The given topic or subject being talked about.
– Potential Areas Covered
• Social / Moral
• Political
• Entertainment (Sports / Art)
Speakers Take Turns 5 min – 7 min
Debate Structure
Proposition
1st
Prop.
2nd
Prop.
Prime Minister
or
st
1 Speaker 1st Prop.
Deputy Prime Minister
or
nd
2 Speaker 1st Prop.
Opposition
1
3
2
Leader of the Opposition
or
st
1 Speaker 1st Opp.
4
Deputy of the Opposition
or
nd
2 Speaker 1st Opp.
Member of Government
or
1st Speaker 2nd Prop.
5
6
Member of the Opposition
or
1st Speaker 2nd Opp.
Government Chief Whip
or
2nd Speaker 2nd Prop.
7
8
Opposition Chief Whip
or
nd
2 Speaker 2nd Opp.
Points of Information – P.O.I
1st
Opp.
2nd
Opp.
3 Types of Debates
Factual debate – Is it or is it not the case?
Did it or did it not happen?
– THBT Germany is to blame for WW2
– THBT the capitalist system is doomed to collapse
– THBT our education system is a failure
Value debate – What should our values be & why? Is it Better or Worse –
for us (and / or Society as a whole?)
– THBT the sanctity of life ought to be valued over the quality of life
– THBT parents should have the final say over the medical treatment of their
children
– THBT we should have more freedom
Policy Debate – What is the problem and how do we fix it?
– THW ban smoking
– THW outlaw experimentation on chimpanzees
– THW impose democracy
3 Types of Motions
• Closed Motion
– THBT there is no such thing as universal human rights
– THBT mandatory drug testing of public officials is justified
– THBT child labour can never be justified
• Semi (Opened / Closed) Motion
– This House supports privatisation
– This House would adopt a green agenda
– This House believes that art is a diversion
• Open Motion
– THBT we have no reverse
– THW gain a burst of knowledge
– THB in the more the Merrier
Prime Minister
• Role:
1
2
3
4
– Setup the Debate
– Present the Most Important
Arguments (Normally 2)
• Structure:
5
7
6
8
– Definition / Introduction
– Sign Post
– Present 1st Substantive
– Present 2nd Substantive
– Conclusion
Prime Minister
• Definition:
1
2
– Provide Sufficient Background
– Define Contentious Terminology
– Identify The Problem – (Why is it a problem?)
3
4
– Provide Policy (Find a Solution)
5
•
•
•
•
6
Explain Who dose What and When,
How does it solve the problem,
Why is this a better situation than before
Who is going to be affected by this and how is
that better?
(Easiest Solution is to Provide an Existing Model)
7
8
•
E.g.:
–
THW use children in the front line during war times
Prime Minister
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
• Sign-Posting & Conclusions
Rhetoric – Rule of 3
•
Letting others know what you are going to say.
•
Explaining & Associating the topic.
•
Reminding them of what you said.
8
Silly say easy to follow
Prime Minister
• Substantive:
– Title
1
2
3
4
–
–
–
–
5
6
– Link Back
7
8
Premises
Inference
Conclusion
Supportive Statistics / Examples
• Example:
– Legalise Drugs
Supporting the Substantive
Research on bread indicates that:
1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users.
2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming
households score below average on standardized tests.
3. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24
hours of eating bread.
4. Bread is an addictive substance. Subjects deprived of bread and
given only water to eat begged for bread after as little as two
days.
5. Bread is often a "gateway" food item, leading the user to "harder"
items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter, and even cold cuts.
6. Primitive tribal societies that have no bread exhibit a low
incidence of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and
osteoporosis.
7. Newborn babies can choke on bread.
Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html
Policy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In light of these frightening statistics, it
has been proposed that the following
bread restrictions be made:
No sale of bread to minors.
A nationwide "Just Say No To Toast" campaign, complete
celebrity TV spots and bumper stickers.
A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the
societal ills we might associate with bread.
No animal or human images, nor any primary colours
(which may appeal to children) may be used to promote
bread usage.
The establishment of "Bread-free" zones around schools.
Source: http://www.eskimo.com/~spban/bread.html
Leader of the Opposition
1
3
2
4
• Role:
– Set the tone of the Opposition
• Following the 1st Speaker:
5
6
7
8
– Good / Clear / Structured
– Bad / Unclear / Unstructured
– No Debate / Truism / Ridiculous
Leader of the Opposition
• Following a Good Prime-Minister:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
• Structure:
– Sign Post
– Reiterate
– Rebut
– Present Substantive
– Conclusion
Leader of the Opposition
• Following a Good Prime-Minister:
1
3
2
4
Rebut:
• Time line: Now  Action  Then
– Won’t work / Impractical / can’t be done
– Won’t solve the problem
5
7
6
8
– Outcome / Side-Effects worse than Solution.
• E.g.: Co-operations Control The Future
• Big Blue Ball
• E.g.: Child labour can never be justified
• E.g.: Abolish Capital Punishment
Leader of the Opposition
• Bad / Unclear Prime-Minister:
1
2
Clarify:
3
4
• No Problem Exists / Factually inaccurate
5
6
– Suggest Most Logical Conflict
– Rebut it as before
Must be logical criteria
• E.g.: Africa in UN Security Council
7
8
• Not Relevant to the Debate
• E.g.: THW Lift the arms embargo off China
Leader of the Opposition
1
2
3
4
• Following a Truism / Ridiculous Def:
– E.g.: THBT Multiculturalism has Failed
– E.g.: THBT the poor will always exist
Definition Debate:
5
6
• Challenge the Definition (Prop it)
• 2 debates running in tandem
7
8
• The Right Definition wins the debate
– (Not Necessarily the best arguments)
The Deputies
• Role:
1
2
3
4
– Develop the Case
– Rebut the Opponents
• Structure:
– Sign Post
5
6
7
8
– Rebut
– Reinforce
– Add Substantive
– Conclusion
Extensions
• Role:
1
2
3
4
– Extension: Shift the focus of the Debate
• Deeper Analysis
• Different Point of View (Global / Local)
• Additional (Better) Arguments
Must be the same Motion !
5
6
7
8
• Structure:
– Sign Post
– Rebut
– Extension (Normally 2 Substantives)
– Conclusion
Extensions
• Deeper Analysis:
1
2
3
4
–
–
–
–
Who does it affect?
What can / will they do about it?
Who is going against them?
Is this better or worse – Why?
• Different Point of View:
5
6
7
8
– Global / National / Local
– National / Conservative / Labour / Liberal
– Communist / Socialist / Capitalist
Show a deeper understanding of the motion and its issues
Extensions
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
• Additional (Better) Arguments:
– PEESTLE:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Political
Economical
Environmental
Social
Technological
Legal
Ecological
Why is this point more important?
Summators
• Role:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Show Your side (Team) won the debate:
• Speaker by Speaker
• 3 Main Themes
• Time line: Now  Action  Then
• New Information:
– Answer a rebuttal or P.O.I.
– Give a new analogy / example (to an
existing issue / argument)
Judging Criteria
Manner – Matter – Method
• Manner – Style:
–
–
–
–
Confidence, Confidence, Confidence
Tone of Voice: Pace, Pitch & Pause
Body Language: Stand Upright, Eye Contact, Hand Gestures
Energy Level
• Matter – Content:
– Backup / Support to Argument
– Validity of Argument
– Level of Analysis / Understanding
• Method – Strategy:
–
–
–
–
Timing
Structure / Signposting
P.O.I (Taken & Received)
Teamwork
Thank You.
Any Questions?