1. World schools debate championships 3 vs 3 format
Prepared by Sam carey for middle school students

2. Reply / summary speaker
Debate fundamentals
KEY TERMS
FORMAT & STRUCTURE
SPEAKER ROLES
Side proposition
Side opposition
Motions
Arguments
Rebuttals
Points of information
clashes
Speaker order
Timing
Rules
Judging
Reply speeches
First speaker
Second speaker
Third speaker
Reply / summary speaker
*NOTE: Please copy only the headings, plus the words and phrases in red!

3. KEY TERMS!

4. Proposition side
The proposition side agrees with and is in favour of the motion.
They have the burden of proof. They must prove the motion to be true.
In policy motions, they must prove that a real problem exists, and their mechanism will solve this problem.
In fact and value motions, they must prove they are right.

5. The opposition side disagrees with and is against the motion.
They have a different kind of burden of proof. They must prove that the proposition team is wrong.
In policy motions, they must prove that either a real problem does not exist, or more often that even if the problem does exist that the proposition´s mechanism will not solve this problem.
In fact and value motions, they must prove the proposition team is wrong and they are right.

6. motions
*Motions usually start with the phrase: ¨this house would (T.h.w.)…¨ or ¨this house believes (T.h.b.)…¨
Value motions
Value motions are not intended to change any law or rule, or anything at all!
In a value motion, your side simply has to prove one thing ¨better, more superior, etc.¨ over something else.
Ex. ¨this house believes Aramark food is delicious.¨
Fact motions
A fact motion is very similar to a value motion in that there will be no new change, but here it is about proving something is correct or incorrect based on facts.
Ex. ¨This house believes that the bombing of Hiroshima and nagasaki ended world war II.¨
Policy motions
Policy motions are very common. They are a necessary part of every politicians job. Any time a new law, rule or policy is made, people need to discuss (debate) the benefits and costs first!
A change in policy means a change in the status quo (or what presently exists) usually to solve a problem or improve something
Ex. ¨this house would allow the use of cell phones in class.¨

7. arguments
rebuttals
Arguments are the most important part of any debate. You cannot win without them.
* imagine trying to win a football match without shooting the ball!
The strength or weakness of an argument is based on the evidence and logic it has.
A good argument uses evidence or examples with a clear explanation why this evidence proves your case to be right!
Note: if somebody makes a point without any evidence, we call that a ¨free statement¨ or simply an opinion with nothing to back it up!
Example argument:
Point: allowing cell phones in class is a good research tool.
evidence: most cell phones these days enable a person to connect to the internet.
Explanation: the internet is full of useful information that students can quickly access in class with use of their phones. They can use this information to help them in their research papers and reports.
Link: being able to quickly and easily access useful information for research assignments in class means that students should be allowed to use their cell phones in class.
Simple Definition of rebut : to prove (something) is false by using arguments or evidence.
Rebuttal in debate (sometimes called ¨counter-argument¨) is when one side directly attacks (intends to disprove) the other sides arguments with opposing evidence or facts.
Without rebuttal, the arguments will remain ¨untouched¨ and give that team points
* Imagine in a football match one team is shooting the ball, and the other team has no defenders or goal keeper. They will never stop them!
Example rebuttal
Point: the proposition side said that cell phones are a good research tool because they enable a student to quickly and easily connect to the internet, but this is not the case.
Evidence: cell phones frequently lose their data signal, and even when there is a good signal, it is often not strong enough to effectively browse web pages and do effective research.
Explanation: with every student in the class connected with their smart phones, the signal would be weak and the internet would be slow. This would inhibit good research. Furthermore, how can they be sure every student has a decent smartphone? And how can they be sure every student will actually be researching and not playing games or looking at inappropriate materials?
Link: Cell phones in class are not a good research tool. They are too slow, the screen is too small, and students are not likely to use them in an appropriate way, so for those reasons we have destroyed the propositions´ argument that cell phones are a good research tool in class.

8. Points of information
After the first minute, and before the final minute of any speaker´s (except the reply speaker) speech, any member of the other team can stand up, raise his or her hand and say, ¨point of information!¨
A point of information (p.o.i.) can be a question, doubt or direct attack on the arguer´s logic. A P.o.i. should be clear, concise and to the point. It is not a discussion! It is one point, 15 seconds maximum.

9. clashes Areas of clash are what the debate is all about.
Clashes are the parts of the debate that the two teams completely disagree.
Example clash in many policy debates:
the economy
¨Side proposition believes that their plan will help improve the economy, while side opposition says it will have a harmful effect on the economy.¨
In this example, we don´t have enough information to determine who is right. It is the job of the 3rd and 4th speakers to discuss and win this clash!

10. Format & structure!

11. Speaker order
* Notice that the proposition side (government) starts and finishes the debate!

12. timing
1st, 2nd and 3rd speakers speeches are 5 minutes in national level competitions
(8 minutes in in international level competitions).
4th speaker reply/summary speeches are 3 minutes in national level competitions
(4 minutes in in international level competitions).

13. rules The rules in debate are based on having a fair competition.
Teams will be disqualified for any unfair play like using technology or other sources of information to cheat during the debate, and for any general lack of respect like shouting out and making disrespectful comments to the other team.

14. judging
judges give points to each speaker for content, style and strategy.
Content is about the strength of the arguments.
Style is about how the person actually speaks to the audience.
Strategy is about organization and use of time
Judges usually decide the winner based on who presented the most clear and logical case!

15. Reply speeches
Reply speeches (also called summary speeches) give each team the opportunity to explain to the audience why their team won the debate!
There are different ways to do this, but usually it is about recognizing the most important parts of the debate (the clashes), comparing both teams main arguments and concluding why your side beat the other side!
Note: there are no points of information during the reply speeches.

16. Speaker roles!

17. 1st speaker Definitions! Definitions! Definitions!
The problem and the solution (mechanism) in policy motions; the criteria in value/fact motions.
Introduce team and structure
*rebuttal only 1st opposition!!
Give 1-2 arguments

18. 2nd speaker Re-define if necessary Rebuttal: Rebut and rebuild!
Give 1-2 arguments

19. 3rd speaker Rebuttal: Rebut and rebuild!
Clashes: what don´t the two sides agree on? Why is your side right and they are wrong?!
Give 1 more argument (usually not necessary)

20. 4th speaker – reply speech
Clashes: what don´t the two sides agree on? Why is your side right and they are wrong?!
What is this debate really all about? Compare the two sides, and explain why your side won the debate!
A few common tactics: ¨two worlds, three questions, story.¨