• Doubtful authority
An argument supported by a person who is not accepted as an expert is considered ineffective. Here is one example:
Let us consider the questions of sport. My Dad told me that the America’s Cup is organized for millionaires, and funded by the money the Australians pay us to lose to them in all sports.
• Supporting materials can be examples. Your arguments can also be backed up with other supporting materials, like reasons, statistics, and even with anecdotes, idioms, proverbs, quotations and analogies.
• to demand the same sort of proof for the statements of others.
• to present ideas in a clear and effective manner, and in a way, which wins others to your way of thinking.
and attack on that basis • Organize your arguments effectively.
Avoid fallacies in arguments
• Making effective and logical arguments is the most effective key to success in a debate.
English For Debate
What is a Debate?
• A debate is a form of argument. It contains two teams arguing opposite sides of a “proposition” in an orderly manner, following the agreed upon rules.
in front of other people.
Refute arguments
• Refutation is the process of proving that an argument or a series of arguments, or the conclusions drawn from that argument or arguments, is false, erroneous, or at least doubtful. In a debate, effective refutations are key to success. Refutation should be handled systematically.
• The most important aspect of debating is that assertions must be justified. No one can be convinced or persuaded of anything if they are given no reason for doing so. That is to say you should use materials to support your arguments.
• The team that agrees with the topic is called the affirmative and the team that disagrees with the topic is called the negative.
• Teams argue their proposition using reasoning and evidence.
To be a good debater, you need…
• the confidence to speak in public. • the ability to present an argument persuasively. • the vision to understand that there are two sides to
Eye contact Voice
Body language
Remember…
Confidence is vital in debate. Your presentation, speech, and appearance matter almost as much as your delivery and your content.
most arguments. • the respect for others, to let them have their say. • the sense of timing, to prioritize your material and
speak in a given time period.
• An argument is a statement “The topic is true or false( depending on which side you are on) because of x”, where the argument fills in for the x.
• For example in the topic “That the zoos should be closed” an argument may be: “the zoos should be closed because they confine the animals in an unnatural environment”.
Delivery
• Cue cards
Do not write out all your speech on cue cards. Debating is an exercise in lively interaction between two teams and between the audiences, not in reading a speech. The audience can tell when you are reading. Use cue cards the same way you would use a prompt(提示词） in a play. They are there for reference if you lose your spot.
For example, "Listen ! I love New Zealand. I love the All Blacks, the Tall Ferns. We should get down on our knees and thank the sporting gods for them…”
• to be thorough and accurate. • to analyze, to distinguish between the vital and the
unimportant. • to learn the need of proving your statements; of
supporting every statement with valid evidence and sound reasoning
So…
• Dress appropriately • Have notes prepared. You do not want your debate to
be an oral presentation of a written essay. • Practice speaking aloud in front of a mirror and then
• the structure to order your thoughts, to introduce, develop and summarize your points.
• the general and specific knowledge of many current affairs topics, learnt through research and debate.
Guidelines to follow
• Anticipate what your opponent will say. • Take careful notes of what your opponent says
and note your reactions to what is said. • Find your opponents' fallacies in arguments
• become more adept at developing and putting forward ideas
• learn to think quickly • learn to work as a team • develop leadership skills • develop speaking and listening skills.
• the flexibility to react quickly to new ideas, and to remain unflustered in crises.
Preparing for a debate, you should learn …