Debating
A ‘How To…’ Guide
Content
/40
•The arguments
•As if presented with it on paper
•POIs
Style
/40
•Confidence
•Articulation
•Emotive
•Rhetoric
•Fluent
•Clear
Strategy
•Engagement with opposition
•Focus on issues
•Structure
•Timing
•Teamwork
/20
FIRST SPEAKERS
Proposition (Agree)
Opposition (Disagree)
• Define Motion
• Briefly outline team’s
main points
• Introduce 1 or 2 key
arguments
• Re-iterate
• Team line
• Briefly outline team’s
main points
• Rebut P1
• Introduce 1 or 2 key
arguments
• Re-iterate
• Team line
SECOND SPEAKERS
Proposition (Agree)
Opposition (Disagree)
• Rebut O1
• Rebuild prop case
• Introduce 1 or 2
arguments
• Re-iterate
• Team line
• Rebut P2
• Rebuild opp case
• Introduce 1 or 2
arguments
• Re-iterate
• Team line
THIRD SPEAKERS
Proposition (Agree)
Opposition (Disagree)
• Rebut O2
• Rebuild prop case
• No new arguments
• Identify case issues
• Why prop is stronger
• Team line
• Rebut P3
• Rebuild opp case
• No new arguments
• Identify case issues
• Why opp is stronger
• Team line
REPLY SPEECHES
Opposition (Disagree)
• Biased summary of
debate
• ½ time of other
speeches
• Strongest speaker
Proposition (Agree)
• Biased summary of
debate
• ½ time of other
speeches
• Strongest speaker
1. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PROVE TO WIN?
2. WHAT IS YOUR MODEL?
 4 min speeches
3. KEY ARGUMENTS (PLAN BACKWARDS)  4 speakers per
team
 Use scripts to help
4. SIGNPOSTING
structure
5. PREPARE CONTENT, STYLE, STRATEGY  Team line
Active listening
CONTENT STRATEGY PRESENTATION 
 Depth of content,
(WHAT):
(HOW):
(PVLEGS):
examples and
Convincing
Well-organised Clear speech
evidence from
arguments
speech
Confident eye
arguments and
Valid examples
Lots of
contact/body
research
and facts
persuasive
/face
Discrediting
rhetoric
Interesting
rebuttals
Time well-used
intonation