How to Debate

Debate is described as a “formal argument”. There are two sides arguing against each other, trying to prove their points as the most correct and impactful. Topics, or Motions (which you’ll learn about later on), can be on basically anything - ranging from Romance and Hypothetical Situations to International Relations.

Motions

Format Overview

“But how do I give a speech?”

Role Fulfilment

Motions

“What’s a motion?”

The motion is the topic that is being debated. There are three types of motions:

Policy motion (A policy is being implemented, beginning with “THW”)

Analysis motion (Whether the motion is true or false/comparing two things, beginning with “THBT” or “THS” or “THO” or “THP” or “THR”)

Actor motion (A motion debated from the perspective of a certain party, beginning with “TH, as X, would”)

“What does the THBTOWIHIWH stuff stand for?”

TH - This House

THW - This House Would

THBT - This House Believes That

THS - This House Supports

THO - This House Opposes

THP - This House Prefers

THPAW - This House Prefers A World

THR - This House Regrets

Here are some examples of motions - See if you can identify what type of motion they are:

Easy enough, right? Moving on…

Format Overview

Here at VP Debate, we primarily focus on debating in British Parliamentary (BP) Format. The name is scary, but the actual thing is not.

There are 4 teams of 2 in BP format. Opening Government (OG), Opening Opposition (OO), Closing Government (CG), and Closing Opposition (CO). The government teams are both arguing for the motion whereas the opposition teams argue against the motion. The chart above outlines the order in which each speaker gives their speech - starting from the Prime Minister, and ending with the Opposition Whip.

Say you’re on OG. Although you and CG are both on the government side, you’re not on the same team. You and your partner work separately from them! Being on government only means that you share the same stance on the motion (for or against). You are still trying to beat the other government team.

“But how do I give a speech?”

Logistics wise, it comes down to a few things:

Each speech is 5 minutes long, with an extra 15 seconds “grace time” (totaling 5:15)

The first and last 30 seconds are protected time, you’ll learn more about this under POIs (found in Arguments and Refutation)

With your partner, you get 15 minutes before the round to prepare your speeches (arguments, strategy, etc.)

When it comes to the actual content of the speech, there is no concrete list of what debaters should and shouldn’t include, it all depends on things like strategy and/or preference. Each speech should be unique to their speaker roles (to an extent). This is called Role Fulfilment.

Role Fulfilment

All 8 members of a debate have a role. There are certain responsibilities that each speaker needs to fulfil. Below is a list containing the main parts of each speech.

Every speaker should also have a roadmap at the top of their speech. Roadmapping is where you give a basic overview of what you are about to say in your speech.

E.g. "I will first be giving two arguments, one about increased voter engagement and the other about awareness. Then I will refute OG's points". This helps the judge keep track of your speech.

Note for Opening Teams: Modelling is defining key terms within the motion and setting up the debate. How does the motion work? Where is it taking place? Be realistic!

Any unknown/undefined keywords can be found under "Arguments and Refutation"

Opening Government (OG)

Prime Minister (PM): Model, Bring up OG’s 2-3 arguments

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM): Refute OO, Rebuild your partner’s points (PM), Can, but not obligated to, bring up another argument

Opening Opposition (OO)

Leader of the Opposition (LO): Can, but not obligated to, bring a countermodel (an alternative model), Bring up OO’s 2-3 arguments, Refute OG

Deputy Leader of the Opposition (DLO): Refute OG, Rebuild your partner’s points (LO), Can, but not obligated to, bring up another argument

Closing Government (CG)

Member of the Government (MG): Provide your arguments (usually 1 point that opening didn’t cover), Refute OO

Government Whip (GW) - CANNOT bring in new arguments: Give biased summary of round, Refute and weigh with all other teams in the round, rebuild your partner

Closing Opposition (CO)

Member of the Opposition (MO): Provide your arguments (usually 1 point that opening didn’t cover, Refute CG (and bits of OG)

Opposition Whip (OW) - CANNOT bring in new arguments: Give biased summary of round, Refute and weigh with all other teams in the round, rebuild your partner

Next - Arguments + Refutation

Page updated

Report abuse