Debate 101

    Next week marks our first class debate and I honestly don’t know how I feel. Though I’m excited to hear others' ideas (and also crush them down), the thought of speaking on my feet is a little nerve wrecking. That’s exactly why I chose the role of the first construct as I have time to prepare but still play an instrumental role on our team. For the future, though, I might want to try something different. For that, I need to improve my debating skills. With that said, I invite you to Debate 101…

Rule #1: Stay on topic!

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned from our harkness discussions, it’s that staying on topic and offering new insights is hard. If you try to offer new insights, it may seem that you are digressing, but if you stay on the same topic for too long, you end up offering no new insights. As an advanced speaker, you must recognize when to add on to one’s argument and when to begin a new one. Moreover, as we’ve constantly been reminded, AP stands for Address the Prompt. The same AP rule applies here when debating. With such limited time, it’s crucial that whatever you contribute is fruitful.

Rule #2: Start and end strong.

    As stated in psychology, the human mind is more likely to remember information from the start and the end. This phenomenon is known as the serial-position effect and applies to debating as well. As the saying goes, first impressions matter, so starting off your argument powerfully (my role!) is vital. You can only build something successfully upon a strong foundation. The conclusion/rebuttal is another important time as you have to finish your argument by summarizing all the important information covered. Your team's final words are going to leave a lasting impression on your opponent.

Rule #3: Be prepared and have confidence.

    This rule can be applied to nearly anything, but is especially important for debates. Though some roles may require improvisation, having ideas of what the opposing team might say can help you build a successful counterargument. With all roles, it’s instrumental that you have researched your topic well and have a plan of what to talk about. Once that’s done all that’s left to do is to deliver your arguments with confidence!

Rule #4: Always remain vigilant!

    Your opposing team may spew contradictory information, which serves as a powerful weapon for your team. By proving that they have negated their own reasoning, you can effectively destroy the basis of their argument. Moreover, if you are part of the cross examination or rebuttal, listening to the opponent's argument is required to even be able to execute your role. By finding flaws in their arguments, your team can strengthen your own and pull the opposing team down.

Rule #5: Never let them know your next move.

    Debating is an art of improvisation. No matter the amount of preparation, you will never be able to know everything your opponent is going to say, so never let them know your next move either. This doesn’t mean you should go off on a tangent about something completely unrelated to the topic (remember Address the Prompt!), but with some initial ambiguity and then a surprise attack, you might be able to catch the opposing team in a pinch. 

    Knowing these five rules makes me feel much more prepared and excited for what is to come tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear what the final judgment is! (Negative team wins obviously)

UPDATE: we lost 😍