DEBATE &

PUBLIC SPEAKING
ARY FERREIRA DA CUNHA

College of Europe, 20th January 2016

Summary

Why debate?
What is debating?
How to debate?
The Rules of Bristish Parliamentary Debate
Kinds of Motions
Analysis
Structure

Public Speaking

WhyWhy
Debate?

Debate?

Why Start Debating?

Develop skills
Meet interesting people
Travel
(Win)

WhyWhy
Debate?

Debate?

Why Continue Debating?

Develop an active, strong and
tolerant civil society
Help others find their voice
Learn from interesting people
Travel (to see old friends)
(Win)

What is
Debating?

Method for agreeing on how

to disagree
School of citizenship
Game of persuasion
Global Community

What is
Debating?

How did it start?

Where are we now?
What do debate societies do?
How about Portugal?

How to
debate?

The Basics
Four teams of two people
Two incompatible positions

The Rules

15 min. of prep-time
5/7min. speeches
All teams want to persuade a
panel to vote for their side.

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few other things to make

things fair
1. Teams cant communicate
with other people or use
electronic devices after the
motion is announced.

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few other things to make

things fair
2. Debaters can only speak
when they have the floor

How to
debate?
The Rules

SPEAK
FROM HERE

PM

LO

OG

OO
DPM

DLO

MG

MO

CG

CO
GW

OW

JUDGE FROM
HERE

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few other things to make

things fair
3. Teams must engage in the
debate assuming to the
definition given by the PrimeMinister, which must
correspond to one of the
reasonable interpretations of
the motion.

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few other things to make

things fair
4. Each speaker must take at
least one question.
5. Closing teams must not
contradict their opening teams.

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few other things to make

things fair
6. Whip speakers cant add new
arguments.
7. Teams must be ranked
according to their contribution
to persuade the panel to vote
for their side.

How to
debate?
The Rules

A few notes on judging

Style is a means to deliver
persuasive arguments, not a
proxy for persuasion
Forget expert knowledge
Keep an open mind
Judge the debate according to
the standards provided by
teams

How to
debate?
Motions

Motion = Topic
A) Action
This House would ban
prostitution
B) Reflection
This House believes that the
feminist movement should support
a ban on prostitution

How to
debate?
Analysis

Identify the problem

Why would someone say this?
(Why would someone oppose it?)
Stakeholders
Who benefits and who doesnt?
Who gets power or voice and who
is stripped of them?
Who cares about this?
How will these stakeholders react?

How to
debate?
Analysis

Generating Arguments
A) Need
Whats the problem?
B) Efficacy
How does it address the
problem?

How to
debate?

Generating Arguments
C) Cost/Benefit Analysis
Are we creating other problems or
side benefits?

Analysis

D) Legitimacy
Is this a legitimate actor to enact
the policy?
E) Morality
Is this the right thing to do?

How to
debate?

Macro
A) Framing
B) State of the Case

Structure

C) (Outstanding) Rebuttal
D) Arguments
E) Conclusion

How to
debate?

Micro
A) Claim
B) Reasoning

Structure

C) Illustration
D) Relevance

How to
debate?
Public
Speaking

A few notes from a naturally shy

person
1. Know your message and tailor
it to your audience
2. Structure your speech
3. Have a plan B
4. Start only when you are ready
5. Repeat: Announce, explain,
conclude

How to
debate?
Public
Speaking

A few notes from a naturally shy

person
6. Be the best version of yourself
7. Look at the audience
8. Leave yourself messages
9. Illustrate your points
10. Ask for feedback and try to
learn from it

Speeches are seven

minutes in length,
the rest is
prep-time.