Debating Union Introductory Workshop II: Role Fulfilment 25th Oct 2010

Role Fulfilment
Prime Minister

- Task: Defining the debate

o What is the need? What is the harm of the status quo?
o What is our solution? (policy: how is the problem tackled)
o What are our arguments (flag your and your partner’s arguments)
- Motion and your definition
o Don’t make your definition to narrow: unfair
o Don’t make it too broad or unspecific: dangerous
- Speech Structure: Intro (0.5 min), Policy + how it works (2 min), Arguments (1,2)
- Don’ts
o Proposing the status quo: There has to be an actual change!
o Rest your case on truisms
o Squirrels: Twisting motion so that it loses its original meaning

Leader of the Opposition

- Task: Defining the opp’s view on the issue

o Is that the problem?
o Principles: clash between prop and opp (develop your “line”)
o Practical level
 Solution does not solve problem
 Solution has opposite effects
- Speech structure: Intro (0.5), your line (0.5-1), rebuttal (1), arguments (1,2)
- Don’ts
o Oppose on too narrow reasons
o Attack what you expected to be said, but not what was said

Deputy Prime Minister

- Task: Rebuild the case + give further arguments

o Rebuttal: Show that opposition’s analysis is wrong (Principles, practical)
o “Clarify” if something might not have been fully spelled out by PM
o Further substantive arguments (as flagged by Prime Minister!)
- Speech Structure: Intro (0.5), Rebuttal (1-2), Arguments (2,3)
- Don’ts
o “Jump ship”: Agree that your case is seriously flawed
o Spend too much time with rebuttal
Debating Union Introductory Workshop II: Role Fulfilment 25th Oct 2010

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

- Tasks: Backup your teammate + develop case further

- Speech Structure: Intro (0.5), Rebuttal (1-2), Arguments (2,3)
- Don’ts
o “Jump ship”: Agree that your case is seriously flawed
o Spend too much time with rebuttal

Extension Speakers

- Task: Extension
- Kinds of extensions
o Macro-extension: complete new argument (principle); bringing debate to new
level
o Micro-extension: Analysing already mentioned problem deeper
o Example/Case Study
o Effects: practical level, short term/long term
o Stakeholder analysis
- Prep-time
o List of arguments: cross out during debate
o Try to anticipate development of debate
- Don’ts: Knifing (Disagreeing with 1st prop/opp)
- Member of the Opposition: Concentrate rebuttal on 2nd Prop!

Whips

- Task: Summing up the debate

o Label main arguments discussed and show why your side is right
o Make out the clash of the debate
o Don’t stab 1st prop/opp, but show why your arguments were more convincing
- Don’ts
o New material! (border-line decision)
o But: rebuttal allowed (and required!)
- During the debate:
o Take down basic arguments
o Try to structure them according to topics