Debating Guide Part II
DEFINITIONS
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Definitions are very important in debating because it is necessary at all times to make it clear what you mean and what you are talking about. Nowhere in a debate is this more important than for the 1st speaker for the proposition who must define the parameters and scope of the whole debate. While the motions that will be debated are given to you, the precise nature of the policy to be implemented is down to the 1st speaker.
Motions
A typical motion might be ‘This house would ban hunting’. It is clear what this debate is about in general terms – hunting. However, various things are not yet clear:
what type of hunting this house wants to ban
what animals are involved
where the ban would apply
These are some of the questions that the definition of the motion needs to deal with. A good definition will present clearly and simply how the motion relates to the specific policy that is to be pursued, and should tie down what the debate is to be about.
Policy
A useful way of viewing a debate is as a specific policy debate between a government and an opposition. The government side wishes to implement a policy; the opposition does not. The policy proposal put forward should:
Identify a problem in relation to the motion
Propose a clear solution to the problem
Explain the outcomes of the solution that is proposed
An alternative way of viewing the proposal is to ask a series of questions:
What policy do we wish to pursue in relation to the motion?
How will the policy be pursued?
Why should this policy be pursued?
After you have identified the problem with relation to the motion, your solution should incorporate a mechanism suitable to solve the problem (this is the ‘how’ of your proposal). After you have laid this out it will be necessary to give arguments in favour of your solution (this is the ‘why’ of your proposal).
