This brief article looks to help beginners to better understand the format of a formal debate.
Each debate will have a central motion (topic) with one team on the proposition and the other team on the opposition. A debate in WSDC format has two teams with three members each. Each member will deliver at least one speech. The Reply Speech will be given by either the 1st or 2nd speaker from their respective team.
The flow of the debate is illustrated below:
Proposition 1st Speaker –> Opposition 1st Speaker –> Proposition 2nd Speaker –> Opposition 2nd Speaker –> Proposition 3rd Speaker –> Opposition 3rd Speaker –> Opposition Reply Speech –> Proposition Reply Speech
There are different components in a debate. Please go through the list below and make sure you are aware of all the different parts.
- Foundation Work (responsibility of a 1st Speaker)
- Definitions, Models (how are you going to implement your argument), Burdens of Proof (what you want to prove by the end of the debate)…
- Substantive
- These are points that support your team’s argument
- They should be thorough and well explained
- Rebuttals
- These are counter-points used to discredit the opposition argument
For more information regarding the components of debate, please look at our DebatePro Blog or email at shrish.debatepro@gmail.com
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