BPD British Parliamentary Debating By Lio Kaufman

Introduction • Who am I? – Study at the University of Glamorgan in Wales – I am the 1 st Chair of our Debating Society – Agne’s Debating Partner in the Welsh Mace • What am I Going to Tell You? – Present a Basic Introduction to BPD – The Role of the positions and their Structure – Fulfilling your Roles in the eyes of the judge

What is BPD? A competitive sport whereby 4 teams in opposing sides try to convince an audience that a point of view regarding a controversial issue is better than the alternative provided. Discuss v Debate • Discuss – Negotiate or compromise conflicting points of view in order to cooperate. • Debate – Highlight the opposing opinions surrounding a topic as a tool for decision making and analysis.

Terminology • This House – The British House of Common – The EU (UN? . . . US? ) • Motions – The given topic or subject being talked about. – Potential Areas Covered • Social / Moral • Political • Entertainment (Sports / Art) Speakers Take Turns 5 min – 7 min

Debate Structure Proposition 1 st Prop. 2 nd Prop. Prime Minister or st Speaker 1 st Prop. 1 Deputy Prime Minister or nd Speaker 1 st Prop. 2 Opposition 1 3 2 Leader of the Opposition or st Speaker 1 st Opp. 1 4 Deputy of the Opposition or nd Speaker 1 st Opp. 2 Member of Government or 1 st Speaker 2 nd Prop. 5 6 Member of the Opposition or 1 st Speaker 2 nd Opp. Government Chief Whip or nd Speaker 2 nd Prop. 2 7 8 Opposition Chief Whip or nd Speaker 2 nd Opp. 2 Points of Information – P. O. I 1 st Opp. 2 nd Opp.

3 Types of Debates Factual debate – Is it or is it not the case? Did it or did it not happen? – THBT Germany is to blame for WW 2 – THBT the capitalist system is doomed to collapse – THBT our education system is a failure Value debate – What should our values be & why? Is it Better or Worse – for us (and / or Society as a whole? ) – THBT the sanctity of life ought to be valued over the quality of life – THBT parents should have the final say over the medical treatment of their children – THBT we should have more freedom Policy Debate – What is the problem and how do we fix it? – THW ban smoking – THW outlaw experimentation on chimpanzees – THW impose democracy

3 Types of Motions • Closed Motion – THBT there is no such thing as universal human rights – THBT mandatory drug testing of public officials is justified – THBT child labour can never be justified • Semi (Opened / Closed) Motion – This House supports privatisation – This House would adopt a green agenda – This House believes that art is a diversion • Open Motion – THBT we have no reverse – THW gain a burst of knowledge – THB in the more the Merrier

Prime Minister • Role: 1 2 3 4 – Setup the Debate – Present the Most Important Arguments (Normally 2) • Structure: 5 7 6 8 – Definition / Introduction – Sign Post – Present 1 st Substantive – Present 2 nd Substantive – Conclusion

Prime Minister • Definition: 1 2 – Provide Sufficient Background – Define Contentious Terminology – Identify The Problem – (Why is it a problem? ) 3 4 – Provide Policy (Find a Solution) 5 • • 6 Explain Who dose What and When, How does it solve the problem, Why is this a better situation than before Who is going to be affected by this and how is that better? (Easiest Solution is to Provide an Existing Model) 7 8 • E. g. : – THW use children in the front line during war times

Prime Minister 1 2 3 • Sign-Posting & Conclusions 4 Rhetoric – Rule of 3 7 6 Letting others know what you are going to say. • Explaining & Associating the topic. • 5 • Reminding them of what you said. 8 Silly say easy to follow

Prime Minister • Substantive: – Title 1 2 3 4 – – 5 6 – Link Back 7 8 Premises Inference Conclusion Supportive Statistics / Examples • Example: – Legalise Drugs

Supporting the Substantive Research on bread indicates that: 1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users. 2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests. 3. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread. 4. Bread is an addictive substance. Subjects deprived of bread and given only water to eat begged for bread after as little as two days. 5. Bread is often a "gateway" food item, leading the user to "harder" items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter, and even cold cuts. 6. Primitive tribal societies that have no bread exhibit a low incidence of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and osteoporosis. 7. Newborn babies can choke on bread. Source: http: //www. eskimo. com/~spban/bread. html

Policy 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In light of these frightening statistics, it has been proposed that the following bread restrictions be made: No sale of bread to minors. A nationwide "Just Say No To Toast" campaign, complete celebrity TV spots and bumper stickers. A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal ills we might associate with bread. No animal or human images, nor any primary colours (which may appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage. The establishment of "Bread-free" zones around schools. Source: http: //www. eskimo. com/~spban/bread. html

Leader of the Opposition 1 3 2 4 • Role: – Set the tone of the Opposition • Following the 1 st Speaker: 5 6 7 8 – Good / Clear / Structured – Bad / Unclear / Unstructured – No Debate / Truism / Ridiculous

Leader of the Opposition • Following a Good Prime-Minister: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 • Structure: – Sign Post – Reiterate – Rebut – Present Substantive – Conclusion

Leader of the Opposition • Following a Good Prime-Minister: 1 3 2 4 Rebut: • Time line: Now Action Then – Won’t work / Impractical / can’t be done – Won’t solve the problem 5 7 6 8 – Outcome / Side-Effects worse than Solution. • E. g. : Co-operations Control The Future • Big Blue Ball • E. g. : Child labour can never be justified • E. g. : Abolish Capital Punishment

Leader of the Opposition • Bad / Unclear Prime-Minister: 1 2 Clarify: 3 4 • No Problem Exists / Factually inaccurate 5 6 – Suggest Most Logical Conflict – Rebut it as before Must be logical criteria • E. g. : Africa in UN Security Council 7 8 • Not Relevant to the Debate • E. g. : THW Lift the arms embargo off China

Leader of the Opposition 1 2 3 • Following a Truism / Ridiculous Def: 4 – E. g. : THBT Multiculturalism has Failed – E. g. : THBT the poor will always exist Definition Debate: 5 6 • Challenge the Definition (Prop it) • 2 debates running in tandem 7 8 • The Right Definition wins the debate – (Not Necessarily the best arguments)

The Deputies • Role: 1 2 3 4 – Develop the Case – Rebut the Opponents • Structure: – Sign Post 5 6 7 8 – Rebut – Reinforce – Add Substantive – Conclusion

Extensions • Role: 1 2 3 4 – Extension: Shift the focus of the Debate • Deeper Analysis • Different Point of View (Global / Local) • Additional (Better) Arguments Must be the same Motion ! 5 6 7 8 • Structure: – Sign Post – Rebut – Extension (Normally 2 Substantives) – Conclusion

Extensions • Deeper Analysis: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 – – Who does it affect? What can / will they do about it? Who is going against them? Is this better or worse – Why? • Different Point of View: – Global / National / Local – National / Conservative / Labour / Liberal – Communist / Socialist / Capitalist Show a deeper understanding of the motion and its issues

Extensions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • Additional (Better) Arguments: – PEESTLE: 8 • • Political Economical Environmental Social Technological Legal Ecological Why is this point more important?

Summators • Role: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Show Your side (Team) won the debate: • Speaker by Speaker • 3 Main Themes • Time line: Now Action Then • New Information: – Answer a rebuttal or P. O. I. – Give a new analogy / example (to an existing issue / argument)

Judging Criteria Manner – Matter – Method • Manner – Style: – – Confidence, Confidence Tone of Voice: Pace, Pitch & Pause Body Language: Stand Upright, Eye Contact, Hand Gestures Energy Level • Matter – Content: – Backup / Support to Argument – Validity of Argument – Level of Analysis / Understanding • Method – Strategy: – – Timing Structure / Signposting P. O. I (Taken & Received) Teamwork

Thank You. Any Questions?