British Parliamentary Debating

1. The Motion 
Every debate has a motion, this is the issue for discussion. A good motion has clear arguments in favour of it and against it. The motions used in the Oxford Union Schools’  Competition will be on topics that a young person who frequently reads a good newspaper and thinks about what they are reading will be well equipped to argue about.  Often, the motions are highly topical. Examples of  recent motions are posted on the  website (www.oxfordschools.org.uk).  Each team is allocated whether they will propose or oppose the motion. The teams are allocated whether they will speak first or second on their side of the motion. The teams sit as shown in this diagram. You must not contradict the other team on your side, but you are competing against them: you must show the judges that you can debate more persuasively that the teams on the other side and the other team on your own side. You should therefore not discuss with the other team on your side what you are going to say or help them in any  way. Indeed, you must not talk to anyone other than your partner during the preparation  period: coaching during this time by teachers, parents or anyone else is strictly prohibited.


2. Basic rules and advice about structure
• Speeches are five minutes in length.
• The first and last minutes are protected time – no points of information may be made during this time.
• Points of Information should be offered during the three minutes of unprotected  time when members of the other side are speaking.
• Speeches should have a clear  Internal Structure. It is often best to begin by attacking the arguments of previous speakers from the other side (especially the one just before you) and then to make you own points. Try to separate your arguments into two, three or four areas (e.g. a social argument, a political argument and an economic argument). Signpost your arguments clearly (e.g. “this is my first point”, “now to move onto my second points”, “lastly, looking at my third point” etc): this makes it much easier for the audience and the judges to follow your speech.
• Work as a team, ensuring that your arguments are consistent and complementary.

3. The roles of the four teams

Opening Proposition Team 
First speaker
1. Define the motion (see below).
2. Outline the case he and his partner will put forward and explain which speaker will deal with which arguments.
3. Develop his own arguments, which should be separated into two or three main points.
4. Finish by summarising his main points

Second speaker
1. Re-cap the team line.
2. Rebut the response made by the first opposition speaker to his partner’s speech.
3. Rebut the first opposition speaker’s main arguments.
4. Develop his own arguments – separated into two or three main points.
5. Finish with a summary of the whole team case.

Opening Opposition Team 
First speaker 
1. Respond to the definition if it is unfair or makes no link to the motion. You can re-define (offer an alternative interpretation of the motion), but this can be risky and should only be done when the definition is not  debatable (usually better to complain a little and hope the adjudicator gives you credit – “well this is a silly definition but we’re going to debate it and beat you on it anyway” approach).
2. Rebut the first proposition speech.
3. Outline the case which she and her partner will put forward and explain which speakers will deal with which arguments
4. Offer additional arguments (roughly 2) about why the policy is a bad idea, or develop a counter case (i.e. an alternative proposal). This decision is largely based on the circumstances of the debate, and only experience will provide guidance on this.

Second speaker 
1. Rebut the speech of the second proposition speaker.
2. Offer some more arguments to support your partner’s approach to the motion.
3. Summarise the case for your team, including your own and your partner’s arguments.

Closing Proposition Team 
First speaker 
The first speaker must stake his team’s claim in the debate by doing one of the following:
1. Extend the debate into a new area (i.e. “this debate has so far focused on the developed world, and now our team will extend that  to look at the important benefits for the developing world)
2. Introduce a couple of new arguments that make the case on his side more persuasive. Again, this decision depends on the scenario. This is quite a complex part of debating to master, but it is very important to add something new to the debate or you will be penalised.

Second speaker 
The last speech of a debate is known as a Summary Speech. In it you should step back and look at the debate as a whole and explain why on all the areas you have argued your side has won. You can:
1. Go through the debate chronologically (this is not very advanced and usually not very persuasive either).
2. Go through one side’s case and then the other.
3. Go through the debate according to the main points of contention (this is the most persuasive and advanced way) explaining why on each of the main issues that have been debated have been won by your side.

Closing Opposition Team 
First speaker 
This is very similar to the second prop role.
1. You must rebut the new analysis of the third proposition speaker.
2. You must also bring an extension to the debate – i.e. extend the debate into a new area or bring a couple of new arguments to the debate.

Second speaker 
Like the closing proposition, the last opposition speaker must devote their whole speech to a summing up and should not introduce new material.