For any student who has, is or is planning on taking a debate class, I will discuss in depth the strategies for becoming a successful debater. Even if you are not taking a debate class, this discussion will help you get your point across better and prove the advantages and disadvantages of your opinion and position on a topic.
The first critical step is to make sure that plenty of research has been accumulated. Documents must be read in depth concerning your issues. I recommend highlighting or underlining useful information in texts or books that you can use in your presentation. Then gather the most useful information that can help you gather the debate and organize it into a file or paper carrier to bring with you to the debate. Your research should be from a well-known expert in that field. For example if you were doing a topic on government policy, quotes or opinions from political science experts or economists such as Alan Greenspan would be great material to prove your point. The year that the quote or opinion was stated should also be documented.
The first speech in a debate is usually the first constructive speech made by the Affirmative team or person who believes that a certain statement is correct. I strongly suggest writing this speech out and timing it within the time limits allowed for this first speech since there will be no argument to rebut or disagree with since this is the first speech of the debate. You should also read evidence from your experts and restate your position on the topic.
The next speech in debate format is the 1st negative construction speech. In this speech the negative team or person that disagrees with the statement gets a certain amount of time, usually 4 minutes in debate format, to state their own position. They should have this speech written out to some degree so that they know what they are going to say but not entirely. They should make sure that they leave enough time in this speech to rebut or disagree with what the affirmative team has just stated. In this speech make sure that you respond to all of the other team’s arguments, especially their strongest arguments.
In debates, there is usually a panel of judges, whether they are your peers or certified judges or teachers. Make sure that you strongly argue your points and argue against the affirmative topic.
In between there is a cross examination which slightly resembles the cross examination of a witness in a court room. One of the debaters asks questions to the other person to try and draw out information and score points for your team that can be alter used in the debate. After the time limit is usually up, around ninety seconds the teams switch cross examination.
In between are usually the affirmative second constructive and the second negative constructive. In both these speeches your team should respond to the other sides arguments and strengthen your own position on the topic for the judges to clearly understand.
Effective strategies also include standing while you speak to be heard loud and clear and to talk in a pace that suits you. While you want to get in as much information on your topic and position as possible, talking as fast as you can while the judges won’t be able to understand you won’t do any good.
Then comes the rebuttal speeches, two by each team. In these speeches no new information can be introduced and any that is won’t be accepted by the judges in scoring the debate. These speeches should summarize why your position is right and the best option and the other side has a weaker argument.
During the debate, the negative should use counter plans or critiques which state that your side has an alternative plan that is more effective than the affirmative team or that the affirmative plan is simply a worse alternative than the status quo, or whatever status is existing now in society.
