1- OPEN MOTIONS:

THB that coke is it (you could debate 1. American culture and US policy, 2. Globalization and the spread of popular culture, 3. Cocaine, …)

 2- SEMI CLOSED MOTIONS:

THW send the boats back (you could debate 1. Immigration, 2. Fishing rights, …)

 3- CLOSED MOTIONS:

THB representative government has failed (you could debate: 1. The European Parliament (EP), 2. The house of commons, 3. US Congress, …)

THW get tough on crime (you could debate: 1. Mandatory prison sentences, 2. The 3 strike rule, 3. The death penalty, …)

Roles of each team/speaker:

First Table:

1.      Government:

-         Defines the topic and provides a debatable case, not a truism,

-         Should predict the oppositions arguments,

-         Should cover as much controversy as possible,

-         Should have the best possible arguments you can come up with.

Prime minister:

-         Defines the motion,

-         States the case division/split between the speakers,

-         Produces his positive matter (2 to 3 arguments)
→1 sentence to state your position

→explain it further

→2 major forms of support (examples, philosophical points, quotes, …)

→develop your arguments

→summarize this

-         A powerful rhetorical conclusion

→so because we need to confront this challenge … we are proud to propose …

Deputy prime minister:

-         Rhetorical introduction,

-         Preview your speech,

-         Answer the oppositions criticism,

-         Point out what part of their case they didn’t deal with,

-         Don’t be polite to the oppositions arguments,

-         Continue with your part of the constructive case

-         spend a half of your time on your constructive matter

1.      Opposition:

-         Responds to the governments case,

-         Creates its own positive matter,

-         Covers as many of the opposing arguments as possible.

Leader of opposition:

-         A powerful introduction

-         Mention that you accept the governments definition, if you do,

-         Preview your case,

-         Rebut the government’s case,

-         You need to be specific and organized,

-         Spend no more than half of your speech on the governments arguments,

-         Develop at least two of your arguments,

-         Do not use defensive arguments (such as: not everyone will cooperate), but offensive ones (it is dangerous and harmful),

-         Conclusion.

Deputy leader of opposition:

-         Answer the governments defense (defend your attack),

-         Spend more time on their new argument (rebut it),

-         Sustain your speakers arguments,

-         Present your new constructive matter.

Second Table:

-         Plan but be flexible,

-         Prepare for as many contingencies as possible,

-         The government and the opposition both need an extension.

Extension:

-         Produce a new positive case,

-         Is consistent with the first table, but provides a different perspective,

-         It cannot contradict the first table (do not backstab),

-         If the 1. team uses most of the arguments, you can use one of their arguments, but really blow it up (deeper analysis)

-         You can look at their case from a practical/principle level,

-         The extension has to be:

→clear and well evidenced,

→different,

→it cannot contradict the 1. team.

2.      Government:

-         Extends the governments case,

-         Has to deal with the most important points of the first table.

Member of government:

-         Rebut and refute the most important points of the first table (focus on the opposition, not the government – unless their point is crucial to your case),

-         Develop the extension, link it to the motion and explain how it is faithful to the first government,

-         Fully develop most (virtually all) of your teams constructive case.

Government whip:

-         You will be penalized, if you don’t sum up your line (government),

-         You also need to rebut the major opposition arguments,

-         Defend your extension,

-         Defend mostly your side (symbolic defense of the first government),

-         Sum up the first teams arguments briefly,

-         Rebut the best opposition argument in the debate,

-         Summarize the debate (most of your tasks should be done through the clashes),

-         Don’t introduce new issues.

2.      Opposition:

-         Extends the oppositions case,

-         Also has to deal with the most important points of the first table.

Member of opposition:

-         Develop your extension,

-         Concentrate on the member of government when refuting,

-         Only refute the most important arguments of the first government (if necessary),

Opposition whip:

-         Don’t introduce new issues,

-         If you have to have a new issue use it in relation to something that was said before,

-         Have your introduction and summary prepared,

-         You can and should focus on the issues,

-         Or you can move through each speaker (not advised),

-         Rebut and refute (very briefly),

-         Make a clear distinction between the rebuttal and the summary.

Summation:

-         Be realistic,

-         Introduce the summary,

-         Name and give some credit to the other side (one argument),

-         Name and give credit to your side,

-         Explain why yours are bigger than theirs (why you win):

1.      We have bigger numbers (affects more people),

2.      Each one of ours is more important than theirs,

3.      Ours is more probable (realistic – point to examples),

4.      Ours happens first/sooner (is more urgent – need to convince them),

5.      Cannot be reversed (things that can be fixed aren’t as important),

6.      Involuntary risk is more important than voluntary risk,

7.      It is morally required (slavery is morally wrong).

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