Debating to Win Arguments Mastery: The Debating Trilogy

Debating To Win Arguments

The Elements of Debating, and How to Counter Arguments With Ease Using Logic

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 What Is Your Moot

Chapter 2 Elements of Debate

Chapter 3 What Is False Equivalency

Chapter 4 The Difference Between Fact & Opinion

Chapter 5 The Difference Between Being Subjective & Objective

Chapter 6 How To Dissect Opposing View

Chapter 7 Statistics & How They Can Be Manipulated

Chapter 8 How To Use Opposing Arguments Logic Against Them

Conclusion

Special Request From The Author

Introduction

Debating, we do it every day. Some of us are better at it than others. I hope you want to be one of those better ones. That is why you read this book, to gain an edge on improving the articulation of your opinions. Think back to a time when you were had an opposing view of someone, where you knew you were right, but just couldn’t say the right words to prove your point. Or when you went for a job interview. You had to convince your employer you are the best candidate for the job. Guess what, you were debating in an informal way for both of those scenarios.

Communication on varying views, which is frequently accomplished in a formal manner, is known as debate. When debating, you share facts, and or opinion to convince your audience or even the opposition that your arguments are more substantial.

Debating is a craft that is learnable. We all already have most prerequisites to succeed in the art of debating. It might be the case that some of your skills might require development to better prepare yourself to refute an argument. That is why Debating To Win Arguments is written; to assist ordinary folks, in achieving, the extraordinary; when they enter into the magnificent craft of debating. Before we begin, I will give a disclaimer. This book may delve deep in the science of debating, but this is a necessary to hone this skill, as it will show to be beneficial throughout life.

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Chapter 1 What Is Your Moot

Moot is sometimes used to state the topic open for discussion or debate. Either you agree on the moot, or you disagree with the moot. If you are opposing the moot then, you must provide your rebuttal of the moot.

Good right, you see learning about the craft of debating is not as hard as you had initially thought.

Oh, one quick fact though before we continue; never confuse mute with moot. Once it has anything to do with a discussion or a debate moot is the word used. Even if your ears transmit mute to your brain, tell your brain that your ears heard the wrong word. Mute deals with the silencing of something. For example, you put your television on mute, or you mute the stereo in your car, or you mute your cellular phone. So, moot we discuss, and mute Shhhh! it is quiet time, for you stopped the sound by muting the device or your statement have muted someone.

Debate, like other artistries, has jargons. Jargons are particular words used by certain groups, and if someone is not a part of that group, they might not understand the words used by the group members. To explain jargons in a different way, they are the secret codes a group uses that others might not understand, unless, a member of the group teaches them the meaning of the words. Or like in your case, you can purchase a book to learn about the group’s jargon.

Therefore, the first step in the improvement of your prerequisites for debating is learning the jargon used by debaters.

Okay, it is time to learn how to talk the talk, and later you will learn how to walk the walk. I will share with some words or jargon you must know; because they are frequently used in debates.

I told you about moot earlier, but you will also hear some debaters use the word motion to refer to the statement or the topic of debate. Moot meaning has changed over the years, and in American English, it means Pointless. However, in British English, it still carries the meaning To debate. Always consider your audience before using moot. To be on the safer side you can opt to use the word motion. Resolution is another word some debaters will use to refer to the statement of value or policy being argued. Throughout this book the word motion will refer to the debate’s topic. 

To conduct a debate, you must have more than one individuals involved. Two people can debate a motion, or you might have two teams debating a motion. One individual or one team agrees on the motion and is the affirmative or the proposition side. The side in disagreement is called the negative or the opposition.

The argument, the evidence presented in speeches, acting as proof of their support, will refute the opposition’s statements with the affirmative or proposition side. With the negative or opposition, the argument is the evidence presented to disprove, and whatever evidence the affirmative presented.

Definition, this is stating the central word(s) or individual(s) in the motion. Interpretation explains the importance of the motion. Both the definition and the interpretation are usually outlined by the first speaker of both the affirmative and negative side.

The presentation is how the speakers demonstrate or display their arguments. Speakers, presentation are mainly through speech with gesticulations, tone, volume, pitch, and rhythm. Modulation can describe the tone, volume, pitch and rhythm of their voice.

Structure refers to the format of each speaker’s speech and how well each speaker’s argument correlates to his/her team members.

Protected time is the first sixty seconds and the last sixty seconds of a debate that the speaker must speak without interruption from the opposing speakers.

Points of information or Pol this is during the speech of a speaker, a speaker from the opposing side interjects to offer a brief, quick rebuttal to the point(s) made by the speaker who is presenting.

Barrack is to offer a succession of quick points of information, which are usually disruptive when done in that manner.

Rebuttal is the statements or explanation that dispute the arguments of the other team.

A strike is when a judge is prohibited from adjudicating a team due to the potential bias by that person.

Taking brief notes of critical points raised in arguments in a debate, by both the judges, and each team involved in the debate is flowing.

An open round is when the adjudication results are announced to teams after the debate.

However, in a closed round, this is when the adjudication results are kept a secret from the teams.

The opening opposition is the first speaker on the side of the opposition with the responsibility to presenting arguments against the motion and the rebuttal of the opening proposition.

The room is the physical location where the debated is conducted.

The allocation of points of the individual speakers during a debate, which is generally awarded based on their speech is speaker points or speaks. The maximum point awarded to individual speakers is one hundred.

Team points are the points allocated to teams for their performance during the debate. These points will determine which team wins the debate.

Squirrel is the attempt by the opening proposition to illicitly and irrationally restrict the motion.

The summation is the closing speech from both the proposition and the opposition, which summarizes the debate.

The person responsible for creating and sustaining the tab, and the draw throughout, and after the debating competition is called a tabmaster.

The tab is the overall ranking of judges and speakers in a debating competition.

Hey! Give yourself a tap on the shoulder. I am very proud of you for reading this far. Now, buckle up because you are about to take another step on the ladder "Debating To Win Arguments" in your quest to become a better debater. See you on the next page.

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Chapter 2 Elements of Debate

Relax; you have made it to chapter two. We will discuss the elements of debate in this chapter. I want you to perceive debate like a game, a game you will enjoy playing. In this game, your aim is to win like all other games. So, you must study your opponent, and anticipate what that competitor next move will be. Wellwith debate, it is the opposition arguments. You must learn the roles of the players in the game and what you must do to win.

Every game has rules, and each player has a value too. In the game of debate, players are the elements that make a debate possible. Each element has a significant role, and I will discuss their individual roles below:

One main rule in the game of debate is that you must adhere to the boundary of the game. Let us think of debate like basketball. Players may not step on or pass the sideline when dribbling the ball. If a player breaches the rule of the sideline while dribbling, the opponent gets the ball. The sideline in each game of debate is set by the motion. The team that does not breach the motion, and present the most substantial arguments based on their claim of the motion; stands a greater chance of being declared the winner.

Stick to the motion. Let it come alive in your arguments. Even if you must debate something that personally, you do not agree with, in the game of debate, you make the judge(s) or the audience believes that the motion is one of your solemn beliefs. So, you must try to define the motion, state why you believe it is important, and look for ways to refute whatever negatives your opponent will argue about the motion. Or, if you are in the opposition, you must find negatives to refute whatever positive the proposition will claim. Whatever side of the coin you fall on, when you are on a debate team, just remember to research points that will solidify your claims to the motion.

Here is a very tricky and special key element to the game of debate, one which some debaters forget. Keep your eyes on the judge. Okay, this is no joke. You literally must keep your eyes on the judge.