Constructive Arguing

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International Debate Education Association

• Constructive Arguing

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What Motivates Argument?
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Why Do We Argue?

• To seek knowledge.
• To find a sense of the truth.
• To convince others of what is best to believe or
  support.
• To provide motivation to others.

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Why Do We Debate?

• To grow intellectually.
• To improve speaking and language skills.
• To test our arguments rigorously.
• The excitement of winning.

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Metaphors

• A key to understanding how we view debates.

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Uses of Metaphors

• People use metaphors to create or communicate the
  meaning of a thing by speaking of it as if it
  were something else. (Example Life is a
  highway.)
• Metaphors use comparison to create meaning
  metaphors compare a new idea to one that already
  has been established. (Example That outfit is
  hot!)

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Metaphors are Fundamental to Our Understanding of
the World

• Words or symbols are chosen by humans to
  represent something in their experience.

Why does this symbol mean tree in the Chinese
language?
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Metaphors in Debate

• How do we talk about arguing?

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How do we think about the other side in the
debate?

• What names do we use to describe them?
• Our opponents or the opposition
• The other side
• What words do we use to describe prevailing over
  the other team in a debate?
• Defeating them
• Beating them
• Winning

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Examples of Conflict Metaphors in Arguments and
Debates

• Venezuela, Mexico Rift Widens in War of Words
  (Xinhua Online-English Version)
• Obama, Howard Fight Battle of Words (Xinhua
  Online-English Version)
• Fear of Defeat Clouds Debate on Health Care
  Bill (Headline from the New York Times)

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A More Harmonious Model

• Constructive Argument

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Constructive Argument

• More seasoned debaters who use their exceptional
  skills in social arenas and in their
  post-university careers recognize effective
  debating as Constructive Argument.
• Operative metaphor construction something that
  is built rather than something that destroys or
  is destroyed

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So How Should We Talk About Argument?

• What are some positive words we can use to
  describe the process of arguing or debating?
• What are some positive words we can use to
  describe the debaters who take the opposite side
  in a debate or argument?

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Constructive Arguing Defined

• A constructive arguer considers important both
  the persons and the ideas involved in debate.
• A constructive arguer seeks to generate the best
  ideas possible using the argumentative process.
• A constructive arguer seeks to maintain shared
  dignity for all persons involved.

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How Do You Define Success in Your Debates?