Parliamentary Debate

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Parliamentary Debate
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Our plan for today

• Review basic argumentation, rebuttal and speaking
  skills
• Introduce Parliamentary debate format
• Differentiate Parli from cross-examination debate
• The dreaded Point of Information

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Who are we?

• UBC Debate Society
• Steve
• Pat?

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What is Debate?

• Formalized, reasoned argument.
• Two sides trying to convince each other, or a
  third party of their point of view.
• Debate is CLASH No clash, no debate.
• The two sides must disagree with each other, not
  simply the resolution!

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Argumentation

• Elements that make up an argument
• Fact (proof)
• Logic
• Examples
• How do you make an argument?
• Proof of a fact and the application of it to the
  case.
• Two tests
• Internal Consistency
• Holistic

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Argumentation

• Different Classifications of Arguments
• S social
• P political
• E economic
• R religious
• M moral

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Rebuttal

• What is Rebuttal?
• Clash with the arguments of ones opponent.
• Undermining through various means the arguments
  of ones opponent.
• How do you make a rebuttal?
• Sum up their argument.
• Indicate why it's wrong, and explain.

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Rebuttal

• Good questions to ask of their arguments
• Is it factually correct?
• Does it contain any formal logical fallacies?
• Is it contradictory?
• Does it assume something that shouldnt be
  assumed?
• What are the practical implications?
• Does their case address the important issues?
• Can you think of any counter examples?
• Does it just not make sense?

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Verbal Skills

• Keys to Good Verbal Skills
• Body Language
• Eye Contact
• Hand Gestures
• Movement/Ownership of the Stage
• Confidence The Outward Appearance
• Voice Articulation and Enunciation
• Vocal Projection vs. Yelling
• Calm
• Variation of Intonation

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Verbal Skills

• Things to Watch Out for
• Pacing, uncomfortable gestures
• Reading the page
• Mumbling, stuttering, umming, giggling
• Lack of confidence

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How to Improve

• PRACTICE!

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Our plan for today

• Review basic argumentation, rebuttal and speaking
  skills
• Introduce Parliamentary debate format
• Differentiate Parli from cross-examination debate
• The dreaded Point of Information
• Heckling, Points of Order and Personal
  Privilidge, and other things a debate can do
  without

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Some terminology

• Motion/Resolution the statement we debate.
• Gov referring to Government also known as
  Affirmative in cross-ex ? the yes side of the
  debate.
• Opp referring to the Opposition also known as
  Negative in cross-ex ? the no side of the
  debate.
• Case this refers to the stance or viewpoint of a
  given side of the debate (i.e. the Governments
  case or the Oppositions case)

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The look of a Parli round
Podium
Opposition
Government
Audience
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Speaker order and times

• (Gov) Prime Minister 5 min
• (Opp) Member of the Opposition 8 min
• (Gov) Minister of the Crown 8 min
• (Opp) Leader of the Opposition 8 min
• (Gov) Prime Minister's Rebuttal 3 min

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Speaker Roles Prime Minster

• (Gov) PM 5
• (Opp) MO 8
• (Gov) MC 8
• (Opp) LO 8
• (Gov) PMR 3

• Define the grounds of the debate
• Outline the government case
• Deliver substantive material/argumentation

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Roles Member of the Opposition

• (Gov) PM 5
• (Opp) MO 8
• (Gov) MC 8
• (Opp) LO 8
• (Gov) PMR 3

• (dont) challenge definitions
• Outline the opposition case
• Deliver substantive material/argumentation
• Clash with PMs arguments

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Roles Minister of the Crown

• (Gov) PM 5
• (Opp) MO 8
• (Gov) MC 8
• (Opp) LO 8
• (Gov) PMR 3

• Deliver substantive material/argumentation
• Clash with LOs arguments
• Reconstruct

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Roles Leader of the Opposition

• (Gov) PM 5
• (Opp) MO 8
• (Gov) MC 8
• (Opp) LO 8
• (Gov) PMR 3

• Deliver substantive material/argumentation
• Clash with matter on the table
• MC 1st priority
• PMs standing arguments
• Reconstruct
• Summary
• Last three minutes
• Focus on key issues

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Roles Prime Minister's Rebuttal

• (Gov) PM 5
• (Opp) MO 8
• (Gov) MC 8
• (Opp) LO 8
• (Gov) PMR 3

• Summary
• Focus on key issues
• Rebuttal
• Can work in/do separately
• Just key issues! (cant cover all of LO)

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Our plan for today

• Review basic argumentation, rebuttal and speaking
  skills
• Introduce Parliamentary debate format
• Differentiate Parli from cross-examination debate
• The dreaded Point of Information
• Heckling, Points of Order and Personal
  Privilidge, and other things a debate can do
  without

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Parliamentary and Cross-Ex

• Cross Ex
• Meant to imitate a courtroom
• Seperate question periods
• Debated prepared
• Shorter times

• Parliamentary
• Meant to imitate a parliament chamber
• Questions (POIs) in the speeches
• Often impromptu
• Longer times

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Parliamentary and Cross-Ex (2)

• How to address the audience
• Ladies and gentlemen
• A resolution
• BIRT ...

• How to address the audience
• Mr./Ms. Speaker
• A resolution
• THB... or THW ...
• This house believes / would
• Speaking through the speaker

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Our plan for today

• Review basic argumentation, rebuttal and speaking
  skills
• Introduce Parliamentary debate format
• Differentiate Parli from cross-examination debate
• The dreaded Point of Information
• Heckling, Points of Order and Personal
  Privilidge, and other things a debate can do
  without

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Points of Information (POIs)

• How to ask
• Stand up without speaking
• You may say point if they don't notice you
• If they acknowledge you, ask your question
• BE BRIEF
• Don't make a speech
• Ask about two POIs per opponent speech
• You can't ask it to your partner

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Reasons for Asking POIs

• The point they make has a flaw which you can
  easily point out, or a counterexample
• You want to introduce one of your points into the
  debate
• They're on a roll and you'd like them not to be

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How to deal with POIs in a speech

• Always remember it's your floor.
• When they rise, do one of
• Reject the POI - no, not now - do this if
  they've asked enough, or you're in a good point
• Delay the POI - in a minute - do this if you're
  in the middle of a point
• Accept the POI - sure, your question - only if
  you're in between points and ready to answer
• When they ask, answer their question.

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POI Practice!
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Other topics...

• What about Points of Order and Privilidge?
• I want to heckle!
• Steve's rules on heckling
• The best heckle Steve has ever heard.
• Any questions?
• Let's practice (and eat!)