Debating Format(British)

The debating format followed bu the UTMDBC will be the British Parliamentary form. The reason we do this is to ensure that members’ will get sufficient practice in the most popular accepted academic format of debate. Please read below or refer to Alexander Deane’s guide to the British Parliamentary Format.

The Motion

•Every debate has a motion- the issue for discussion

•Each team is allocated weather they will propose or appose the motion

•Teams are given 15 minutes to prepare their argument for the debate

Structure

•Eight speakers to a debate, making four teams

•Speeches are five minutes in length.

•The first and last minutes are protected time – no points of information may be made during this time.

Points of information

•Between the first and last minute of a speech, debaters on the other side may attempt to interject by offering a ‘point of information’.

•The debater giving the speech chooses whether or not to accept the point of information

The Roles of Teams

First Proposition Team

First Speaker, Prime Minister

• Defines the grounds of the debate

• Delivers own substantive material

• Flags the arguments to be delivered by his partner

The Roles of Speakers

First Opposition Team

First Speaker, Leader of Opposition

•Defines the opposition’s grounds

•Rebuts 1st Prop

•Delivers own substantive material

•Flags the arguments to be delivered by his partner

First Proposition Team

Second Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister

•Rebuts 1st Opposition

•Delivers own substantive material, using the labels his partner gave for it, and makes reference back to partner’s material

First Opposition Team

Second Speaker, Deputy Leader of Opposition

•Rebuts the arguments of the 1st Prop team, with particular responsibility for rebutting 2nd Prop

•Delivers own substantive material, using the labels his partner gave for it, and makes reference back to partner’s material

Second Proposition Team

First Speaker, Member of Government

•Delivers own substantive material

•Rebuts the arguments of the speakers before him, with particular responsibility to rebut 2nd Opposition

Second Opposition Team

First Speaker, Member of the Opposition

•Rebuts the arguments of the speakers before him

•Delivers own substantive material

Second Proposition Team

Second Speaker, Government Whip

•Summates for his side

•Shouldn’t offer new material

Second Opposition Team

Second Speaker, Opposition Whip

•Summates for opposition side

•Shouldn’t offer any new material

Final words

•Speeches should have a clear Internal Structure.

•Work as a team, ensuring that your arguments are consistent and complementary.

•The universal responsibilities of speakers are rebuttal, structure, timing, points of information and teamwork.