An introduction to parliamentary debate in the World Schools style

							      An introduction to
parliamentary debate in the
   „World Schools‟ style

        Helen Jarman
      Coach, Team Wales
                The debate
              Chair              Timekeeper
Proposition                                   Opposition




                      Audience
          Order of speakers

                              No points of
                              information
                              are allowed
                              in summary
                              speeches




Proposition             Opposition
  summary                 summary
           Speech lengths
 Main  speeches are of eight minutes in
  length.
 The first and last minutes are marked by
  signals from the timekeeper.
 In between those signals members of the
  other team may offer a speaker „Points of
  Information‟.
 Summary speeches are four minutes in
  length with no points of information.
           Points of information
   A point of information is a request to briefly
    interrupt the speaker currently „holding the floor‟
    with a question, observation or argument
    relevant to what is being said at the time.
   The speaker may choose to accept or decline
    the point of information.
   Offering and accepting some points of
    information shows that the speaker is engaged
    with the debate and able to think quickly about
    their arguments and those of their opponents.
 The elements of a Parliamentary
         debate speech

 Content  – what the speaker is saying
 Style – how the speaker is choosing to say
  it
 Strategy – how successfully the speaker
  presents his arguments within the context
  of the formal debate
                SExI arguments
   Statement, Explanation, Illustration – the SExI way of
    making arguments.

   Example: “THW use more nuclear power”
      Statement: “It is better for the environment”

      Explanation: “Nuclear power does not produce CO 2,
       unlike fossil fuels. CO2 causes global warming, so we
       so should try to reduce its production. Therefore,
       nuclear power is better for the environment”.
      Explanation: “Countries like France who rely heavily
       on nuclear power are much closer to meeting their
       commitments to reduce CO2 emissions under the
       Kyoto treaty than countries like Germany who do not
       use nuclear power”
          For good style minimise
                interference
1.   Physics. Can the audience hear the speaker?

2.   Psychology. Does the speaker make people want to
     listen to her?

3.   Linguistics. Is the speaker using terminology in a way
     that everyone in the audience will understand?

4.   Emotion. Is the speaker using the kinds of words the
     lead an audience to feel the right way about an idea?

5. Rhetoric. Does the speaker use the same techniques
    that poetry and music use to inspire people?
                Strategy
 Choice  of arguments.
 Team Work.
 Use of P.O.I.
 Does each speaker listen to the
  arguments of the other side and try to
  disprove them?
 Is a speaker able to adjust what they are
  saying?
                      The Motion
   In recognition of the Parliamentary origins of debating,
    the audience are taken to form „the House‟, and so all
    motions begin “This House…”

   Today‟s motion is:

     “This House believes that Europe will never
       be truly united until it shares a common
                      language.”

   You, the audience, will have to decide to vote to affirm
    that belief, or to reject it. The speeches of the two sides
    exist to help you make your mind up.
       Debate and Education
 Debate  is used in education by
  organisations like the ESU for three main
  reasons:
1. Increasing self-confidence
2. Strengthening academic ability
3. Raising civic awareness
    The World Schools Debating
         Championships
 The  style of debate we are using here
  today is the one devised for the world
  championships.
 They have been held since 1988 and have
  involved over 50 countries.
 The next championships will be held in
  Cardiff in summer 2006.
             Going further
 www.britishdebate.com    – the English-
  Speaking Union‟s dedicated debate
  website, focussing on the styles of debate
  used in Britain and Ireland.
 www.schoolsdebate.com – the website of
  the World Schools Debating
  Championships