Basic Debating Skills.

Prof. Filippova (Russia)
http://www.actdu.org.au/archives/actein_site/basicskills.html
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. argument
    a dispute where there is strong disagreement
    A debate is, basically, an argument .
  2. passionately
    in a stormy or violent manner
    That is not to say that it is an undisciplined shouting match between parties that passionately believe in a particular point of view.
  3. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    Debating has strict rules of conduct and quite sophisticated arguing techniques and you will often be in a position where you will have to argue the opposite of what you believe in.
  4. sophisticated
    intellectually appealing
    quite sophisticated arguing techniques
  5. affirm
    declare solemnly and formally as true
    The team that agrees with the topic is called the AFFIRMATIVE (or the `government' in parliamentary debating) and the team that disagrees with the topic is called the NEGATIVE (or the `opposition' in parliamentary debating).
  6. obvious
    easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
    This may seem obvious ...
  7. obscure
    not clearly understood or expressed
    Where the topic is too obscure to allow this test then apply the `reasonability ' test.
  8. enforce
    compel to behave in a certain way
    to enforce the idea of teamwork
  9. lay out
    lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
    They are laid out below in the order that the speakers will speak.
  10. reject
    refuse to accept or acknowledge
    accept or reject the definition.
  11. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    If you don't do this it is assumed that you accept the definition.
  12. rebut
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative speaker
  13. rebuttal
    the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary argument
  14. refute
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    He also refuted that he had said different things to journalists or changed his story.
  15. challenging
    requiring full use of your abilities or resources
    Because a lot of the thinking for this needs to be done quickly this is one of the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of debating.
  16. nerd
    a student ridiculed as being boringly studious
    To call someone fat, ugly or a nerd does not make what they say wrong and it will also lose you marks.
  17. confine
    deprive of freedom
    For example in the topic "That the zoos should be closed" an argument may be: "the zoos should be closed because they confine the animals in an unnatural environment".
  18. substance
    the most essential part of some idea or experience
    Any examples that you use should be relevant to the topic at hand. Examples which have very little or nothing to do with the topic only make a speech look weak and lacking substance .
  19. matter
    a vaguely specified concern
    Matter cannot be just a long list of examples.
  20. pile
    (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
    You do not win a debate by creating the biggest pile of facts.
  21. solely
    without any others being included or involved
    Similarly you cannot win a debate solely by proving that some of the facts of the opposition are wrong.
  22. heartwarming
    causing gladness and pleasure
    Watching the news helps (but watch a credible broadcast like the ABC , you are hardly likely to get a topic on some heartwarming story about a lost cat in western Sydney) as does reading a good paper or periodical like the Canberra Times or the Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. tantalising
    arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach
    There are many delicious pieces of the method pie; here are a few tantalising crumbs .......
  24. consistent
    marked by an orderly and coherent relation of parts
    Each member of the team needs to reinforce the team line and be consistent with what has already been said and what will be said by the other members of their team.
  25. shoot one's mouth off
    speak spontaneously and without restraint
    shoot yourself in the foot (informal) - to do or say something that will cause you a lot of trouble or harm, especially when you are trying to get an advantage for yourself http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/shoot+yourself+in+the+foot#shoot_1__164
  26. penalise
    impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
    Your team will look poorly organised and will be severely penalised by the adjudicator.
  27. adjudicator
    a person who studies and settles conflicts and disputes
    Your team will look poorly organised and will be severely penalised by the adjudicator.
  28. prescribed
    set down as a rule or guide
    There is no one prescribed way of presenting your argument.
  29. convincing
    causing one to believe the truth of something
    It is not true, no matter what Paul Keating thinks, that the best way of being convincing is to shout and thump on the table.
  30. thump
    make a dull sound
    to shout and thump on the table
  31. pointer
    a mark to indicate a direction or relation
    Here are some tips and pointers
  32. cue
    a reminder for some action or speech
    Do not write out your speech on cue cards
  33. deplorable
    bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
    There is even a current, and indeed deplorable, trend towards computer generated cue cards.
  34. prompt
    performed with little or no delay
    Use cue cards the same way you would use a prompt it a play, they are there for reference if you lose your spot.
  35. reference
    the act of consulting
    they are there for reference if you lose your spot
  36. elocution
    an expert manner of speaking involving control of voice
    This is not an exercise in grammar or elocution
  37. overboard
    to extremes
    Try to avoid being too informal but don't go overboard the other way.
  38. get stuck
    be unable to move further
    People that do that aren't entering the spirit or developing the skills of debating and end up looking really silly getting stuck on a word they just can't say.
  39. reason
    a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion
    Don't spend your debating life worrying about numbers, like most statistics they are meaningless unless you understand the reasons behind them.
  40. performance
    process or manner of functioning or operating
    Adjudicators are friendly people who will happily speak with you after the debate and tell you about your individual performance .
Created on Tue Nov 26 07:42:10 EST 2013

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