The summation speech is the last speech either side gets to make. It’s the last chance to remind the audience what the debate was about and why your side made the better case
1. Give an account of the main points in the debate
2. Give a biased account of the main points in the debate. You’re making your side’s case!
3. Not give new points or substantial new analysis
The above aims are what we have to do in order to fulfil our role on the table; this isn’t enough, we need to give a good speech. As mentioned above, it is a biased account of the entire debate (not just your side).
Do not list all the points given in the debate chronologically. Prioritize.
Your job is to condense 30 minutes of debate into 3 minutes and convince the judge (or audience) that your side won.
Divide the debate into 2/3/4 themes, questions or areas of contention/clash.
PROPOSITION Ladies & Gentlemen, the debate fell into three mains themes tonight in which my colleagues proved
(1) The Problem is _.
(2) The solution is _ .
(3) This solution not only will work but is superior to any alternatives
because .
OPPOSITION Ladies & Gentlemen, in order for the Proposition to win tonight’s debate they needed AND FAILED to answer positively to these questions.
(1) Is the problem X?
(2) Will their solution fix it?
(3) Is their solution the best alternative?
_
What these themes are can vary from debate to debate, some useful ways of structuring the speech are:
Who is affected? e.g society, parents, children, criminals, victims.
What is affected? e.g. economy, environment, culture.
How is it affected? e.g. long term, short term.
Others: does it solve the problem? is it moral? are there additional harms?
Recommended reading
Verbal Judo: the art of gentle persuasion by George J Thompson (pub William Morrow Paperbacks) A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston (Hackett Publishing Co., Inc.)