Debating
Debating is essentially a very simple activity - about arguing the rights and wrongs of policies and ideas. However, like many other activities, it has developed over time its own specialist vocabulary for otherwise simple concepts. This is a comprehensive glossary of the most commonly used debating terms to help clarify what we do.
Analysis
The logical reasoning behind an argument.
Argument
The main supporting points of a debate speech.
British Parliamentary
The format of the debating competitions we participate in. Now recognised as the international standard.
Burden
The strategic responsibility on a team or side in a debate.
Case File
A collection of written material designed to prepare cases for debates.
Chair Judge
The person who controls a debate and manages the adjudication and feedback to teams afterwards.
Chatham House Rules
If information disclosed during a meeting is reported by someone present, the name of the person that information should not be explicitly or implicitly identified.
Such information was for the purpose of the debate and not the opinion held by the person who provided it.
Clash
Speakers respond head on to statements made by speakers of the opposite team.
Definition
The policy or interpretation of the motion created by the opening government team in the debate.
Evaluation
Analysis of the features of the speeches of a team.
Evidence
External references provided to support the argument.
Fallacy
A reference provided by the speaker doesn’t support the argument that they are making.
Floor Contributions
Opportunity of listening members to provide a short statement or question.
Incoherence
No connection between the arguments made by different speakers in a team.
Motion
The statement of the debate.
No Extension
No new material should be brought by teams in the summary part of the debate.
Point of Information
A short, quick point of rebuttal made during a speech by a speaker on the opposing side.
Policy Motion
A motion which involves a clear policy or statement proposed to be implemented in the future.
(Motions are rarely exclusively a policy motion).
Proposition
The side in favour of the motion.
Opposition
The team who arguing AGAINST the motion
Rebuttal
Rebuttal is when a speaker responds to and disagrees with (or rebuts) arguments made by previous speakers from the other team.
Rhetoric
Language specially selected to persuade the listener.
Shopping List
A Debate speech with an over long list of arguments with few supporting references.
Summary Speaker
The final speaker on each team. The summary speaker doesn't bring new points into the debate. Instead they answer some of the audience's points raised and give a biased summary of the debate =, emphasising why their opponents arguements are poor and why their team has better arguments and the audience should therefore vote for them.
Values Motion
A motion which involves a statement valid for the past present or future.
(Motions are rarely exclusively a values motion).
VP Education
The person responsible for organising a debating competition.