ALWAYS REMEMBER

Speakers are not born, they

are made.
ADJUDICATION SEMINAR
Day 1
 Introduction
 Debating competitions
 Discussion
 Adjudication
 Rubric
 Scoring

Sources:
- IUCC
- EUTH
BENEFITS OF DEBATING
 Cultivates quick and multi-dimensional, logical
thinking.
 Enhances the ability to develop reasoned
opinions.
 Gives a better understanding of the current
events and the world around us.
 Improves self-confidence, speaking style and
command of language.
 Enriches your overall leadership qualities.
GOOD DEBATERS POSSESS
 Good knowledge of current issues.
 Ability to generate ideas.
 Ability to think critically and logically.
 Ability to present the ideas systematically.
 Ability to handle culturally diverse and
challenging situations with great ease and
to one’s their (own) enjoyment.
DIFFERENT FORMATS OF
DEBATES
 Parliamentary & Non-parliamentary
 Parliamentary debates allow Points of
Information (POI) while Non-Parliamentary
debates do not.
 Malaysian Conventional
 3 members to a team
 Topics given in advance
 POIs not allowed
 American Parliamentary
 2 members to a team
 POIs are allowed

Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Unit, IIUM

DIFFERENT FORMATS OF
DEBATES
 Royal Malaysian/ Asian
 3 members to a team
 POIS are allowed.
 British Parliamentary (World Debates)
 2 member to team and 4 teams in a debate
 POIs are allowed

Closing Gov. Opening Gov.

Set up in a
British
Parliamentary
Format of
Debate Closing Opp. Opening Opp.
A DEBATE IS JUDGED ON
THE BASIS OF:
1. Matter:
What you present (i.e. the content)
2. Manner:
How you present (i.e. the style)
3. Method:
Organisation/structure of your
presentation
 ELEMENTS OF MATTER
1. Definitions: 4. Rebuttals:
- Set up of the debate - Must be logical
2. Arguments: - Must be relevant
- Must be logical - Must be prompt
- Must be relevant
3. Evidences:
- Must be relevant
- Evidential value (strength)
 DEFINING A TOPIC
• Explain the key-words in the topic.
• Identify what you want to prove
and what is your stand. This is
called the theme of your team.
• If there is a measurement involved,
set up the yardstick or criteria for
such measurement.
RULES OF DEFINITION
Characteristics of a Proper Definition:
 It must bear a close relation to the motion.
 It must not be truistic.
 It must not employ time or place setting.
 It must not be based on overly specific knowledge

Kinds of Definitions:
• Literal with key-words definition.
• Metaphorical definition.
• Issue based &/or specified definition (different
from time-place setting).
CHALLENGE OF DEFINITION
Grounds for Challenge:
 You can only challenge a definition if it violates any of
the criteria stated earlier. Frequently used terms in
challenging definitions are: wholly unreasonable,
squirrel, time-place set, truistic.
 You cannot challenge a definition simply because you
have a more reasonable or better definition.
CHALLENGE OF DEFINITION
• Challenge must come from the leader of the opposition, not
later.
• Leader of the opposition must provide an alternative
definition.
• In most of the cases, the teams must introduce an 'even if’
argument.
• An `Even if' argument is not possible in some cases. (e.g.
truistic definition & definition running counter to the
resolution i.e. where govt. has taken the opposition’s case).
• In a definition debate, all the speakers except the PM argue
the following:
• Why challenge?
• Validity/invalidity of the two definitions.
• Even if we are to accept the other side's definition, these are the
weaknesses of their case.
• Positive case under their own definition.
 GETTING THE RIGHT
ARGUMENTS
 First, identify what you have to prove under the topic.
 Then, identify what helps you to prove it. Put them in the
format of an argument or a set of arguments.
 Not everything that you know on the subject is relevant.
 Anticipate the questions that may be raised against your
arguments and see if you have good answers to them.
 Block the opportunity for those questions to be raised
by addressing them briefly as you explain the argument.
 Present the arguments in order of their strength.
 Avoid empty rhetoric and emotionalism - be rational.
ESTABLISHING AN ARGUMENT
Basic statement

Logical explanations of why and how

the basic statement stands

Proof/evidence/examples that factually

establish your basic statement

Conclusion/how it proves
your team’s theme
 EFFECTIVE REBUTTALS
Rebuttals

Attacks Defence
(Rebut the Arguments) (Rebut the Rebuttals)

 Do not rebut the example, attack the very premise of the

argument of the other side. Only then contrary examples
can be supplemented.
 It is advisable to provide multiple rebuttals to each
argument of the other side.
 Rebuttals should also be in conformity with your case.
 Rebut the rebuttals of your case by the other side in
order to defend your case.
ELEMENTS OF MANNER/STYLE
 Respectable attitude towards the judges and
the other team.
 Vocal style: volume, clarity, pace, intonation
etc.
 Use of notes: not to read a written text.
 Eye contact.
 Body language: hand gestures, pacing,
standing etc.
 Impression of sincerity.
 Humour, wit, appropriate and healthy
sarcasm.
 ELEMENTS OF METHOD
- Team structure
- Continuity of team’s theme in all the speeches.
- Consistency among all the speakers (no contradictions)
- Reinforcement of team members' arguments
- Clear & logical separation between arguments.
- Individual Structure
- Attractive opening/ outline of the speech.
- Proper organisation & priority of the arguments.
- Organisation of rebuttals.
- Appropriate timing of the speech
- Summary of the speech.
- Responses to the dynamics of the debate
- Right thing at the right time.
- Ability to follow the progression of and changes in the debate,
and to re-act accordingly.
 MODEL INDIVIDUAL SPEECH
Definitions/ theme of the team

Rebuttals (attacks and defense)

Reiteration and defense of your own team’s case

Presentation of your own arguments

Conclusion (why your team’s case

stands and other team’s case does not)
 AREL
stands for:
Assertion
Reasons
Evident
Link back
TEAMS’ ROLES: ASIAN/ AUSTRALS
PROPOSITION/ OPPOSITION:
GOVERNMENT:
To negate the motion which
To support the motion which
involves:
involves:
Responding to the
 Defining the motion,
Government's definition,
 Constructing a positive case
in favour of the motion,
Constructing a case in
opposition to the motion,
 Providing substantive
materials and arguments in Providing substantive material
support of the case, and arguments in support of
 Responding to any challenges
the (opposition) case,
made to that case by the Responding to the arguments
Opposition. delivered by the Government.
 TEAM ROLES: BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY
OPENING GOV. OPENING OPP.
- Defines - Responds to the
government’s case
- Builds a positive case to
support the motion - Builds a case to oppose the
motion
- Responds to the Opp.’s case.

CLOSING GOV. CLOSING OPP.

- Supports the Opening Gov.’s - Supports the Opening Opp.’s
case, case
- Adds new dimensions, - Adds new dimension,
arguments to further arguments in Opp.’s case
substantiate the
government’s case. - Responds to government’s
case
- Responds to the Opp.’s case
 SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/ AUSTRALS
PROPOSITION/
 1st Speaker /Prime Minister
 Defines the topic. GOVERNMENT:
 Gives the case structure and theme.
 Presents own arguments.
 Provides a summary of his speech. (What I've given u so
far..).
 2nd Speaker
 Rebuts.
 Reiterates and defends his first speaker’s arguments.
 Presents own argument.
 Provides a summary of his speech.
 3rd Speaker
 Rebuts substantially.
 Reiterates and defends his own team's case.
 Provides a summary of his speech.
 Reply Speaker
 Presents a comparative overview of the clash points in the
debate proving why his team’s case stands
 SPEAKERS' ROLES: ASIAN/
AUSTRALS OPPOSITION:

 1st Speaker /Opposition Leader

 Responds to the definition (i.e. Accepts, Rejects or
Clarifies).
 Rebuts the Prime Minister’s arguments.
 Gives the case structure and theme of his team.
 Presents own arguments.
 Provides a summary of his speech.
 2nd Speaker
 Same as the proposition 2nd speaker
 3rd Speaker
 Same as the proposition 3rd speaker
 Reply Speaker
 Same as the proposition reply speaker
POINTS OF INFORMATION (POIs)
 A POI can be in a question or statement form and should
not take more than 15 seconds.
 Each speaker should accept at least two POIs.
 All three members of the team should try to give POIs, but
they must not be disruptive.
 POIs are judged on the basis of:
- the threat they pose to the strength of the argument of the
debater.
- value of its wit and humour.
 Responses to the POIs are judged on the basis of:
 promptness and confidence in answering.
 strength of the response.
 value of wit and humour in the response.
Time Allocation
Case Building (20 – 30 minutes)
Each speaker is given 7 minutes.
Reply speech takes 5 minutes.
The time starts as the speaker starts to speak.
Time keeper gives sign one minute before it is due.
POI is between one minute after the speech starts and one
before it ends.
EXAMPLE

Motion:
The House Would Ban Internet for Children
The House Believes that internet should be
banned for children
Government

It is evident that internet has given negative impacts to

children such as social retreat and social abuse.
In the period where social and psychological aspects are
developing in the mind of children, the addict to on line
games and sexual exposures destruct them. Even if there is
1 child out of 100 who is potential to the defect, about
2,400,000 children may be defected per generation by the
negative impact of internet. This is a serious threat to
children.
Therefore, we believe that internet should only be limited
to adults.
Opposition
Children need guidance from parents and teachers in any of
their activities including the use of internet. It does not
mean that we should ban the internet for children
because technology should be introduced to children to
support their learning activities. In other words the
internet is a rich and effective media of learning resources.
You can find most anything for children to learn on the
internet. So, we must not limit the internet to adults but
we need to make us aware that they need guidance.
THW ban gun ownership
Any Questions?