DEBATE
A debate is a formal contest of argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given proposition. It is a persuasive manner of speaking with the aim of converting the view of another person, or an audience, to your own point of view. In this speech, the speaker speaks either for or against the motion.
Format:
• Introduction: Begin with a quotation, question or interesting statistics.
→ Salutation: Address the jury and the audience- ‘Respected Chairperson, Honourable members of the jury and the House.’
→ Stating the stand: Make your stand very clear from the very beginning. ‘I strongly support/oppose the motion………………
• Main points: (Brainstorm the topic. List down the pros and cons before you start to write to get a clear idea.)
→ Develop points: Highlight 3-4 main points very emphatically. Substantiate them with relevant examples, statistics, etc. • At least one point could be built up by asking a series of questions for more effective presentation.
→ Make your stance very clear. Do not contradict yourself.
→ Try using rhetorical questions to emphasize the validity of your point and irony which undermines others points.
• Rebuttal: Negate at least two points of your opponent.
→ Do not repeat the points already mentioned. Give a strong example with your best point and rebuttal.
Conclusion: State your own opinion or view in the concluding lines to emphasize your stand on the issue. Conclude with your strongest point and reiterate your stand once again (use a quotation if possible). Do not forget to write THANK YOU.
Points to remember:
• Language structures used should be specific to a debate.
• Here are suggestions for using words and phrases which could be used in debating.
-I don’t think so!
-I disagree
-In my opinion
-Nothing could be more illogical than
-I would like to draw attention to
-I submit that
-That doesn’t necessarily follow.
-That’s not necessarily true
-I wonder whether that’s the case.
-It is unrealistic to say that
-I fail to understand
-I am surprised at my opponent’s ignorance
-I wholeheartedly reject the contention
SAMPLE
Write a debate speech on the topic ‘We are happier than our forefathers’ in about 200 words.
(FOR THE MOTION)
The definition of happiness varies from one to another. We cannot be so sure about which one is correct. However, happiness is the physical and spiritual condition we have nowadays that makes us happier than our forefathers. Respected chairperson, honourable members of the jury, and the house. I strongly support the motion that we are happier than our forefathers.
Thanks to the development of medicine. We can cure many diseases which used to be considered hopeless such as anthrax, chickenpox, leprosy and so on. With the good health care, people have a longer life to live happily with their family and friends.
I wish to emphasize on the development of technology, the help of machines reduces human’s labour. Machines can lift heavy things, computers can calculate complicating calculations and formulas, robots can replace humans to work in dangerous environment and do a difficult mission like exploring universe. Government pays much attention to education. We have to go to school compulsorily (usually from 6 to 16 years old) which helps us enrich knowledge at least have basic literacy skills.
We have more food now – thanks to the development of agriculture. We invented many new kinds of plants and cattle which produce more high quality products. We can even grow cereal and rice in desert, We can now more easily to enjoy entertainments than before, because they are popular, common, various, modern, etc….Cinemas with 3D films, TV, radios, theatres, entertainment parks, online shopping malls and so on are amazing forms of entertainments. We can have some places to relax after work instead of staying at homes with the pressure. I’m surprised at my clever opponent’s ignorance of these developments which have definitely made us happier than our forefathers.
In the past, it always took time but now we have modern transportation system with high speed trains, planes, cars, ships and so on, which helps us travel much faster than our forefathers used to. Nowadays, we have many communicative ways, especially through the internet such as social network, telephone, email etc. We can save a lot of time, energy, money but still keep in close touch with everyone.
In spite of so much of development, I fail to understand why my knowledgeable opponents are not ready to accept the fact that yes we are happier than our forefathers. Thus, I reiterate my stand wholeheartedly supporting the motion that we are indeed happier than our forefathers.
Thank you.
(AGAINST THE MOTION)
Happiness is felt differently by each person, so how happy one feels depends on their own standards. It is believed by some that we are less happy than our forefathers used to be. Since we are observing too many miserable things existing around, it is far from false. Respected Chairperson, Honourable members of the jury, and the House. I strongly reject the contention that we are happier than our forefathers.
Here I would like to emphasize that the more intelligent we are becoming, the more advanced technology is; and the more destructive weapons are turning which triggers the outbreak of wars more easily with beyond any wild dream outcomes. May I remind my clever opponents of the disastrous annihilation made by the two nuclear bombs shed to Japan to put an end to the World War II.
Unlike our predecessors who used to work for the basic needs such as a place to keep from breezy winds in the winter, thick clothes for warmth, enough foodstuff to make them full, what we are trying to do now is to make as much money as possible to gain the most riches that we can. In a general comparison, our forefathers’ life seemed very simple without any worries. As for us now, the concept of a place to hide from frozen winds, sufficient food for each day, thick clothes to keep warm in the winter is replaced by the one that consists of a splendid place to live in, numerous exotic dishes for each time we eat, stylish clothes for each fashion trend together with a lot of other needs that refresh and nurture our mind, our soul. AND ARE WE HAPPY? In order to satisfy all these needs, people have no alternative but become workaholic to follow the call of riches in the craze.
Correct me if I am wrong when I say that each person born in this world now seems to know only himself since he has to learn, to work, to try to be better than others so as to make more money. All he does are for himself only, which is absolutely different from our forefather who had to work in groups for more food, a better place for all members in the clan. They worked together, shared food, cared for one another. Thus the sympathy and affections they had for one another were greater than that we have today.
I fail to understand that when my worthy opponents talk about development of technology, why they forget to mention that this development has made our generation a couch potato and obese, as now they don’t go out and play but are glued to TV and computer most of the time. Thus, I strongly reiterate my stand and wholeheartedly oppose the motion that we are happier than our forefathers.
Thank you.
Practice Question
1.Write a debate supporting the motion, ‘The present examination system in India fails to test a student’s calibre’.
2. Write a debate for/against the topic, ‘The generation gap is destroying family tradition and life.’
Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 12 English Worksheet Set E
