Coaching Schools Debating

Christopher Bishop & Stephen Whittington

Tuesday 25 February

The First Four Things

1. Welcome

2. There are no natural debaters

3. Debating is meant to be fun…always

4. Ask questions

The golden rule

• Debating is 95% science and 5% art.• So focus on the rules that will work in 95% of

cases.• Everything that can have a rule should have a

rule. These are up to you. – Prep technique– Rebuttal vs substantive– Argument structure

Rule number 1

• Debaters can only work on improving 2-3 things at a time.

• The coach’s job is to work out which is the most important.

Rule number 2

• Treat it like a sport: some things are not optional– Having a clear definition (if affirmative)– Team line and team split– Rebuttal– Having a considered introduction and conclusion– Using examples

Rule number 3

• Focus on potential ‘debating’ improvements not ‘debate’ improvements– Immersion therapy: lots of debates– Manner matters

• Let debaters explain themselves – up to a point

Rule number 4

• Letting people self-criticise (aka as coaching for lazy people)– The best and worst thing– The copycat exercise– The most likely thing

Rule number 5

• Focus on team improvements, rather than just individual improvements– Practice prep sessions– Two on two debates– POI Game– 1st speaker speeches– Argument structure– Video watching

Rule number 6

• Focus on developing your team’s impromptu preparation technique.– Who is in charge?– What is the schedule?• Brainstorm individually• Discuss and group together arguments• Decide on definition/team line/split• Develop material individually• Discuss at end and check speeches• 3rd speakers: rebuttal role

Rule number 7

• Preparation (usually) pays off– Assigned topic areas– News programmes– Case preps– The Economist, The Atlantic, Slate.com, HuffPo,

Foreign Affairs, etc. – Debating videos

Questions