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Coaching Schools Debating
Christopher Bishop & Stephen Whittington
Tuesday 25 February
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The First Four Things
1. Welcome
2. There are no natural debaters
3. Debating is meant to be fun…always
4. Ask questions
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Questions