helen jarman, an introduction to parliamentary debate

8/2/2019 Helen Jarman, An Introduction to Parliamentary Debate

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An introduction toparliamentary debate in the

World Schools style

Helen JarmanCoach, Team Wales


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The debate

Audience

Chair Timekeeper

Proposition Opposition


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Order of speakers

Propositionsummary

Oppositionsummary

No points ofinformationare allowed

in summaryspeeches


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Speech lengths

Main speeches are of eight minutes inlength.

The first and last minutes are marked by

signals from the timekeeper. In between those signals members of the

other team may offer a speaker Points of

Information. Summary speeches are four minutes in

length with no points of information.


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Points of information

A point of information is a request to brieflyinterrupt the speaker currently holding the floor

with a question, observation or argumentrelevant to what is being said at the time.

The speaker may choose to accept or declinethe point of information.

Offering and accepting some points of

information shows that the speaker is engagedwith the debate and able to think quickly abouttheir arguments and those of their opponents.


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The elements of a Parliamentarydebate speech

Content what the speaker is saying

Style how the speaker is choosing to say

it

Strategy how successfully the speakerpresents his arguments within the context

of the formal debate


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SExI arguments

Statement, Explanation, Illustration the SExI way ofmaking arguments.

Example: THW use more nuclear power

Statement: It is better for the environment Explanation: Nuclear power does not produce CO2,

unlike fossil fuels. CO2 causes global warming, so weso should try to reduce its production. Therefore,nuclear power is better for the environment.

Explanation: Countries like France who rely heavilyon nuclear power are much closer to meeting theircommitments to reduce CO2 emissions under theKyoto treaty than countries like Germany who do notuse nuclear power


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For good style minimiseinterference

1. Physics. Can the audience hear the speaker?

2. Psychology. Does the speaker make people want tolisten to her?

3. Linguistics. Is the speaker using terminology in a waythat everyone in the audience will understand?

4. Emotion. Is the speaker using the kinds of words the

lead an audience to feel the right way about an idea?

5. Rhetoric. Does the speaker use the same techniquesthat poetry and music use to inspire people?


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Strategy

Choice of arguments.

Team Work.

Use of P.O.I.Does each speaker listen to the

arguments of the other side and try to

disprove them? Is a speaker able to adjust what they are

saying?


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The Motion

In recognition of the Parliamentary origins of debating,the audience are taken to form the House, and so allmotions begin This House

Todays motion is:

This House believes that Europe will neverbe truly united until it shares a common

language.

You, the audience, will have to decide to vote to affirmthat belief, or to reject it. The speeches of the two sidesexist to help you make your mind up.


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Debate and Education

Debate is used in education byorganisations like the ESU for three mainreasons:

1. Increasing self-confidence

2. Strengthening academic ability

3. Raising civic awareness


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The World Schools DebatingChampionships

The style of debate we are using heretoday is the one devised for the worldchampionships.

They have been held since 1988 and haveinvolved over 50 countries.

The next championships will be held inCardiff in summer 2006.


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Going further

www.britishdebate.com the English-Speaking Unions dedicated debate

website, focussing on the styles of debate

used in Britain and Ireland.

www.schoolsdebate.com the website ofthe World Schools Debating

Championships
http://www.britishdebate.com/http://www.schoolsdebate.com/http://www.schoolsdebate.com/http://www.britishdebate.com/

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