DEBATE RESOURCES

Welcome to our debate resources section, where you can find valuable information on creating effective arguments, mastering rhetoric, note taking and the art of judging. Explore our content to enhance your debating skills and engage effectively with the debating community.

Types of Debates

OSDU promotes both the Canadian and the British Parliament formats of debating. We also recognize the importance of the Cross-Examination format. Please click the buttons below for more detail.

Canadian Style

British Style

Cross X Style

Building a Case

A Case consists of at least three well written Simple Arguments, To do this, one must state the Claim clearly, select relevant Evidence and clarify how the Evidence supports the Claim. Please see the resources below.

Argumentation

Evidence

Inferences

Refutations, POIs,
Rebuttal Speech

An essential part of debating is the willingness to engage in clash, which is to criticize constructively the ideas of the others side. There are three moments when this can be done: Refutation, POIs, and the Rebuttal Speech. Please click on the buttons below for more detail.

Refutations and POIs

Rebuttal Speech

Rhetoric

Rhetoric refers primarily to the modulation, tone, tempo and the phrasing of your voice. It also refers to posture and your voice projection. When both sides offer compelling arguments, the team with effective rhetoric will win the debate. Please click the button for details.

Rhetoric

Listening and
Note Taking

The task of listening to the arguments of the other side is challenging because you are listening to understand the arguments, and you are searching to find faults in their reasoning. It is also challenging because you need to take notes. Please click the button for details.

Note Taking

The Art of Judging

The act of judging a debate is challenging because the judge needs to select out key ideas from each debater and balance these ideas against the others. The judge also needs to listen to the quality of the reasoning and rhetoric before making a decision. Please click the button for more details.

Judging

BP Ballot

CP Ballot