Critical Skills: Debating

Overview

Debating is the practice of engaging in debates, which are structured discussions in which participants or teams of participants, usually two, discuss a specific topic in-depth. In most debates, one debater supports the topic and the other opposes it. Both debaters are challenged to make a stronger argument that is more likely to sway listeners to their side.

Debates may take many forms. In competitive debates, judges watch and listen and then award points for the most effective case. In classroom debates, teachers or peers may serve as the audience and judges and vote for the most effective argument, with the winner receiving a higher grade. Other debates take place in more real-world scenarios, such as political debates in which candidates discuss their views and critique those of their opponents. In these debates, the winning side is more likely to gain voters or support for a particular initiative being discussed.

Debates and similar structured discussions may take place in legislatures, various organizations, board meetings, or public hearings. Casual debates may occur anywhere else where people interact; some lively debates have taken place at dinner tables during family gatherings, for example.

Formal debates follow special rules, previously agreed upon by the participants, and usually take a certain structure. The most common structure for a debate involves three groups: one person or group supporting an idea, one person or group opposing an idea, and one person or group serving as judges. (Moderators and an audience may also be present.) The party in support of a resolution is often called the affirmative team, while the party opposed to the resolution may be called the opposing team.

Such formal debates also follow prearranged schedules. Usually, the affirmative team opens the debate by discussing the pros, or benefits, of the resolution being discussed. After a set time has elapsed, the opposing team has the same amount of time to present a case against the resolution. This pattern is then repeated for the duration of the debate. In team debates, one member may speak during each cycle, meaning that teams of three will debate for three cycles.

During each cycle, debaters seek to advance their own perspectives while rebutting, or showing the weaknesses or errors in, their opponent’s arguments. After the debate, judges or audience members may ask questions or discuss their impressions or points of view on the topic. Then, judges may evaluate the debaters’ performances, assign points or comments, and declare a winner.

Core Skills & Competencies

Most people are born with some capacity to debate. Even young children may try to invite debates, such as by questioning a parent’s orders with “why?” or “why not?” Throughout life, people may informally debate to protect their beliefs and advance their own interests or those of loved ones. Many people find debate-type discussions enlightening or even entertaining, and many informal debates take place among friends and family on topics ranging from social mores to religious beliefs.

Despite the widespread tendency toward debate-type discussions, true, formal debating may require several special skills and competencies. Promoters of formal debating, especially for students, point out that many of these abilities can be improved or even gained through experience in debates.

Perhaps the most important skill required for forming debates is critical thinking, which refers to the use of logic and reasoning to make decisions. Critical thinkers tend to examine what they learn rather than accepting new information at face value. They may test new ideas for logic and relevancy and search for evidence to support claims. They may even carefully evaluate their own beliefs and actions and be willing to remove or revise those that are not valid, rather than assuming they are always correct. Critical thinkers are also likely to seek new knowledge and learning, organize their thoughts carefully, express themselves clearly, and exercise open-mindedness in many situations.

Successful debaters also generally have a passion for learning and strong research skills. Finding and evaluating new information is critical for most debates. In the modern world, billions of items of information are readily available, but not all of it—sometimes not much of it—is truly sound. Strong researchers will seek information that is accurate, timely, fair, and relevant to the topic at hand. They will also know how best to record, cite, organize, and use the new knowledge they gather. In many cases, this helps debaters learn more about current events and the state of the modern world.

Debating requires solid communication skills, meaning that debaters must be willing and able to speak clearly and effectively in public and, sometimes, under pressure. Debaters must think quickly, gather their thoughts effectively, speak loudly and clearly, read signals from opponents and listeners, and respond accurately. Another important aspect of communication skills is confidence, which can help debaters immensely. Many proponents of debate find that studying and practicing debate can boost confidence as well.

Debating requires some background in persuasive skills, such as the use of rhetoric to sway listeners’ beliefs and emotions. Many forms of rhetoric exist. Logos is the area of rhetoric that deals with logical appeals, for example, and pathos refers to influencing people with emotion. An extensive familiarity with rhetoric may greatly enhance a debater’s success.

Social skills represent another major facet of debating. In team events, debaters need to cooperate with their partners and coordinate their approach to the topic. Team leaders also benefit from leadership skills. Debaters should also show respect and consideration for opposing debaters, even those with different views on emotionally charged topics. Listening carefully, considering new points of view, and replying with courtesy are all hallmarks of the formal debate.

Research & Theory

Debate is a long-tenured part of civilization. The use of formal debate may be traced back to ancient Greece, where the philosopher Socrates employed debate techniques to uncover new understandings of the world and human nature. The act of debate carried on into the philosophy and government of later cultures. With the first stirrings of modern democratic ideals, legislators such as those of England’s Parliament used debate to help guide the policies of monarchs.

The democratic government of the United States opened broad new horizons for debate, as leaders and citizens alike gained the ability to speak freely about their wants, needs, concerns, and beliefs. Leaders also began to use debates to sway voters in their favor. A landmark debate took place in 1858 when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engaged in a lengthy public discussion during their contest over a seat in the Senate, with their brilliant oratory helping to define the nature of modern political debates.

The highest-profile debate in modern-day America is the presidential debate. In 1960, the presidential debate between candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy was televised, exposing both men to the eyes and ears of millions of viewers. This event revolutionized debate and made it a regular part of the political cycle. It also showed the complexity of debate. Many people felt that Nixon’s words were more compelling, but Kennedy’s charisma won over many voters and may have ultimately won him the election.

Despite the prominence of debate, many observers feel that its ideals and philosophical artistry are in danger in the modern world. The rise of social media has increased the amount of information people may receive, but in many cases has also condensed the information and decreased the attention span of users. Many online pundits strive to produce strong claims that fit in brief headlines or hashtags, rather than attempt to map out extensive, well-reasoned debates for or against a particular resolution. Meanwhile, politicized twenty-four-hour news stations have contributed to the preference for polemic soundbites and talking points rather than debate.

Many experts and educators believe that continuing the tradition of debates is a necessary task, and one that can benefit people in many ways. Debating can promote civil dialogue, even between people with opposing viewpoints. It can also encourage people to express themselves clearly, show respect, consider other ideas, and attempt to reach a consensus, rather than simply to argue or retreat to party lines. The act of debating may carry forward important issues, shed light on misperceptions, and break down controversies so they may be easier to understand.

Bibliography

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