Debate الحوار

[ESAL SPIRIT]

Debate - a formal way of conducting an argument in which one speech in favor of an issue or policy is followed by a speech against the proposal. The order of speaking is agreed in advance, as are the length of the speeches.

The debates that take place in everyday life are informal ones. Formal debate has specific structures, rules and limits. Formal debate attempts to bring clarity to the messy debates that rake place everyday. A formal debate starts with a resolution – a short and simple statement that defines what both sides will argue. Each team – the affirmative and negative – try to convince a neutral judge that their position is right. The teams do this by building up their arguments and tearing down their opponents arguments. The central characteristic of formal debate is that it provides rules to encourage the two debate teams to clash. It is not enough that two sides give different speeches. Each side must directly respond to the arguments of the other team, compare their position to that of their opponents, and give the judge a reason to vote for them.