Toastmasters
	Debate
	Date, Location, Time

Topic: ___________________________

Participants:

Affirmative:	A1_________________	A2_________________
Negative:	N1_________________	N2_________________

Structure:

A1	the first speaker affirmative will define the topic, introduce the Affirmative team, define their approach to the proposition, and present one or two arguments
N1	the first speaker negative will clarify or refine the definition, introduce the Negative team and how they will argue, present one or two arguments, and rebut (refute or attack) the arguments of the first speaker
A2	the second speaker affirmative will defend the definition (if necessary),  have two or three points of argument, rebut the opposing team  and defend the arguments of the affirmative
N2	the second speaker negative will have two or three points of argument,  rebut the opposing team and defend the arguments of the negative

Procedure

Firstly arrange the tables: affirmative team on the right of the chair, facing the audience.

1. Debate Master: Welcome all present. State the purpose of the meeting, and introduce the teams, judge and vote counter. Hand out guidelines.
2. Judge: Review rules, guidelines, and speaking times (3 minutes each speaker). We do not allow interjections. Detail the scoring rules (40+40+20 , team, audience)
3. DM: If there are no questions, state the subject and take the preliminary audience vote. For: _______ Against: ______
4. DM: Introduce the affirmative leader.
5. DM: After each speaker completes, await the Judge's signal, and introduce the next speaker.
6. DM: After the end, take the final audience vote: For: _______ Against: ______

difference: _______ ______
7. Now we take a pause while the judges ponder and confer.

The debaters may continue a discussion with the audience.
8. DM: Announce that the judge is ready to announce the result and give criticisms.
9. Leader of losing team congratulates winning team.
10. Leader of winning team should then express appreciation to all.

Judging the debate

This guide is simplified from Toastmasters and other recommendations, especially from . http://actein.edu.au/ACTDU/newindex.html

Each individual speaker is given a mark out of 100, which is divided into 40 for Matter, 40 for Manner and 20 for Method. The judges must also decide which team has won the debate, for what reasons and by what margin.
 

	A1	A2	N1	N2
name
Matter is what is said. A judge should always place him or herself in the position of the average person having the average knowledge of the topic being debated. DO NOT BRING EXPERT KNOWLEDGE TO A DEBATE. There is much to be said about matter, but good matter will satisfy two key criteria: a. relevance and b. logic.	40	40	40	40
a. Relevance: "Is this material relevant?". Are the examples relevant to the topic or the argument? Are they strong examples?
b. Logic: It is not sufficient to have a list of examples. The debater must link the examples into the argument. It does not have to follow the rules of strict logic but connections need to be made and maintained.
name
Manner is how things are said. There is no one correct method of presenting a debate. The judge should ask "Was it effective?". Some debaters move around, some stay still. Some debaters are aggressive, some quiet and calm. Some funny, some not, some energetic, some determinate. Each style has strengths and weaknesses and should be judged for effectiveness. There are some things that debaters should not do, however, and they include reading prepared material, doing anything distracting, and appearing less than confident	40	40	40	40
name
Method is the organisation of the debate, at two levels.	20	20	20	20
1.Individual. Within the individual speech look out for:
- introduction, body and conclusion.
- logical ordering of main points.
- logical sequence, leading the audience through the argument.
- fulfilling the role of the speaker.
- good allocation of time to argument and rebuttal.
2.Team: Across a team look out for: team	Affirmative		Negative
- a clear statement of the team's main argument.
- consistency of argument through the team.
- clear division of material between speakers and sequence
Rebuttal is answering the opponents' arguments. It is what differentiates debating from public speaking. Method here is very important - it is not enough to show just counter examples. Good rebuttal ...
- identifies main areas within the opposition's case.
- states clearly that each is wrong.
- states good, logical reasons why it is wrong.