British parliamentary debate - roles of the speakers

1. Government:	- defines the motion whichever way they like, do not complain about it!
	- unreasonable definitions and bad debates which come from them go   against them
	- expectable cases are rewarded

 
1- OPEN MOTIONS:

THB that coke is it (you could debate 1. American culture and US policy, 2. Globalization and the spread of popular culture, 3. Cocaine, …)

 2- SEMI CLOSED MOTIONS:

THW send the boats back (you could debate 1. Immigration, 2. Fishing rights, …)

 3- CLOSED MOTIONS:

THB representative government has failed (you could debate: 1. The European Parliament (EP), 2. The house of commons, 3. US Congress, …)

THW get tough on crime (you could debate: 1. Mandatory prison sentences, 2. The 3 strike rule, 3. The death penalty, …)

 

Roles of each team/speaker:

First Table:

1.      Government:

-         Defines the topic and provides a debatable case, not a truism,

-         Should predict the oppositions arguments,

-         Should cover as much controversy as possible,

-         Should have the best possible arguments you can come up with.

Prime minister:

-         Defines the motion,

-         States the case division/split between the speakers,

-         Produces his positive matter (2 to 3 arguments)
→1 sentence to state your position

→explain it further

→2 major forms of support (examples, philosophical points, quotes, …)

→develop your arguments

→summarize this

-         A powerful rhetorical conclusion

→so because we need to confront this challenge … we are proud to propose …

Deputy prime minister:

-         Rhetorical introduction,

-         Preview your speech,

-         Answer the oppositions criticism,

-         Point out what part of their case they didn’t deal with,

-         Don’t be polite to the oppositions arguments,

-         Continue with your part of the constructive case

-         spend a half of your time on your constructive matter

1.      Opposition:

-         Responds to the governments case,

-         Creates its own positive matter,

-         Covers as many of the opposing arguments as possible.

Leader of opposition:

-         A powerful introduction

-         Mention that you accept the governments definition, if you do,

-         Preview your case,

-         Rebut the government’s case,

-         You need to be specific and organized,

-         Spend no more than half of your speech on the governments arguments,

-         Develop at least two of your arguments,

-         Do not use defensive arguments (such as: not everyone will cooperate), but offensive ones (it is dangerous and harmful),

-         Conclusion.

Deputy leader of opposition:

-         Answer the governments defense (defend your attack),

-         Spend more time on their new argument (rebut it),

-         Sustain your speakers arguments,

-         Present your new constructive matter.

Second Table:

-         Plan but be flexible,

-         Prepare for as many contingencies as possible,

-         The government and the opposition both need an extension.

Extension:

-         Produce a new positive case,

-         Is consistent with the first table, but provides a different perspective,

-         It cannot contradict the first table (do not backstab),

   Resource: presentationzen.blogs