Arguing, whether informally or formally, is an ancient art. These days, you can argue in a coffee shop or at a formal debate event. You can learn several formal and informal strategies or debate formats, be it spontaneous debating, solo debating, or for team debate.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Arguing in Daily Life
Step 1. Start a debate by asking a question
By asking questions, you can start making arguments. Since you're not arguing formally, you don't know the position the person opposite you holds, or what your opponent believes. Ask questions to be sure.
- To explore someone's opinion and knowledge, ask detailed questions like these: "So do you believe the incompleteness of the fossil record had a major influence on Darwinism?"
- Ask your opponent's opinion directly. "So what is your position on affirmative action?"
Step 2. Understand your opponent's position
Ask the opponent to explain the part that is not clear. No one's worldview is one hundred percent coherent, but it's hard to argue with someone whose line of thinking is a mess. Try to politely lead your opponent to a more or less consistent opinion.
If you're still in doubt about your opponent's opinion, help your opponent in a non-aggressive way: "So if I'm not mistaken, are you saying that the coin should be abolished because the cost of minting a coin is more than the value of the coin itself?"
Step 3. Begin your rebuttal
Once you've repeated what your opponent said, start rebutting. Explain the essence of your opinion and how your opinion contradicts the opinion of the opponent. Express an opinion that is as solid as the opinion of the opponent. Don't just say that your opponent is wrong; prepare a solid opinion that you can really hold on to.
- For example, if your opponent says the government should give hybrid car owners a tax cut, don't just say, "I think you're wrong."
- Instead, refute the opponent's opinion with another opinion: "I think the government should focus on providing mass transportation--the environment will be better if we start to leave the car culture itself.
- Give an example in your opinion to explain why you have this view.
Step 4. Dispute other people's opinions
After you have expressed your opinion, try to refute your opponent's opinion with supporting reasons and evidence.
"Does it make sense that every level of government--district, province, or central government--must regulate sexual morality? The question is not whether the opponent "can" -- the opponent is more than capable of doing so; but is it "true" if the opponent has the right to regulate the body we are alone in the private sphere of our own house. Will the opponent stop if the opponent has put one foot in the door of our house?"
Step 5. Respond to all the objections of your debating opponent
Most likely, your opponent will object to some of what you say. Remember the opponent's rebuttal and rebuttal when the opponent has finished speaking.
- Because you're arguing in an informal setting, you may not have time to take notes. Use a simpler method to remember your opponent's points of view. For example, use your finger to remember how many things you want to say.
- Bend one finger for each thing you want to say, release one finger when you have said it.
- If this is difficult for you to do, ask your opponent to help remind you of what your opponent has said. Opponents will gladly do so.
Step 6. Check for fallacies
When someone makes an argument that doesn't look solid, pick it up and deal with it politely. Some fallacies include slippery slope, circular logic, and personal attacks.
- Suppose your interlocutor says, "If we allow refugees from war to enter our country, we must also allow all victims of man-made disasters to enter here, as well as all victims of natural disasters, and finally victims of any disaster. In the end, our country is the victim!"
- You might respond, "I understand your objection, but there's a flaw in your logic. One thing doesn't automatically lead to something else."--this type of misguided thinking is called slippery slope.
Step 7. Stay relaxed
Don't chase your friends with themes you don't want your opponent to continue. If you both like to argue, make sure you stay friendly and relaxed throughout the debate. Being kind to other people definitely pays off, even when you're arguing with your opponent. Things not to do include:
- Dominate the debate. In an informal debate, which means a free exchange of opinions, you shouldn't go on and on about why you're right and your opponent is wrong.
- Assuming other people have bad intentions. Opponents may say the wrong thing or the argument may heat up unintentionally. It's better to think your opponent is just arguing casually, not to hurt you.
- Raise the sound or make the atmosphere hot. Try not to take the debate so deep that you get heated. A debate should be civilized and enlightening, not for learning to bluff.
Step 8. Don't keep repeating the same opinion
Some debates will continue to go round and round and not stop because neither side is willing to admit defeat. If you are involved in an endless debate, do not continue. Just say: "I respect your opinion. I don't agree with yours now, but I may be able to accept it in the future. Give me some time to consider it."
Step 9. End the debate amicably
No one wants to argue with you if you're a sulky loser or you refuse to treat your opponent with respect. No matter how heated an argument is, try to end it amicably. You may disagree with someone, but that doesn't mean you can't be friends.
Method 2 of 3: Arguing Effectively in Formal Debates
Step 1. Adhere to all regulations and professional standards
Although the rules may differ depending on the situation, many standards are commonly used in most formal debates. Come dressed formally to be a master debater, and display an attitude that suits your outfit. For important debates--for all the debates you want to win--wear a suit or other equivalent formal attire. Dress like a politician or like to attend a funeral. Wear a suit at all times, and also a tie if you do.
- Do not dress tight or revealing.
- Look at the jury as you speak, and speak while standing.
- Read the full citation if you are quoting.
- If you don't know if what you're doing is professional enough, ask the jury for permission. For example, ask permission if you want to go out drinking.
- In team debates, avoid interrupting your partner unless your opponent is seriously ruining your team's chances of winning. Avoid as much as possible.
- Turn off the cell phone.
- Don't swear.
- Limit jokes to those that are appropriate in professional situations. Don't tell jokes that are out of place or offend certain people.
Step 2. Get ready to accept the topic
In the British Parliament Style Debate, for example, one team must maintain an "agree" position, while the other team maintain a "disagree" position. The team that agrees with an opinion is called affirmative, and the team that disagrees is called negative.
- For the Policy Debate, the affirmative team submitted a draft and the negative team argued that the draft should not be implemented.
- The two teams sit near the front of the debate room -- the affirmative team (Government) on the left, the negative team (Opposition) on the right.
- The chairman of the trial or jury will open the debate, and the first speaker reads his speech. The order of speakers is usually affirmative, negative, affirmative, negative, and so on.
Step 3. Define the topic simply if needed
Debating "Is the death penalty fair and effective?" may be self-explanatory, but what if the topic was "Happiness is a nobler human trait than wisdom?" You may need to provide a definition before starting.
- The affirmative team always gets the first and better chance to define the topic. To define it well, try to reflect on how the average person would define this topic. If your definition is too creative, the other team may attack it.
- The negative team gets the opportunity to reject the definition (or challenge the definition) and come up with a definition of its own, but only if the affirmative team definition doesn't make sense or makes negative opposition invalid. The negative speaker must first reject the affirmative definition if he is to challenge it.
Step 4. Write your speech at the appointed time
Watch the clock, and set the alarm to sound one minute before the timeout so you can double-check the arguments before the timeout. The time allotted depends on the type of debate. For the British Parliament Debate, for example, the time is seven minutes. To write efficiently, write down the main points first, then include any evidence, additional rebuttals, and any other examples or anecdotes you want to include.
You have to meet certain protocols such as defining a topic or presenting a main argument, depending on the position you hold
Step 5. Prepare supporting arguments
If you say "I think the death penalty should be abolished," be prepared to prove why this is the best course of action. Prepare supporting arguments, and provide evidence for each. Make sure the supporting arguments and evidence really relate to your position, or your opponent could co-opt it and ask to be ignored.
- Arguments such as "the death penalty is more expensive than imprisonment", "the death penalty does not provide a chance to repent", or "the death penalty makes our country bad in the eyes of the international community".
- Evidence can be in the form of statistics and expert opinion.
Step 6. Choose what you want to include carefully
If you don't know, don't argue with it unless you have no other choice. If you don't know much about a topic, try at least to come up with slightly vague or ambiguous information that makes it difficult for your opponent to argue against it.
- If the opponent doesn't understand it, the opponent can't argue with it. Remember that the jury may not understand what you mean either, so it's better to try rather than say, "I have no opinion on this case. I'm giving my opponent a point."
- Don't use rhetorical questions. Always answer every question you ask clearly. Leaving a question open gives your opponent a chance to refute it.
- Use religion only when allowed. What is written in the Bible, Torah, Quran, etc., is usually not considered a strong source to prove arguments, because not everyone considers these books as sources of truth.
Step 7. Express your opinion passionately
Speak your speech with emotion--a monotonous voice will make people sleepy, and your opponent won't get what you're saying. Speak clearly, slowly, and loudly.
- Make eye contact with whoever decides the winner in this debate. While you may occasionally stare at your opponent, try to keep your eyes on the jury.
- Provide an outline before you express your opinion. That way, viewers know what you're going to say and the jury won't cut you off unless time runs out.
Step 8. Try to strike a balance between conveying your team's position and refuting your opponent
Since teams speak in turns, you can always argue unless you're the first affirmative team. For the UK Parliament Debate, for example, the two teams set the debate strategy as follows:
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First affirmative:
- Defines the topic (optional) and describes the main position of the team.
- Provide an outline, briefly, of what each affirmative speaker will bring.
- Deliver the first half of the argument in favor.
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first negative:
- Accept or reject the topic definition (optional) and describe the main position of the team.
- Provide an outline, briefly, of what each negative speaker will bring.
- Delivering refutation of some of the points made in the first affirmative.
- Delivering the first half of the argument refuses.
- This pattern will be continued until the second and third affirmative and negative arguments.
Step 9. Dispute the main points of your opponent's argument
When rebutting the opposing team's arguments, keep the following in mind:
- Provide evidence of your rebuttal. Don't rely on sound pressure alone. "Show" the chairperson that the opposing team's argument is fundamentally wrong; don't just say.
- Often the most important part of the opponent's argument. Don't pick on your opponent's vague argument because it's less effective. Get straight to the heart of your opponent's arguments and knock them out one by one.
- For example, if your opponent thinks they agree with the military budget increase, but your opponent also says once in a while that citizens are often less than grateful to the military, you can forget about the second statement and calmly say "I don't agree" and focus on the issue of increasing the military budget.
- Don't attack personally. Personal attack (ad hominem) is an attack on people rather than opinions. Attack the idea, not the person.
Step 10. Make the most of the available time (or at least almost all of it)
The more you talk, the more you can convince the jury. This means you have to provide lots of examples, not rambling. The more often the jury listens to why your opinion is right, the more likely he or she will believe you.
Step 11. Know the aspects of the debate to be assessed, if relevant
For most debates, judges will judge based on three criteria: material, attitude and method.
- Material is the amount and relevance of evidence. How much evidence does the speaker produce to support his claims? How strongly does the evidence support the argument?
- Attitude is eye contact and engagement with the viewer. Don't stare at your cheat sheet! Speak clearly. Accentuate your argument with volume, tone, and speed to highlight the important points. Use body language to reinforce arguments: stand straight and use firm gestures. Avoid stuttering, fidgeting, and pacing.
- Method is team cohesion. How well does the team organize opposing arguments and rebuttals? How well do the individual arguments reinforce each other, as well as the rebuttals? How clear and consistent are the team's opinions?
Method 3 of 3: Choosing a Formal Debate Format
Step 1. Have an inter-team debate
Arguing in a team can improve your ability to work as a team. Working with teammates can add to your treasury of knowledge and research that you can use in future debates.
- Debate a policy. This format is a two-on-two debate, your team debating a predetermined topic. Your research skills and persistence will be put to the test; This model debate is popular among high school students in the United States to add entry points to top colleges.
- World School Debate. This debate format has been recognized by the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association), which is a three-on-three team debate style. The topics can be predetermined or on the spur of the moment, and the style is highly interactive, and teams can ask each other questions during debates.
Step 2. Have a one-on-one debate
One-on-one debate can be an option for prospective lawyers and people who prefer to work alone.
- Lincoln-Douglas Style Debate. This debate format is carried out for 45 minutes. Research is allowed before the debate, but research is not allowed during the debate.
- impromptu debate. For an interesting and thrilling experience, try impromptu debates. Your topic and position (pro or con) will be given half an hour before the debate begins, and you will have to do your research and develop arguments within that time limit. The whole debate lasted only 20 minutes.
Step 3. Conduct a political debate simulation
One fun way to try out a political career (or simply interact with other debaters) is to argue in a simulated political decision-making process.
- American Congress Style Debate. Congressional-Style Debate is a popular format that follows conventions in Houses of Representatives in the United States. Debates consist of ten to twenty-five participants, and an officer is chosen to preside over the debate. At the end of the debate, everyone chooses to agree or disagree with a decision.
- British Parliament Style Debate. This format is popular among academics and is used worldwide. This debate consists of four teams consisting of two people, two teams that agree and two teams that reject. One speaker represents each team, which means the debate takes place two against two.
Tips
- Practice often so that you get used to the climate of debate.
- In a thank you note, say it first to the opposing team, then the judges, chief executive, timekeeper, and audience.
- Study the previous debates. That is, do not steal opinions in the debate word-for-word.
- There is no rule that cannot be changed. Do what you think makes the most sense. If you want a hundred opinions, go ahead. If you want to issue just one opinion and use it throughout the debate, that's fine too. There is no "right" or "wrong" word.
- The bell is rung once before the time limit, twice when the time is up, and three times when it is over thirty seconds.
- Never argue with the jury.
- In informal debates, when you are asked to speak, you should be ready in less than five seconds.
- Simplify your argument; presenting an argument in hard words won't help because it will make the jury's impression worse.
- Relax, make sure you catch the key words in the rebuttal.
