It doesn't matter whether you're arguing on stage or having a tongue-in-cheek with your parents at home: there are some basic rules to follow in order to argue like a master debater. By using effective means of communication, positioning your opinion well and paying close attention to what the other person is saying, you can make any opinion sound like the right one.
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Method 1 of 3: Communicating Effectively
Step 1. If you are involved in a formal debate, follow the rules
If you are debating in a formal setting such as in front of a class or for a gathering, make sure you know how proper debate works. Formal debates have to follow the rules of the game, and it's important to understand them inside and out in order to be fully prepared. This is also important because you will lose points when you break the rules.
- Generally there will be a statement, and two or more groups or single debaters will be assigned to approve or refute the statement. The debaters must then take turns giving statements within the allotted time.
- There are different types of debating styles (which will determine the rules and how the debate proceeds). It is important to determine which style you will use so that you know the rules of the game that will apply. Prepare for this in advance and try to do some research on the internet. Try searching for words like “competitive debate”, “parliamentary style debate” or “Oxford debate”. These are some of the debate styles you're likely to come across.
Step 2. Stay calm
Stay calm when arguing. Don't scream or get angry. This will show your weakness in front of your opponent. Instead, keep your voice and facial expressions neutral. In some parts of the world this is known as a “poker face” and will make it difficult for your opponents to find the button to knock you down.
If you're having trouble keeping your emotions calm, try focusing on your breath for a minute or two
Step 3. Speak clearly
When arguing, speak clearly so that you can understand what the other party is saying. It also makes you appear more intelligent and convincing. Speak loudly to make sure people can hear you and emphasize each word. Do not mumble or gargle but consciously pronounce each word and syllable carefully.
It's easy to create slurred pronunciation when it comes to uttering twists of the tongue. For example, try pronouncing this one “Women's parties meet near the Prembun intersection”
Step 4. Explain your way of thinking
When you explain to someone how you arrived at a conclusion, consciously and step by step, you force their brain to think the way you think. As long as your thoughts are on the surface, this is one of the most effective ways to get people to agree with you.
Step 5. Be polite and fair
Be polite when fighting words. Don't insult, interrupt or judge your opponent. Doing this can be seen as a sign of weakness in your argument, and can make people more defensive. That way, they won't want to listen to or agree with your opinion either. Be fair when expressing your opinion. Don't twist the facts. Use fresh and directly relevant evidence, not old and irreversible evidence.
- A bad example of such arguing is: “Why should I listen to you? You broke the system last year while you were holding the project. Chances are you'll just thwart this one too."
- A good example is: “I understand very well this project excites you but the current situation is very sensitive. It's better if we use people who are more experienced so that things can be resolved more efficiently.”
Step 6. Be confident
Even if you're not exactly confident, being confident can make you and your argument more interesting and believable. When you are not confident, you seem to be communicating that the argument used is not a good one. On the other hand, you can do small and easy things to appear confident. For example making eye contact with the interlocutor or the audience, if any. Don't appear nervous, instead use your hands to speak or place them in the front. Speak clearly and with purpose, avoiding filler words like “ummmm” or “aah”. A few other adjustments can make you seem more confident in yourself.
Method 2 of 3: Choosing Your Argument
Step 1. Choose an argument that departs from logic
Arguments based on logic, or sometimes called “logos” in debating, use examples and ideas rooted in simple and directly related reasons. This type of argument is especially helpful when arguing with someone who thinks they are smart and logical. They are also better for “serious” topics like politics or economics.
- Try to use facts, statistics, and real-life examples to make logical arguments.
- An example of an argument would look like: “Evidence shows that teenage pregnancy rates are decreasing as comprehensive sex education is made compulsory in schools. You can see it in the following graph….”
Step 2. Use an argument based on emotion
These arguments are known as “pathos” in debate science, and are used to appeal to the hearts and emotions of viewers. This kind of argument is especially helpful when arguing with people who are prone to strong emotions (showing an overflow of joy and sadness). They are also effective for “humanitarian” topics such as arguments about social justice discrimination or events that take a heavy toll on them (eg the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
- Try to use people's fears and expectations. Try to use personal stories while creating a personal connection with your opponent or listener, and compare the situation to something close to them.
- An example of his argument would be: “Retreating right now is far more dangerous than if we stayed and tried to fix the problem. Many lives could be lost if we retreated, but by moving on, many lives could be saved.""
Step 3. Use expert opinion
Expert opinion, sometimes referred to as “ethos” in debating science, is an argument in which you or someone else uses your authority or credibility to support your ideas. These kinds of arguments are helpful for arguing with people who are inexperienced in a particular field or have weak arguments. This kind of argument is also good for “academic” topics such as medicine, natural science or history.
- Try to build credibility and explain your experience using this kind of argument. Make sure in advance that your opponent is not much more experienced than you.
- An example of this kind of argument is: “I've been teaching for 30 years and I've seen this kind of thing happen with my own two eyes. I know what will work or fail on the pitch. Expectations and reality are two very different things.”
Method 3 of 3: Winning the Debate
Step 1. Do your research
The more prepared you are to argue, the better. If you want to guarantee big wins, do some research. If you really understand the topic in depth from all sides, you will be better equipped to refute the arguments that your opponent may come up with. In particular, it is important to know what opinions might be used to support or refute a particular issue. If you know what statements your opponent will use and emphasize, you can better explain why their opinion is incorrect.
Avoid using websites like Wikipedia as your primary source of information. This is a good place to start, but you should fill in your facts from reliable sources on whatever topic you're trying to cover. For example, if you are going to argue about economics, don't cite facts from Wikipedia. Try quoting Alberto Alesina, a professor of economics at Harvard and one of the editors of a leading academic journal on the topic
Step 2. Look for logical errors
Logical errors are mistakes made when doing reasoning. Although the conclusion may be true, but the path taken to reach the conclusion is not right. This can be used to make their conclusions seem dubious, and your arguments better. There are different types of logic errors and it's a good idea to study them one by one in order to be able to recognize and challenge them.
- One of the most common logical fallacies is called “ad hominem”, i.e. if the opinion attacks the person making the argument rather than the argument itself. This is often done in politics. An example would be to say “this person is an asshole” vs. “There is no evidence that this plan will work.”
- Another example of logical error is called “black or white”. This is if the argument is considered to have only two options, with the aim that they want to appear as the best solution. This heeds a middle ground and another, which may make more sense. Think about this when your mother says, “You can get married and have children or grow old and die alone.” There are other possibilities besides those two, right?
Step 3. Look for weaknesses in their argument
There are many things that make one's opinion weak. If you do find the weakness, try to show it and your argument seems stronger in comparison. Try:
- Look for gaps that have not been thought through carefully so that you get a logical conclusion. For example, some time ago the Supreme Court in the United States ruled that companies may have a religion and that their employees must follow the rules of that religion. This might be more acceptable if the company's religion was traditional Christian rather than Pastafarian, right?
- Another sign of weakness in an argument is that they miss an important part and have little supporting evidence. This is generally an indication that they have no evidence and that they are drawing the conclusions they want to conclude. For example, if one argues that the use of firearms can avoid mass shootings and only uses one example to support that argument, forgetting that in many other cases the opposite is true. Focus on these statements and talk about other pieces of evidence they are missing.
Step 4. Keep the topic on track
Do this if your opponent starts arguing about a different topic than you should be debating. If the debate has gotten off track, this is a sign that your opponent has run out of reasons and is starting to weaken. If you stick to the prepared path, you will most likely win. Ask yourself if the argument has a direct bearing on the topic you need to discuss. If they do not support each other, then the arguments are off track.
- An example of this is if you state whether guns can prevent mass killings and your opponent reverses the argument by saying anyone who doesn't like guns is a racist.
- Be firm when reversing arguments. Tell them that they are trying to change the topic of discussion. This can be done so that viewers can see for themselves their attitude and can make you appear more confident and correct.
Tips
- Don't ask "what happens if" questions. This is an ancient debating technique called "bait". Most debaters will not eat this bait.
- Make sure that everyone can relate to and understand your argument. Using tough words to make your argument look sophisticated won't make you appear smarter. This will only reduce the number of people who understand. Don't be afraid to use metaphors or everyday events to prove your point. This is fine as long as you can explain what this has to do with your debate.
- Arguing is not an act of convincing your opponent that they are wrong. This is the act of convincing the audience that your position is much more logical than your opponent's and presenting information they may not have seen before.
- If you are a member of a debate group, be careful not to make statements against other members of the group, or instead put the responsibility on them.
- Learn from your victories and losses.
- There are several websites online that can help you refine your argument such as Opendebate, ConviceMe and Volconvo.
- Take the main idea you want to prove and support it with as many arguments as possible. Paint the “big picture” for your audience. The more time you spend proving some of your thoughts, the less content there will be in each point. This will also leave room for your opponent to find loopholes, and can make your arguments seem contradictory to each other. Take one big idea, and stick to it throughout the debate.
- Treat your opponents and spectators with respect, ALWAYS. They are the reason you argue!
- Don't use word-for-word arguments. You can seem cranky and confuse the audience as to what the overall point is.
- Don't repeat your opinion too often. If your audience doesn't understand your opinion, it's because you weren't able to explain it well, not because they didn't hear it. If you want to repeat your opinion, make sure you can convince the public why it's important to state it a second time.
- If your arguing style doesn't work, try a new style. As Einstein said, insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results.
- Don't use morality as an argument. Your morals or the morals of your opponent may not necessarily match the morality of the audience as a whole.
Warning
- Avoid using obscene or other offensive words. This will not prove your point. These words will only annoy and offend the audience.
- Don't just provoke debate, AT ALL. Your argument is only valid if the opponent is also willing to argue and the audience is willing to listen. This means that you don't have to go into open debate and start arguing casually with strangers. Chances are they don't know you and think you're just arguing as a hobby and see it as a personal attack. If you want to debate, join a debate group.
- Make sure all the facts you convey are true.
