Debating in English
How to set up a debate and sound smart defending your opinion
START
Index
Click on each icon to jump to the corresponding section.
Presenting evidence
Objectives
Debate structure
Bibliography
Useful vocabulary
Objectives
The objective of a debate is to present arguments for or against a clause. Debators defend their position using logical consistency, factual acuracy and emotional appeal. Debating aims at accomplishing two things: finding the truth and convincing an audience of said truth. A debate is "won" when one side prevails over the other by presenting a superior context or framework on the issue at hand.
Debate structure
Debates are formal discussions that usually have a fixed structure. Here is the most basic one.
The topic is introduced
Opening round: The affirmative group presents its case to the audience. The negative group then presents its case
After both sides have had a chance to speak, they have some time to prepare a rebuttal
Rebuttal round(s): The order of speech is now reversed and the negative team will present first its counter-arguments to the affirmative's group opening remarks. It will then be the turn of the affirmative group to present its rebuttals
After the rebuttal round(s), each side has some time to prepare their summary or closing statements. The order of the speeches will depend on who spoke last during the rebuttal round(s). The debate will be then concluded
Presenting evidence
In a debate, we need evidence to support our arguments. If we are not able to present evidence, our argument can become just an opinion.
4 main types of evidence:
Real life examples Common sense Expert's opinion Statistics
Presenting evidence
Real life examples
These are examples we can use from our personal experience.
Argument: Vaping is becoming a very serious problem among teenagers.
Piece of evidence: In my school I saw at least 10 students vaping.
Phrases you can use: For example / for instance / let me give an example
Complete idea: Vaping is becoming a very serious problem among teenagers. For instance, in my school I saw at least 10 students vaping.
Presenting evidence
Common sense
This is information that is obvious and evident and everyone knows it to some extent.
Argument: After years of studies, it is known that smoking is very negative for our health.
Piece of evidence: Many people die every year from smoking.
Phrases you can use: Everyone knows / if... then / it's common knowledge that
Complete idea: After years of studies, it is known that smoking is very negative for our health. It is common knowledge that many people die every year from smoking.
Presenting evidence
Expert's opinion
This is information that comes from an expert or renowned entity. It is usually written in quotes if cited directly.
Argument: Smoking is one of the main reasons for lung cancer, including non-smokers.
Piece of evidence: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year.
Phrases you can use: According to... / to quote... / the book/study/article --- states...
Complete idea: Smoking is one of the main reasons for lung cancer, including non-smokers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year".
Presenting evidence
Statistics
This is information that comes from figures and may be approximated
Argument: Second hand smoking is even more dangerous.
Piece of evidence: Second hand smoke causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalisations each year.
Phrases you can use: Statistics show... / The numbers prove that...
Complete idea: Second hand smoking is even more dangerous. Statistics show that it causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalisations each year.
Useful vocabulary
Here you will find some expressions that may be useful to clearly present and defend your argument during a debate. Remember that, apart from the language you use, it is important to sound polite during a discussion (we don't want to sound like Trump). The vocabulary is divided into:
Stating the issue Presenting the most important point Conceding/rejecting an argument Sequencing a list of arguments Adding an argument to strengthen your point Concluding
Useful vocabulary
Stating the issue
The motion for debate today is ...People / Dr. Johnson... believe(s) / feel(s) / insist(s) / think(s)...that...Let's first define some important concepts... First of all, I would like to say/state that...To begin with, I...In the first line, I...
Useful vocabulary
Presenting the most important point
This argument/idea is of paramount importance.The most important argument for ... is ...The main idea/thing is ...The most important idea is...Most importantly, I want to mention that...The primary argument for... is...Two/three... important arguments support my point of view... I would say/think...In my opinion...To my mind...I am of the opinion that...I hold the opinion that...
Useful vocabulary
Conceding/rejecting and argument
It's true/obvious/evident that ... However, ...While you might say that ..., it's important to remember that ...I agree with you that ... On the other hand, ...Although/even though it is true that... I believe that...I agree/admit/concede that... , but we must remember that...I can understand that... Nevertheless, ... I entirely/quite agree with you.I agree to (with) her plan. I am of the same opinion. I differ from/with you entirely.I disagree with you: I am sure you're mistaken.I stick to my opinion.Let's agree to differ!
Useful vocabulary
Sequencing a list of arguments
First of all, I'd like to state ...Firstly, ... Secondly, ...Thirdly, ...The second argument in favor of ...To begin with, ...I'd start by...For a start, ...The next argument I'd like to state is...
Useful vocabulary
Adding an argument to strengthen your point
In addition to that,...You also have to consider...Furthermore,...Moreover,...What is more,...I might also add that...Perhaps / maybe I should also mention...Not to mention the fact that...Not only that but also...Finally... I would like to lay (put) emphasis (stress) on the fact that...I just want to point out that...
Useful vocabulary
Concluding
Let me recap/recapitulate my point ...As a final word, let me summarize my point of view ...To reiterate my point of view, ...My final thought is ...It all boils down to ...In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is ...To sum up, ...Finally, ...
Bibliography
04
01
Definition of debate
More vocabulary
05
02
Presenting evidence
Structure of a debate
Real · Listening and Speaking 4 Cambridge University Press
06
03
Vocabulary
Debating in English
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Transcript
Debating in English
How to set up a debate and sound smart defending your opinion
START
Index
Click on each icon to jump to the corresponding section.
Presenting evidence
Objectives
Debate structure
Bibliography
Useful vocabulary
Objectives
The objective of a debate is to present arguments for or against a clause. Debators defend their position using logical consistency, factual acuracy and emotional appeal. Debating aims at accomplishing two things: finding the truth and convincing an audience of said truth. A debate is "won" when one side prevails over the other by presenting a superior context or framework on the issue at hand.
Debate structure
Debates are formal discussions that usually have a fixed structure. Here is the most basic one.
The topic is introduced
Opening round: The affirmative group presents its case to the audience. The negative group then presents its case
After both sides have had a chance to speak, they have some time to prepare a rebuttal
Rebuttal round(s): The order of speech is now reversed and the negative team will present first its counter-arguments to the affirmative's group opening remarks. It will then be the turn of the affirmative group to present its rebuttals
After the rebuttal round(s), each side has some time to prepare their summary or closing statements. The order of the speeches will depend on who spoke last during the rebuttal round(s). The debate will be then concluded
Presenting evidence
In a debate, we need evidence to support our arguments. If we are not able to present evidence, our argument can become just an opinion.
4 main types of evidence:
Real life examples Common sense Expert's opinion Statistics
Presenting evidence
Real life examples
These are examples we can use from our personal experience.
Argument: Vaping is becoming a very serious problem among teenagers.
Piece of evidence: In my school I saw at least 10 students vaping.
Phrases you can use: For example / for instance / let me give an example
Complete idea: Vaping is becoming a very serious problem among teenagers. For instance, in my school I saw at least 10 students vaping.
Presenting evidence
Common sense
This is information that is obvious and evident and everyone knows it to some extent.
Argument: After years of studies, it is known that smoking is very negative for our health.
Piece of evidence: Many people die every year from smoking.
Phrases you can use: Everyone knows / if... then / it's common knowledge that
Complete idea: After years of studies, it is known that smoking is very negative for our health. It is common knowledge that many people die every year from smoking.
Presenting evidence
Expert's opinion
This is information that comes from an expert or renowned entity. It is usually written in quotes if cited directly.
Argument: Smoking is one of the main reasons for lung cancer, including non-smokers.
Piece of evidence: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year.
Phrases you can use: According to... / to quote... / the book/study/article --- states...
Complete idea: Smoking is one of the main reasons for lung cancer, including non-smokers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year".
Presenting evidence
Statistics
This is information that comes from figures and may be approximated
Argument: Second hand smoking is even more dangerous.
Piece of evidence: Second hand smoke causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalisations each year.
Phrases you can use: Statistics show... / The numbers prove that...
Complete idea: Second hand smoking is even more dangerous. Statistics show that it causes about 250,000 respiratory infections in infants and children every year, resulting in about 15,000 hospitalisations each year.
Useful vocabulary
Here you will find some expressions that may be useful to clearly present and defend your argument during a debate. Remember that, apart from the language you use, it is important to sound polite during a discussion (we don't want to sound like Trump). The vocabulary is divided into:
Stating the issue Presenting the most important point Conceding/rejecting an argument Sequencing a list of arguments Adding an argument to strengthen your point Concluding
Useful vocabulary
Stating the issue
The motion for debate today is ...People / Dr. Johnson... believe(s) / feel(s) / insist(s) / think(s)...that...Let's first define some important concepts... First of all, I would like to say/state that...To begin with, I...In the first line, I...
Useful vocabulary
Presenting the most important point
This argument/idea is of paramount importance.The most important argument for ... is ...The main idea/thing is ...The most important idea is...Most importantly, I want to mention that...The primary argument for... is...Two/three... important arguments support my point of view... I would say/think...In my opinion...To my mind...I am of the opinion that...I hold the opinion that...
Useful vocabulary
Conceding/rejecting and argument
It's true/obvious/evident that ... However, ...While you might say that ..., it's important to remember that ...I agree with you that ... On the other hand, ...Although/even though it is true that... I believe that...I agree/admit/concede that... , but we must remember that...I can understand that... Nevertheless, ... I entirely/quite agree with you.I agree to (with) her plan. I am of the same opinion. I differ from/with you entirely.I disagree with you: I am sure you're mistaken.I stick to my opinion.Let's agree to differ!
Useful vocabulary
Sequencing a list of arguments
First of all, I'd like to state ...Firstly, ... Secondly, ...Thirdly, ...The second argument in favor of ...To begin with, ...I'd start by...For a start, ...The next argument I'd like to state is...
Useful vocabulary
Adding an argument to strengthen your point
In addition to that,...You also have to consider...Furthermore,...Moreover,...What is more,...I might also add that...Perhaps / maybe I should also mention...Not to mention the fact that...Not only that but also...Finally... I would like to lay (put) emphasis (stress) on the fact that...I just want to point out that...
Useful vocabulary
Concluding
Let me recap/recapitulate my point ...As a final word, let me summarize my point of view ...To reiterate my point of view, ...My final thought is ...It all boils down to ...In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is ...To sum up, ...Finally, ...
Bibliography
04
01
Definition of debate
More vocabulary
05
02
Presenting evidence
Structure of a debate
Real · Listening and Speaking 4 Cambridge University Press
06
03
Vocabulary