Why A Debate Handbook?

• Because coaches become tired of hearing, "You didn't tell me that!"
• Because debaters tend to get nervous and forget things.
• Because debaters are too lazy to "read the book."
• Because debaters are too proud to show everybody that they really work hard and this handbook will give them an opportunity to study in secret.
• Because experienced debaters are too proud to ask questions and this, hopefully, will teach them a few new tricks.
• Because novice debaters become tired of looking stupid and this handbook will help them save face.
• Because the coach said so and what he says goes!

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Why Bother To Debate?

• Because debate improves communication skills giving students an edge on everybody else whom they must compete with for a job - just a minor detail.
• Because debate provides a unique educational experience by the way it promotes depth of study, complex analysis, and focused critical thinking giving students an edge on everybody else whom they must compete with for a college education - another minor detail.
• Because debate introduces the social sciences giving students an edge on everybody else whom they must compete with for one minor detail called "real life."
• Because debate teaches an awareness of options, of consequences, and of the steps required for implementing an alternative giving students an edge on everybody else whom they must compete with for something called survival.
• Because competitive debate and speech looks good on a résumé or application giving students an edge on everybody else whom they compete with for an unimportant item called money.
• Because debate teaches confidence in ability and ideas giving students an edge on everybody else whom they compete with for one minor detail called self-esteem.
• Because debaters get to kick other people's behinds, they get to mentally lord over others, and they get to crush a few bones.
• Because the District and State Tournament will cause debaters to miss three or four days of school.
• Because debate is fun!

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How Do I Begin Preparing?

• Where to Begin: Use this handbook as a study guide. Since you will not be able to absorb all of the information overnight, you will need to establish a study routine.
• Read: Begin with the first section and work to the end of the handbook. Read and make a list of questions on items you do not understand or need clarification.
• Seek Clarification: During class or practice time, ask your coach the questions that you have developed, discuss the section, and make additional notes.
• Complete Exercises: Each section contains one or more exercises intended to help you learn concepts through application. Some of these may be difficult and time consuming. Feel free to ask for guidance. If you are in a speech class, these exercises may be the basis for your daily grade.
• Revise Exercises: It is unlikely that you will render a perfect job the first time you attempt the practice exercises. After you submit your exercises, your coach will review them and make suggestions as to strengths, weaknesses, and areas needing improvement. Unlike traditional homework, you are expected to revise your work until weaknesses are eliminated.
• Practicing in Tournaments: The most important thing you can do to improve your debating skills is to apply each concept during an actual debate round. Frequently, you will feel uncomfortable with the new skills and may wish to set new concepts aside just to win the round. However, remember that practice rounds are practice, and you should set a goal to use at least two or three new concepts during each practice tournament.
• District, Regional, and State Tournaments: Ultimately, you should be prepared and competent with all skills and concepts within this handbook by the time the district tournament arrives. Because there are so many variables in any tournament you should be prepared to overcome all obstacles by district. Please remember that debaters who have competed at the state tournament occasionally do not make it out of district the next year.
• Avoid One on One: The most common mistake debaters make is to refute one piece of evidence with another piece of evidence - this is called going one-on-one. This handbook is intended to give you tools or tricks to avoid this mistake. Learn how to develop logical arguments that contradict positions not single evidence cards.
• Debate: Learn what you can in the classroom and do a reasonable amount of studying at home. However, the only way to learn how to debate is to debate. Debate! Debate! Debate!

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Can I Be Competitive?

• Yes! If you were to attend the awards ceremony at the state meet, you would find that many of the finalists in the speaking events are making their first trip to state and several are sophomores.
• Personally, one-fourth of the students I have coached to the state meet have been freshmen. Experience helps, but a debater can be competitive his first year debating.

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What Is Expected Of Me?

• You are expected to be truthful with yourself. If you do not want to debate because you do not know how, then learn how. It takes time and practice to learn to debate. If it was easy then we would not be doing it.
• If you do not want to debate because you are scared, then you will adjust. Public speaking, especially debate, is a frightening experience. Speakers experience a wide range of emotions; everything from being excessively grouchy to vomiting. It's normal and the speech community understands.
• If you do not want to debate because you are afraid you will lose, then get over it. You will definitely lose. One beginning team won only one round their first year; they competed last year in the State Finals and earned the Golden Gavel Award. Another team made it to the State Finals their first year but lost in the semi-finals at District the next year. You will lose many rounds, but overall you will should win most of them.
• If you do not want to debate because you are not any good, then let the coach decide. Beginning debaters cannot possibly know how good they are - they simply do not know enough about debate to make an informed judgment about such things. One of the coach's jobs is to make judgments about how good a debater is - you are just going to have to trust him and his experience.
• If you do not want to debate because you do not like it, then it's time you find another event.
• You are expected to follow the coach's instructions. You cannot learn everything about debate overnight nor can you learn how to debate by sitting around and expecting a sudden enlightening experience. Do 90 percent of what your coach asks of you and you will be all right.
• You are expected to be considerate of other speakers and debaters. Be considerate of the emotions others are feeling.
• You are expected to attend the scheduled debate tournaments. You may not unexpectedly not show up the morning of a tournament.
• You are expected to enjoy yourself -- life is worth living -- debate should be fun.

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What Is Debate?

• What In The World Is Debate? Debate is simply taking a position (an attitude or thesis) and arguing that you are right. This is the most important concept to remember. If you're right, then you're right. All the rules and strategies will help you argue better, but basically the person who argues the best will win.
• What Is The Proposition? The resolution is simply what you are going to argue. For example, RESOLVED: That the benefits of genetic manipulation of nature are more important than the moral implications. The affirmativewill argue that genetic research is important and should be considered a priority in our society. The negativewill argue that moral issues are important and that scientific progress must take a back seat. You will debate both the affirmative and negative sides within a debate tournament.
• What Is A Debate Tournament? A debate tournamentis a debate contest. Generally, you will debate between three and five rounds each tournament (a round is were you argue one side, either affirmative or negative). Each round will last about 40 minutes. So in one tournament you will spend between 2 ˝ to 4 hours actually debating. (And you thought football was hard.)
• What Is Advancing To The Final Rounds? In a normal tournament, every debater will debate either three or four rounds. From these first preliminary rounds, the debaters with the best records (usually 4 debaters) will advanceto the semi-final round were they will debate another round. The winners in the semi-finals will debate still yet another round; the winner in this final roundwill win first place and the looser will win second. If eight debaters advance, then there will be three additional rounds, quarter finals, semi-finals and finals.
• How Is Your Record Determined? Your record during a debate tournament will be determined by 1) how many rounds you win or loose (win/loss record) and 2) the number of speaker pointsearned (speaker points are points you earn by your performance during a round). Generally, you will need to win at least two out of three rounds and earn high speaker points to advance to the semi-final round. In some cases, you may win all of your rounds and still not advance. Speaker points are second in importance only to winning and loosing.
• How Do I Know Which Side I Will Debate? After you arrive at a tournament, you will first need to know your number (e.g. 23A) -- your coach will give you this number. Next, you will need to look for a sheet of paper on the wall that is called the pairing. The pairing will have your number, which side you will debate, whom you will debate, when the round will start, which room you will debate in, and who will be your judge. There will be one pairing per round and generally only one round will be posted at a time. In most tournaments, you will debate the affirmative and negative at least one time during the tournament.
• What Is A Practice Tournament? A practice tournament is a scrimmage where you practice or learn how to debate against teams from over a wide area and from different size schools. All normal debate rules will be followed and you are expected to debate to the best of your ability, but the judges are aware that you are just learning and have not figured everything out yet. If you are a beginner, then generally around half of the debaters in a practice tournament will know less than you and about half will know more than you -- so you most likely will not be the weakest debater there.
• What is District? The district tournament, generally held the last week in March, is the first contest that truly counts. At district you will be debating teams from the same schools who play against you in football. The top three debaters from district will advance to the regional meet in mid-April, and the top three debaters from the regional meet will advance to the state tournament in Austin that is held in May.

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Introduction Review

Section Self Check:

1. List at least five reasons for debating.
2. List at least five things you can do in order to prepare yourself for a debate tournament.
3. List at least five things that are expected of you as a debater.
4. From the What Is Debate? section, list and define at least five debate terms. (Bold letters)

Vocabulary:

resolution	affirmative	negative
tournament	rounds	preliminary
advance	semi-finals	finals
win/loss record	speaker points	pairing
practice tournament	district	state
regionals

Things You Can Do: If you have never seen a debate round before you can:

1. Attend a practice tournament and watch. (You would probably learn more by debating even though you might be confused at first.)
2. Order a tape from the state U.I.L office and watch a debate on the VCR.
3. Watch other team members debate in a practice round.

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