ARGUMENTATION
- is generally defined as “the art of influencing others, through the medium of reasoned discourse, to believe or act as we wish them to believe or act. It is the process of influencing the belief or behavior of a hearer or reader, through spoken or written speech, by supplying him with reasons and stirring his feelings.
- Is of fundamental importance to human relationships. It is an art that one creates belief. It is the belief of a person that determines his attitude towards men, institution and principles.
The subject of an argumentation is what we referred as PROPOSITION.
Forms of proposition:
1. in a club
2. in a parliamentary body
3. in a municipal council
4. in a court of law
Characteristics of propositions good for debate
1. it must be in a form of an assertion
2. it must express only one of the judgment
3. must be susceptible to only one interpretation
4. must be unprejudiced
5. should avoid abstractions and generalizations
6. must be concise and simple
7. must be debatable
8. must be so worded that the burden of proof must be on affirmative side
9. must be interesting
The
There are two (2) sides in this format: the Affirmative and the Negative. The Affirmative proves the validity of the issue or topic called the PROPOSITION while the Negative disproves it. Each team has two speakers and one scribe. A debate moderator enforces the rules to ensure the debate’s smooth conduct.
Each speaker delivers one constructive speech, one Rebuttal-Summation speech and gets to cross-examine his opponent.
This is the format of choice for topics requiring more than superficial research, this format involves the use of specific information in the form of evidence to support arguments. During interpellation, the debate takes the appearance of a courtroom trial where the advocate is subjected by his opponent to a series of questions with the aim of exposing fallacious arguments and clarifying issues.
Propositions is the topic or issue under the consideration which the debater must establish or overthrow according to his side. Propositions are classified under (1) policy or (2) fact. Proposition of policy deals with the question “Why should this be done?”. Propositions of fact deal with the question “Is this true?”
Phrasing the Proposition:
The Proposition…
- should be debatable;
- be stated in the affirmative;
- concise and simple;
- must state the proposed policy and not defend the status quo;
- should embody only one act of judgment or central idea and
- must not be too wordy and must be impartial
Objectives of Interpellation:
- To clarify points in the opposing team’s position
- To expose factual errors or unscrupulous assertions by the opposition
- To obtain damaging admissions from the opposing team themselves
- To set up arguments for the use in the subsequent speeches by the speaker or his teammates.
