In this unit you will learn:

• about debating

• the importance of debating

• how debates are conducted

• the essentials of debating

• about roles in debating

• to assess your performance in debates

What is a Debate?

Debate or debating is a method of interactive argument. Though a debate is basically an argument, it is not an indisciplined shouting match between parties (individuals/teams) holding different points of view.

Benefits of Debating

By participating in various debates you can

• enjoy the experience

• develop your communication skills

• arrive at a better perspective on different topics

Debate and Group Discussion

Debate differs from a group discussion in several ways. Debate is basically an argument where participants take a particular stand on a given topic and stick to it as they speak on it. A group discussion, on the other hand, is a cooperative process in which members discuss a topic and reach a consensus. You need to be very flexible in a group discussion. You need to consider others' points of view also. However, in a debate you need to have just one particular view point. In a debate, the number of participants could be from two to fifty or even more, whereas in a GD it is usually between five and fifteen.

Conducting a Debate

A topic is given for debating to individuals or teams. A team might consist of a minimum of two debaters and a maximum of fifty or more.