Debating

Debate or debating is a formal method of interactive and representational argument. In a formal debating contest, there are rules for people to discuss and decide on differences, within a framework defining how they will interact. The outcome of a debate may be decided by audience vote, by judges, or by some combination of the two.  Formal debates between candidates for elected office, such as the leaders debates and the U.S. presidential election debates, are common in democracies.
The major goal of the study of debate is to develop one's ability to play from either position with equal ease. Debates are sometime organized for purely competitive purposes, particularly at the US high-school level, but also in other English-speaking countries. In schools and colleges, often, it takes the form of a contest with explicit rules. It may be presided over by one or more judges. Each side seeks to win, by following the rules, and even by using some rules to break other rules, within limits. Each side is either in favor of ("for, 'Affirmative' "), or opposed to ("against, 'Negative' ") a statement (proposition, moot or Resolution). 
In this video you can hear different types of talk: opening remarks, the statement of the rules of debate, and the beginning of the initial Affirmative presentation.


Want to hear more? The second of six parts of this championship is here.