The Debater's Guide

by Jon M. Ericson, James J. Murphy, Raymond Zeuschner

This completely revised edition of an established classic offers practical and concise assistance in solving the problems of argumentation and communication for both beginning and advanced debate speakers.

 

The manual, written clearly and directly, covers both policy and value issues in addition to providing clear explanations, specific examples, and graphic presentations. The organization and design of the book allow quick reference to any particular aspect of debate, making it an excellent classroom text as well as a valuable tool during actual debates. A glossary of key debating terms and a selected bibliography of sources to consult when researching debate topics provide additional benefits for students.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1987

Reviews

[Martaa]

*required read*
can be useful if you are looking for definitions of terms related to debate

[Duane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting.

[Caleb Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super basic and concrete rundown of what it takes to debate.

[Max Ostrovsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fantastic read. The LD book was much better.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very boring. Very helpful.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was quite disappointed but maybe this was because I had totally different expectations. This book is really a classroom book, telling you exactly the different rules and customs of different school debating competitions. So most of it was too technical for me and thus... boring.
I had hoped for an indepth introduction into debating methods, but really, anyone who has just read a few well-written newspaper articles on social or political issues is already aware of the techniques that this booklet is describing.

So it might be absolutely fine if you really want to use this for classroom purposes. If not, then you might want to read something else.