Elements of Debating

by Leverett Samuel Lyon

In order to be suitable for debating, an assertion or, as it is often called, proposition, of this kind should conform to certain conditions: 1. It should be one in which both the debaters and the audience are interested. Failure to observe this rule has caused many to think debating a dry subject. 2. It should propose something different from existing conditions. Argument should have an end in view. Your school has no lunchroom. Should it have one? Your city is governed by a mayor and a council. Should it be ruled by a commission? Merely to debate, as did the men of the Middle Ages, how many angels could dance on the point of a needle, or, as some more modern debaters have done, whether Grant was a greater general than Washington, is useless. The fact that those on the affirmative side propose something new places on them what is called theburden of proof. This means that they must show why there isneed of a change from the present state of things. When they have done this, they may proceed to argue in favor of theparticular change which they propose. 3. It should make a single statement about a single thing: (Correct) In public high schools secret societies should be prohibited. (Incorrect) In public high schools and colleges secret societies and teaching of the Bible should be prohibited. 4. It must be expressed with such definiteness that both sides can agree on what it means. 5. It must be expressed in such a way as to be fair to both sides.