DEBATE (NEW TOPIC)

STUDENTS: *Print this and put it in your folder.

Debate is contention in argument; strife, dissension, quarrelling, controversy; especially a formal discussion of subjects in front of a public assembly or legislature, in Parliament or in any deliberative assembly.

Debate is a method of formally presenting an argument in a disciplined manner. Through logical consistency, factual accuracy and some degree of emotional appeal to the audience are elements in debating, where one side often prevails over the other party by presenting a superior "context" and/or framework of the issue. The outcome of a debate may depend upon consensus or some formal way of reaching a resolution, rather than the objective facts. In a formal debating contest, there are rules for participants to discuss and decide on differences, within a framework defining how they will interact.

Debating is carried out in debating chambers and assemblies of various types to discuss matters and to make resolutions about action to be taken, often by voting. Deliberative bodies such as parliaments, legislative assemblies, and meetings of all sorts engage in debates. In particular, in parliamentary democracies a legislature debates and decides on new laws. Formal debates between candidates for elected office, such as the leaders debates that are sometimes held in democracies. Debating is also carried out for educational and recreational purposes, usually associated with educational establishments and debating societies. The major goal of the study of debate as a method or art is to develop the ability to debate rationally from either position with equal ease.

Informal and forum debate is relatively common, shown by TV shows such as the Australian talk show, Q&A, the quality and depth of a debate improves with the knowledge and skills of its participants as debaters. The outcome of a contest may be decided by audience vote, by judges, or by some combination of the two.

Although debating in various forms has a long history, and can be traced back to the philosophical and political debates of Ancient Greece, such as Athenian democracy, modern forms of debating and the establishment of debating societies occurred during the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century.

Debating teams are often helpful to high school students in teaching the writing process, as well as in teaching rhetoric.

Debating societies emerged in London in the early eighteenth century, and soon became a prominent fixture of national life. The origins of these societies are not certain in many cases however, by the mid-18th century, London fostered an active debating society culture. Debating topics covered a broad spectrum of topics while the debating societies allowed participants from both genders and all social backgrounds, making them an excellent example of the enlarged public sphere of the Age of Enlightenment. Debating societies were a phenomenon associated with the simultaneous rise of the public sphere, a sphere of discussion separate from traditional authorities and accessible to all people that acted as a platform for criticism and the development of new ideas and philosophy.