: Text Messaging: Means of Communication or Means of Lowering the Level of English Literacy Among Lpu Students
An Introduction to British Parliamentary Debating
The Oxford Union Schools’ Competition uses a format known as British Parliamentary (BP) debating. This is the format used by most university competitions for schoolchildren (it is also used by the Bristol, Cambridge and Durham Schools’ Competitions), but it is quite different from other formats, such as that used in the ESU Schools’ Mace. Speakers who have debated in other formats usually have no difficulty switching to BP, but it is important that everyone understands the format and rules of the debate. This information sheet can only give the most salient points about BP debating; if this format is new to you, we strongly recommend that you attend one of our workshops, to which all schools that enter the Oxford Union Schools’ Competition are invited.
The Motion
Every debate has a motion; this is the issue for discussion. A good motion has clear arguments in favour of it and against it. The motions used in the Oxford Union Schools’ Competition will be on topics that a young person who frequently reads a good newspaper and thinks about what they are reading will be well equipped to argue about. Often, the motions are highly topical. Examples of recent motions are posted on the website (www.oxfordschools.org.uk). The motion is expressed “This House…”: this is a convention and “The House” is all the people present at the debate. Each team is allocated whether they will propose or oppose the motion. The teams are allocated whether they will speak first or second on their side of the motion. The teams sit as shown in this diagram. The roles of each position on the table are discussed later on this sheet. You must not contradict the other team on your side, but you are competing against them: you must show the judges that you can debate more persuasively that the teams on the other side and the other team on your own side. You should therefore not discuss with the other team on your side what you are going to say or
The Oxford Union Schools’ Competition uses a format known as British Parliamentary (BP) debating. This is the format used by most university competitions for schoolchildren (it is also used by the Bristol, Cambridge and Durham Schools’ Competitions), but it is quite different from other formats, such as that used in the ESU Schools’ Mace. Speakers who have debated in other formats usually have no difficulty switching to BP, but it is important that everyone understands the format and rules of the debate. This information sheet can only give the most salient points about BP debating; if this format is new to you, we strongly recommend that you attend one of our workshops, to which all schools that enter the Oxford Union Schools’ Competition are invited.
The Motion
Every debate has a motion; this is the issue for discussion. A good motion has clear arguments in favour of it and against it. The motions used in the Oxford Union Schools’ Competition will be on topics that a young person who frequently reads a good newspaper and thinks about what they are reading will be well equipped to argue about. Often, the motions are highly topical. Examples of recent motions are posted on the website (www.oxfordschools.org.uk). The motion is expressed “This House…”: this is a convention and “The House” is all the people present at the debate. Each team is allocated whether they will propose or oppose the motion. The teams are allocated whether they will speak first or second on their side of the motion. The teams sit as shown in this diagram. The roles of each position on the table are discussed later on this sheet. You must not contradict the other team on your side, but you are competing against them: you must show the judges that you can debate more persuasively that the teams on the other side and the other team on your own side. You should therefore not discuss with the other team on your side what you are going to say or