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Here in the Recommended Viewing tab, I have curated a collection of additional videos that will help enhance your understanding of debate techniques and provide examples of what expert debaters do right.
Whether you are a beginner or a veteran debater, these videos offer valuable insights and practical tips to help you further develop your debate skills.
Recommended Viewing: Strategy
Approaching Second Speeches in WSDC
This lecture discusses the challenges and strategies involved in delivering second speeches in debates, particularly in the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) format. It emphasizes the importance of addressing strategic issues, refuting the opposition’s case, providing a clear constructive argument, and putting pressure on the opposing team to contribute to winning the debate by strategically addressing key elements and arguments.
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Key Points Covered
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1. The shift of placing strong speakers in the second position has posed a challenge for second speakers as they must perform at a high level to match the preceding speaker’s impact.
2. Reacting and adapting quickly is essential for second speakers to effectively respond to the opposition’s arguments and maintain the coherence of their team’s case.
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3. Addressing strategic issues and refuting the opposition’s case is key to providing a solid and persuasive argument for one’s team.
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4. Handling existing arguments effectively requires the ability to analyze and counter the opposing team’s points while presenting new evidence or perspectives.
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Strategy in Thirds
This lecture provides tips on speech strategy and execution for debaters, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing what Matthew Anzarouth calls "themes," using effective stylistic techniques, being strategic in responses, and weighing points in each debate round.
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Key Points Covered
1. Prioritizing themes is crucial in speech strategy as it helps in making strategic decisions and weighing arguments effectively. It ensures a clear direction and focus for the speech.
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2. Style and execution are greatly important in a third speaker’s speech. Using language effectively, employing rhetorical devices, providing impactful examples, and demonstrating confident body language can enhance how persuasive your case seems.
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3. Execution techniques like maintaining a steady speaking pace, varying tone and pitch, and using effective transitions contribute to an engaging and smooth delivery, keeping the audience attentive and interested.
Recommended Viewing: Advanced
WSDC 2021 Quarter Finals (Canada vs China)
The debate featured the motion "This House would nationalise the research, development, and distribution of pharmaceuticals," with Team Canada arguing in favor and Team Singapore against. Canada’s team contended that nationalization would ensure equitable access to essential drugs, prioritize public health over profits, and curb monopolistic practices. In contrast, Singapore argued that private sector incentives are crucial for innovation and that nationalization could result in inefficiencies and slower progress in pharmaceutical development. Both teams tackled issues of accessibility, intellectual property rights, and ethical considerations. Ultimately, the Canadian team’s case for the long-term public benefits of nationalization prevailed, securing their victory in the semifinals.
WSDC 2021 Semifinals Singapore vs Canada
In the Macau Online WSDC 2021 Quarter Finals, Team Canada and Team China debated the motion: "This House objects to the giving of international military aid." Canada, supporting the motion, argued that international military aid often exacerbates conflicts, undermines sovereignty, and leads to unintended consequences, such as empowering oppressive regimes or fueling arms races. Conversely, China contended that military aid can be essential for maintaining global stability, supporting allies in need, and combating terrorism and other transnational threats. Ultimately, the adjudicators favored Canada's arguments, giving them the unanimous win and sending them to the Semi Finals.
Recommended Viewing: Sophisticated
WSDC 2018: Singapore V India
In the 2018 World Schools Debating Championship semifinals, Team Singapore (proposition) and Team India (opposition) debated the motion: "This House believes that rehabilitation should be the only consideration in criminal sentencing." Singapore argued that focusing solely on rehabilitation addresses the root causes of criminal behavior, reduces recidivism, and promotes societal reintegration, ultimately leading to a more just and effective criminal justice system. On the other hand, India argued that while rehabilitation is important, other factors such as deterrence, retribution, and public safety are essential to uphold justice, maintain social order, and provide closure to victims. The adjudicators ultimately voted in favor of Team India, leading to their advancement to the finals.
WSDC 2018: India VS China
In this preliminary round debate, Team India and Team China discuss the advantages and disadvantages of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Proposition argues that BRI can have positive global effects like economic growth, trade incentives, and soft power influence. Opposition, on the other hand, prefers the counterfactual of multilateral banks, arguing that BRI has potentially pernicious repercussions on the participating countries and that China has underlying greedy motives for initiating the project. The debate also covers the broader implications for global power dynamics and how the initiative could impact the development of an Eastern vs. Western global hegemony.
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Key Points Covered
1. Harms & Benefits of China's Belt and Road Initiative
2. Alternatives to China's Belt and Road Initiative (e.g., Western aid)
3. Analysis of China's Influence on Dictators
WSDC 2018: India VS Estonia
This preliminary WSDC 2018 debate between India and Estonia covers societal expectations regarding women's roles as mothers and the pushback for individual autonomy and access to accurate information. The teams debate over the extent to which the stereotype that women derive their strength primarily from motherhood is harmful or beneficial, and whether we should question traditional gender norms by stressing the significance of life beyond parenthood. This debate provides useful references of arguments regarding the reevaluation of ingrained societal norms and the empowerment of women to pursue paths that align with their own happiness and aspirations, irrespective of societal pressures.
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Key Points Covered
1. Challenges of Motherhood and Societal Expectations
2. Reevaluating Societal Expectations of Motherhood
3. Critique on Motherhood and Women's Empowerment
4. Gender Roles and Motherhood Discourse
5. Reevaluating Motherhood and Female Strength
WSDC 2018: India VS China
This iconic debate—the 2018 WSDC Grand Finals between Team India and Team China—discusses the moral quandary surrounding the provision of arms to Saudi Arabia, with Team India arguing the ethical concerns of West–Saudi Arabian arms trade due to factors like human rights abuses, lack of accountability, and potentially pernicious effects on regional stability. However, Team China argues that withdrawing support would obstruct the moral principles of the West as an aid-giver while potentially exacerbating casualties and instability in the region.
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Key Points Covered
1. The Debate on Supplying Arms to Saudi Arabia
2. Analysis of Chinese Policy and Strategic Decisions
3. Morality of weapons sales
Recommended Viewing: Expert
WSDC 2018: Bangladesh VS India
This debate—the 2018 Quarter Finals round between Team Bangladesh and Team India—covers how the influx of wealthy corporations into developing nations can create unfair land ownership, impeding developing countries' progress and fueling gentrification. Team Bangladesh's proposed solution suggests restrictions on foreign land ownership and promotes investment via government-regulated zones, aimed at uplifting local communities without displacing them. By exerting control over corporations, Bangladesh argues that governments can safeguard resources, provide job stability, and curb gentrification, putting the welfare of their citizens first in the journey toward development. This debate provides useful argument examples for the increasingly contentious topic of gentrification.
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Key Points Covered
1. The Negative Impact of Foreign Corporations on Developing Countries
2. Impact of Foreign Operations on Gentrification