ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

Introduction to Debating Skills

I. Overview
1. What is a debate?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

For question 2, 3, 4 and 5, look at Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Figure 1: Communication Setting Figure 2: Speakers in Debate Teams

for Academic Deabate

2. What is a resolution ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. How many teams can be involved in a debate ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4. What is the team agreeing with the resolution called ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

5. What is the team disagreeing with the resolution called ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1
 ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

II. Debate Format

Look at Figure 3. Put B, C and D in the correct order.

Figure 3 : The order of speech and the roles of speakers

III. How to use the ARE method to construct a strong argument

Here is an example of an argument stated by a speaker in the Affirmative Team for the resolution
“Technology improves our life”. A strong argument should include Assertion, Reasoning and Evidence.

ARE method

2
 ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

6. What is assertion?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

7. What is reasoning?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

8. Why is evidence/proof important to build an strong argument ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9. What kinds of evidence/proof can you use to support your argument?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Let’s practice

Imagine that you were a speaker in the Affirmative Team / Negative Team, how would you use ARE method
to build your arguments for these resolutions?

Affirmative Team Negative Team

A: ……………………………………………………………… A: ………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
R: ……………………………………………………………… R: ………………………………………………………………
“Technology
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
improves our
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
life”
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
E: ……………………………………………………………… E: ………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

A: ……………………………………………………………… A: ………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
“Examinations
R: ……………………………………………………………… R: ………………………………………………………………
exert a
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
pernicious
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
influence on
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………
education.”
E: ……………………………………………………………… E: ………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………

3
 ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

IV. How to rebut (refute) an argument

10. What is a rebuttal ?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Here are examples of rebuttals for three different arguments of three resolutions.

Arguments Rebuttals
“Should sex
Sex education should be taught in middle You said that teen pregnancy can be
education be
schools so that students can protect avoid by sex education. That’s a good
taught in
themselves from teen pregnancy. point. However, we must remember that
middle school”
students’ comprehensive understanding
of sex education may entice them to go
for it.

“Should
Single-use plastics should be banned by You claimed that plastic bag is the main
Vietnamese
government because the cremation of plastic cause of global warming. I can see what
government
bags results in the emission of CO which you mean. However, I believe that other
ban single-use 2

accelerates global warming. culprits such as deforestation and car

plastics ?”
exhaust fumes are mostly responsible for
global warming rather than plastic bags.

“Only stricter
Tet should be abolished due to the alarming You mentioned that there are many traffic
traffic laws can
rate of alcohol abuse on this occasion that accidents because of alcohol abuse during
prevent
leads to high death tolls in traffic accidents. Tet. It’s true to a certain extent. The point
accidents”.
I’d like to make is that Vietnam has
already witnessed a large number of
victims of traffic accidents every day
despite the presence of police officers.

11. Look at the first sentence of each rebuttal (“You said…sex education”; “You claimed…global
warming”; “You mentioned…during Tet”). What is the speaker’s purpose in using this sentence?
What are signal phrases used to state this purpose ?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4
 ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

12. Look at the second sentence of each rebuttal. What is the speaker’s purpose in using this sentence?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

13. Look at the third sentence of each rebuttal. What is the speaker’s purpose in using this sentence? What
are signal phrases used to state this purpose ?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Let’s practice

Rebut these arguments

Arguments Rebuttals

Only stricter traffic laws such as imposing …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

stiff fines can reduce accidents because …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

vehicle owners who don’t want lose money …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
are forced to drive their motorbikes/cars
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
carefully.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Exams have a positive impact on education …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

because tests can diagnose students’ …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

weaknesses, strengths. Therefore, students …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
know how to improve their learning
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
quality.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Tet shouldn’t be cancelled because it …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

provides migrant workers with an …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

opportuniy to get back to their hometowns …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
for family reunions.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5
 ENG154 Debating Skills – HUTECH | Lecturer: Kim Hong Tran

Preparation for Week 1

Resolution : Technology improves our life.

Write down 4 benefits + 4 drawbacks of technology

(Here are some key words that can help you brainstorm your ideas:
social media; online shopping system; robot; tech gadgets; Artificial Intelligence; industrial
equipment; means of transport; genetic technologies; spatial technologies; high-tech crime;
health problems; e-waste; data security; privacy concerns; social disconnect; job insecurity;
plagiarism and copyright; etc.)