Debate
[5] The term "debate" may also apply to a more continuous, inclusive, and less formalized process through which issues are explored and resolved across a range of agencies and among the general public.
[6] Pope Francis has also referred to the "need for forthright and honest debate" on society and the environment in his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato si'.
[12] A sphere of discussion, separate from traditional authorities and accessible to all people, acted as a platform for criticism and the development of new ideas and philosophy.
[13] John Henley, a clergyman,[14] founded an Oratory in 1726 with the principal aim of "reforming the manner in which public presentations should be performed".
[15]: 63 He extensively utilized the print industry to advertise the events of his Oratory, establishing it as a ubiquitous part of the London public sphere.
[16] The year 1785 was pivotal: The Morning Chronicle announced on March 26:[17] The Rage for public debate now shows itself in all quarters of the metropolis.
Exclusive of the oratorical assemblies at Carlisle House, Freemasons Hall, the Forum, Spring Gardens, the Casino, the Mitre Tavern, and other polite places of debating rendezvous, we hear that new Schools of Eloquence are preparing to be opened in St. Giles, Clare-Market, Hockley in the Hole, Whitechapel, Rag-Fair, Duke's Place, Billingsgate, and the Back of the Borough.In 1780, 35 distinct societies advertised and hosted debates accommodating between 650 and 1200 individuals.
Speakers were allotted specific time frames to present their arguments, and, following the debate, a vote was conducted to reach a conclusion or to adjourn the topic for further deliberation.
[16] Princeton University in the future United States of America was home to several short-lived student debating societies throughout the mid-1700s.
[20] The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies were formed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1795 and are still active.
Parliamentary-style debates are structured with two opposing sides, the Leader of Opposition (LO) and the Government (GOV).
[24] Participatory Democracy is a form of government in which citizens participate individually and directly in political decisions, which may be achieved through public debate.
[25] In some countries (e.g., Canada[26] and the UK[27]), members of parliament may request debates on urgent matters of national importance.
According to Standing Order rules, an emergency debate may take precedence on Friday, or if the Speaker decides, at the next sitting within normal hours.
Unlike debates sponsored at the high school or collegiate level, the participants and format are not independently defined.
In competitive debates, teams compete against each other and are judged the winner by a list of criteria that is usually based around the concepts of "content, style, and strategy".
"Points of Information" (an interrupting question or statement), more commonly known as "POIs", are used in Australian and New Zealand Secondary School level debating.
The context in which the Australasia style of debate is used varies, but in Australia and New Zealand, it is mostly used at the Primary and Secondary school level.
France, the United Kingdom, and Germany are always represented, in addition to one other major European nation (for example, Russia).
This format was commonly developed by the Franco-British Comparative Project[41] and Declan McCavanna, Chairman of the FDA [42] and featured France, the UK, Germany, Russia and Italy.
In these summary speeches, the speaker will answer the questions posed by the floor and opposition, before summarizing their key points.
Oxford-style debates follow a formal structure that begins with audience members casting a pre-debate vote on the motion that is either for, against, or undecided.
Each panelist presents a seven-minute opening statement, after which the moderator takes questions from the audience with inter-panel challenges.
[citation needed] Affirmative teams generally present a proposal to implement a specific modified form of the resolution called a plan.
[54] Largely developed in Tibet, this style includes two individuals, one functioning as the Challenger (questioner) and the other as the Defender (answerer).
The debaters must depend on their memorization of the points of doctrine, definitions, illustrations, and even whole text, together with their measure of understanding gained from instruction and study.
At the end of their statement, the Challenger punctuates by loudly clapping together their hands and simultaneously stomping their left foot.
At the end of the fifth minute, the debate will be opened to the house, in which members of the audience will put questions to the candidate, which they will have to answer.
[citation needed] Though they are often expressed via flaming and other forms of argumentation, which consist primarily of assertions, formalized debating websites do exist.
[citation needed] Managing post content, style, and access combined with frequent use of "reward" systems (such as reputation, titles, and forum permissions) to promote activities seen as productive while discouraging unwelcome actions.
