DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS - DEBATE

We explain what the debate is and what its main characteristics are. In addition, the elements it possesses and its rules of conduct.

What is the debate?

The debate is a way of communicating that consists of confronting different points of view on the same topic. The meeting takes place between two or more parties (two people or groups) in which a specific matter is approached from different conceptions & write essay for me.

In a school and academic environment, the debate is a useful tool to analyze study topics and allow to reach a higher level of awareness. It is not about a fight or a mockery towards the other, but a conversation between people who respect and listen to each other.

It is understandable that people have different opinions and reactions on the same topic, especially if they are related to politics or ethics. Through a debate, it is likely that the parties will not change their minds, but they will be able to better understand those who think differently & content writing services.

Characteristics of the debate

A debate is characterized by being a safe meeting moment for the confrontation of ideas, through respect and without violence (otherwise, it would be a confrontation). There are two general types of debate, depending on the environment in which they take place:

• Formal debates. Those that usually have a structure that establishes the moments for the speaker and the moments for the audience to ask their questions and give their opinion. They may even have a person in charge of moderating the meeting (responsible for maintaining order between the parties). For example, an informal discussion that provides authority to a specialized audience or press.

• Informal discussions. Those that arise spontaneously, without prior agreement or structure, and that allow the opposing points to be exchanged in a harmonious way. They are usually very interesting and genuine because the thoughts and emotions of each participant surface, without premeditation. For example, debates that start over a family dinner or during a school class .

Discussions, both formal and informal, can be structured with different tones of communication :

• An informative tone. The information to be discussed is presented in a complete manner, based on facts and evidence. A speaker can be the one who presents that data and the audience can be the one who will ask questions to clear doubts.

• An argumentative tone. The data that tries to give reasons for a point of view must have a reliable support that guarantees it so that the debate does not result in a meaningless discussion between the opposing positions.

• A persuasive tone. A speaker (or group he represents) may have the intention of convincing an audience. For that, he will use convincing techniques from logic, emotion or sympathy.

Elements of a formal debate

A formal debate has the following elements or steps to follow in order to carry it out:

• Planning of the topic or hypothesis to be debated, clearly and according to the target audience.

• Organization of the teams (from the speaker or representative of the group, audience, moderator, among others).

• Determination of the structures or moments so that each party has the floor. For example, a speaker can answer questions from the audience only after finishing his speech .

• Initiation of the debate itself, which may or may not be in charge of the mediator or moderator.

• Execution of the debate, with the respective moments, so that each party can speak.

• Conclusion of the debate, which may consist of a few words from the moderator, to close the meeting.

Rules of conduct

For a debate to develop properly and in harmony, each party must respect certain general rules of conduct:

• Be tolerant of the differences of others.

• Listen without interrupting.

• Do not underestimate or make fun of someone who thinks differently.

• Avoid raising your voice to interrupt the speaker.

• Avoid dispersing or talking about issues unrelated to the debate.

• Criticize with foundations or with better proposals than those criticized.