Debate and Argumentation: Debate as an Art and Science

James Milton O’Neil defines argumentation as “the art of influencing others through the medium of reasoned discourse, to believe or act as we wish them to believe or act” while Francis Donnelly explains that argumentation “presents to an audience by the spoken word adequate motives for a free action” (as cited Aquino & Deveza, 1995, p. 94). Hence, debate and argumentation involve an appeal to both the emotions or will (persuasion) and the intellect or reason (conviction).

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Debate Proposition, Issues, Proof, Evidence, and Argument

Debate proposition refers to the precisely formulated statement that embodies the contention which a debater asserts or denies. It is pretty much like a clearly stated proposal or resolution put forward for consideration or discussion. There are two (2) basic types of proposition: the proposition of policy and the proposition of fact.

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Debate Basics: Fundamental Elements of Debate

Debate, basically, is a contest in argumentation. To join in a debate is to formally talk or argue about something, usually at length and in detail, especially as part of a formal exchange of opinions, reasons, and proofs. Debate is essentially tied with correct reasoning as debating is proving that your reasoning and arguments are better than your opponents’.

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The Informal Fallacies: Necessary in Training in Debate and Correct Reasoning

Errors in reasoning, these logical fallacies occur frequently enough, either alone or in combination, to deserve special attention. Fallacy is false reasoning, a bad method of argument, whether deductive or inductive.

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The Toulmin’s Model of Argument

Studying Toulmin model of argument can help us in many ways, especially in debates. For one thing, it enables us to identify the unstated assumptions in one’s arguments. Being able to discern the unspoken warrant could help us evaluate arguments and refute them if needed. Furthermore, Toulmin’s model can help us to analyze and improve our own arguments, and anticipate opposing arguments, especially if we are preparing for a debate, discussion, or forum.

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The Rules of Inference: Forms of Valid Argument

The ten (10) basic rules of inference discussed here are also the common argument forms we use everyday. Even the seemingly complicated inferences like the constructive dilemma and destructive dilemma are functional as we use them, knowingly or otherwise, especially as we engage in discussions, establishing our points, and debates.

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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning (Induction vs. Deduction)

Deduction and induction are both used in everyday conversations and even in scientific reasoning. Bringing together these two forms of reasoning are effective in establishing general laws, drawing conclusions about a population, predicting the occurrence of a future event based observations of similar past events, and drawing conclusions about causes of an illness based on observations of symptoms. Thus, utilizing both of them in a debate is advisable and even ingenious.

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Reasoning, Inference, and Argument: Topics at the Heart of Correct Reasoning and Debate

Debate and Correct Thinking primarily deal with only one type of thinking called reasoning. Reasoning is a mental process whereby we sensibly generate justifications, find results, or draw conclusions. As may be inferred from the word itself, reasoning is basically producing reasons as evidence for a certain proposition we wish to establish.

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Term, Proposition, and Argument: Foundation of Correct Reasoning and Debate

One way to classify propositions is to brand them as either ‘categorical’, ‘hypothetical’, or ‘modal.’ They are the types of statements commonly used in making and delivering debate speeches. Pay attention to their differences for the type of statement that you have to use in expressing something largely depends on the nature of judgment you wish to convey.

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Logic as a Branch of Philosophy: Featuring Critical Thinking and Debate

What is logic as a branch of Philosophy? And do you know that Logic, Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and debate are interrelated. Find out here

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