DEBATING SOCIETY

USEFUL HINTS AND PHRASES

The chairman
Gives the floor to each speaker - Calls on the next speaker - Throws the motion open to the House.

Forms of address
Mr / Madam Chairman, (invited guests), Distinguished Members of the Jury, (or : Honorable Adjudicators), Members of the Opposition / Proposition, Members of the House, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The speech
It should last 5 minutes. The speaker can't be interrupted during the first or last minutes of his speech. After 1 minute, a bell is rung, and members of the opposing team can ask questions. The bell is rung once more to indicate the last minute of the speech and the end of the authorized interruption period. The bell is rung more loudly at the end of the 5 minutes, to indicate the speaker ought to bring his speech to an end ASAP.

Interruptions
1) Point of order : concerns the official running of the debate : e.g. rules, politeness, timing etc... It can be made by any member of the house to the Chairman and must be accepted. It is introduced by placing one's hand behind one's back and clearly saying " Point of order "

2) Point of information : a question to the speaker by any member of the opposing team. It is introduced by placing one's hand on one's head and clearly saying " Point of information ". The speaker may or may not accept the point. ex : 'Sir/Madam, is it not a fact that ...?' 'Surely you can't possibly deny that ...'

Conclusion
And this is why / it is on this basis, Honorable Members of the Jury that I beg you to propose / accept / support - oppose / reject the motion.

Jury
The jury decides on the winning team and best speaker. It bases its decision on : content & research - presentation (stance; voice, presence) - teamwork - overall impression.