Debating: the rebuttal

Discussion board post for NURS609 Trends and Issues, posted on January 29, 2023. Post is in response to thread about elements of a debate.

In reading Bibby's chapter on Rebuttal (Chapter 4, 2014), I found it interesting to note that, in properly operated debates, the debaters do not address each other, but rather address the audience/adjudicator. The main purpose of this is that there should be no expectation of convincing one's opponent, but rather of convincing a decision-making individual or body. Since most of the topics being covered in the upcoming debates of this course are generally policy issues, it is sensible that we, as debaters, would address the general audience hearing our argument, rather than speaking directly to our opponent. The fact is, each opponent has a vested interest in their stance and would never admit that "their case is now lying in smoking ruins at their feet" (Bibby, 2014, p. 37). Nor should they be expected to, given the grey and controversial nature of the topics for these debates.

I am compelled by Bibby's explanation and recommendations for rebuttal because it emphasizes that the objective for debate "is to show that your case is superior to your opponent's, not for the teams to present two unrelated alternatives and hope that adjudicator prefers yours" (2014, p. 39). In fact, Bibby asserts that if the rebuttals are not cohesive and building on each others' arguments, then the teams have "failed to clash with each other" and the debate as a whole is problematic (2014, p. 39). There is, then, an element of teamwork between the opposing parties to actually operate a sound, effective debate. Perhaps this is what is missing in the Presidential Debates that we commonly see held in America, where it seems that neither party has truly won because the rules and spirit of debate was not protected, and rather all parties end up looking ridiculous in some capacity. There is a degree of professionalism requisite to an effective, spirited debate and it is not always about winning, but rather an expansion of thought and provoking the audience to learn about and consider a perspective they would not have otherwise heard.

References

Bibby, N. (2014). Discovering the world through debate: A practical guide to educational debate for debaters, coaches, and judges. Idebate Press. http://0-site.ebrary.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/lib/athabasca/detail.action?docID=11067786