The theory and practice of argumentation and debate

CONTENTS

Section				Page
PART I

The Practice of Argumentation and Debate


CHAPTER I

DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF ARGUMENTATION


I.	Definitions			3

II.	The Object of Argumentation			5

III.	Educational Importance of Argumentation			6

IV.	Practical Importance of Argumentation			7


CHAPTER II

THE PROPOSITION

I.	The Subject-Matter of the Proposition			9

	1.	The subject must be interesting		9

	2.	Subjects for first practice should be those of which the debater has a general knowledge		11

	3.	The subject must be debatable		12

II.	The Wording of the Proposition			13

	1.	The proposition should be so narrowed as to embody only one central idea		14

	2.	The proposition should be stated in the affirmative		15

	3.	The proposition should contain no ambiguous words		16

	4.	The proposition should be worded as simply and as briefly as is consistent with the foregoing requirements		18


CHAPTER III

ANALYZING THE PROPOSITION

I.	The Importance of Analysis			21

II.	Essential Steps in Analysis			22

	1.	A broad view of the subject		22

	2.	The origin and history of the question		23

	3.	Definition of terms		24

	4.	Narrowing the question		27

		(1)	Excluding irrelevant matter	27

		(2)	Admitting matters not vital to the argument	28

	5.	Contrasting the affirmative arguments with those of the negative		29

III.	The Main Issues			36


CHAPTER IV

EVIDENCE

I.	Sources of Evidence			39

	1.	Personal knowledge		39

	2.	Personal interviews		40

	3.	Personal letters		133

	2.	Arrangement of rebuttal material		139

		A.	Classification of cards	140

		B.	Arranging books, papers, and documents	142

		C.	The summary and closing plea	143

II.	Presentation of Rebuttal			146

	1.	Attention to argument of opponent		146

	2.	Selecting arguments to be refuted		147

	3.	Reading quotations		149

	4.	Teamwork		149

	5.	Treatment of opponents		150

	6.	The summary and closing plea		152


CHAPTER VIII

DELIVERING THE ARGUMENT

I.	Methods of delivering the argument			153

	1.	Reading		153

	2.	Memorizing the argument verbatim		154

	3.	Memorizing the argument by ideas		155

II.	Physical preparation for delivery			158

	1.	Position		159

	2.	Voice		160

	3.	Emphasis		162

	4.	Key, rate, and inflection		162

	5.	Gesture		164

	6.	Transitions		165

	7.	Presenting charts		166

III.	Mental preparation for delivery			167

	1.	Directness		167

	2.	Earnestness		169

	3.	Confidence		170


PART II

The Theory of Argumentation and Debate


CHAPTER I

INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT

I.	The Application of Processes of Reasoning to Argumentation			175

II.	Inductive Reasoning			176

III.	The Application of Inductive Reasoning to Inductive Argument			Clyx.com