Debating Methods
Podcast | Intermediate Resource
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Explanation
For new debaters, context is one of those words that can cause blank looks. Really, though, context is simply a way of relating your topic to the real world. It frames the issue in the debate in relation to real events, places and people and explains why those things are important. So, it’s a useful tool for setting up why the topic matters overall, but also specifically from the perspective of your side of the case.
Here are the main points we’ll be looking at:
— How context sets the scene for the debate or, in other words, provides a conceptual framework for your thinking.
— How there have been a number of different ways to establish the context for any topic.
— How context is important for the overall case and also in setting up your arguments, too.
Common Mistakes— Many teams say good morning and then restate the debate topic—while that may be polite, it’s far better to just get on with using that time to set up a strong context for the debate.
— And remember, it’s important to try to avoid exaggerating the problem in the debate as your context simply because that will become hard to prove.
Conclusion— Using a context to set the scene for the debate helps you establish how real the issue is for your case.
— A context that is reasonable is much better than one that exaggerates the debate issue.
—Context is useful for setting up your arguments as well as your case.