Wednesday 30 December 2009

Debate Communication Template

--- EXPRESSING IDEAS---
In today's world [Truism] we are bombarded we information everyday [Examples] email, files, docs, texts, adverts, newspapers....[Action] we need to stem the flow to make info more consumable [Solution] a potential solution would be ______ .
[Credibility] This has been applied before to ______ [Success Metrics] with 100% success. [TEACS]

The way I see it is...Firstly, ____. Secondly, ____. Thirdly
In my opinion _________.
How I see it is ________.
Do you see what I mean?
Does this make sense to you?
Am I being clear?

--- DISCREDIT THEIR JUDGEMENT ---
[What they said. Why it is wrong using visceral descriptors.]
"John, you said the fundamentals of the economy were strong. We are currently in the worst recession in history..So, John, I question your judgement."

"John, you supported the war on Iraq. Each week 32 young men are maimed, blinded, ripped to shreds, have their heads blown off. So, John, I question your judgement."

"John, you voted against the tax relief bill. You would like to see young women pay more on tax than they do on food for their new born babies. So, John, I question your judgement on such issues."
"My opponent believes in pro-life. That ripping young infants to shreds as a form of contraception is OK. So, I question my opponents judgement on such issues."

--- DISCREDIT THEIR AUTHORITY ---
Are you a Qualified doctor, Scientist, expert, politician? Then you are not exactly a credible source are you?
Have you had any experience working with medicine, government policies, ? Well then, all your arguments are only second hand assumptions not first hand experience. Is that correct?
You say that it is ___ but how can that be true when you were not even present when ___.

--- DISCREDIT THEIR MAJOR PREMISE ---
You made the Premise that All unemployed people are lazy.

Well, Mother Theresa was unemployed and she did more work than most employed people.

I think you will need to reassess your premise.

--- EXPRESS DISAGREEMENT ---
I can't say I share your view on this and I'll tell you why. Firstly, ____. Secondly, ____. Thirdly, ____.
I feel I must disagree. And I'll tell you why. Firstly, ____. Secondly, ____. Thirdly, ____.
Well, I take your point, yet I can't help feeling that _______.
I respect your opinion. I think it makes sense. But on the other hand ____________.

--- SUPPORT BY AUTHORITY ---
Having had first hand experience ______ I can confidently say that _______.
Having studied _____ I can say that ___________.
As a qualified ______ I can say that ___________.

--- SUPPORT BY PERSONALISATION ---
Let me ask you this, How would you feel if ______? How would YOU feel? Well this is what happens ______.

Let me ask you this, How Would you feel if you could not feed if your children were left starving and crying in your arms because you were not allowed to leave your home to purchase supplies? Well this is what happens in Palestine during curfew.

--- SUPPORT BY ADJACENT AGREEMENT ---
You do agree that ______ don't you? Then why is it OK then that? You don't agree, which illustrates the type of person you are. End of conversation.

You do agree that the killing of young, innocent children is wrong. DON'T YOU?

Then why is it ok to murder innocent Palestinian children?


--- SUPPORT BY EXTREME OF THEIR ARGUMENT ---
Your proposal will damage thousands of trees in forests accross the globe. Is that what you want?

So what you are saying is that you don't believe collaboration is a good thing??

--- FLAG KEY POINTS ---
{Slow, for, dramatic, effect, and, absorption}t
The reason I believe this is important is for the following reasons. Firstly,.. Secondly,.. Finally..
Let me share for you why I believe this is important ______.
Let me share for you my ideas around this ____.
The most important thing to remember here is ________.
Let me clarify for you __________.

--- RESPONDING TO POINTS ---
OK. I see your point. Let me respond to that by saying __________.
I am by no means an expert but I can tell you how I have been thinking about it _____.
Let me share with you how I have been thinking about it _____.
I appreciate that and agree with you. However, have you considered _________.
Let me finish please. You will get your opportunity to speak after me.
Let me finish please. We gave you the opportunity to speak without interruption.

--- CLARIFYING KEY POINTS ---
Perhaps I haven't made myself entirely clear.
There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. Firstly,.. Secondly,.. Finally..
Let me rephrase that for you.
Let me clear something up, _________.


--- SUPPORT KEY POINTS ---
Research has shown that,____________.
They have performed studies which have shown that ___________.
As [Famous Person] Winston Churchill once said, ________________.
Most [Expert Group] doctors would tell you that __________.
Let me give you an example, ____________.
Let me illustrate my point with an analogy _________.
Let me put that into a different context for you _______.
Let me help you fully understand _______.

--- NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION ---
Let me just remind you that Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini.... had similar ideas around this. They believed _______.
Your belief is unwavering, like those enthusiasts that believe in UFOs.
Your beliefs are very similar to those of George W. Bush, Hitler, Stalin when they described ______.
Terroris organisations have similar fundamentalist beliefs _____.

--- TACKLE ---
It is easy to find problems, but the more challenging part is to find solutions. Do you have any?
Do you have any proven examples you could share with us?
So, what would you suggest as an alternative then?
So, what are you doing about it?
That could be misinterpreted as a very loaded statement, do you have any evidence to support this?
Do you have any empirical evidence to support your points or is this simply conjecture conceived in your head?

--- BLOCK & BRIDGE ---
I don't know _____ What I do know is __________ [feel good statement].
I can't answer that , what I can answer is ________ [feel good statement].
I agree that is very important, however what we find most important is __________ [feel good statement].
I see you point but more importantly _________ [feel good statement].

--- KNOCK OUT---
If you can't decouple your emotions from your points I do not want to continue this discussion.
You are expressing opinions without any supporting evidence. That sounds like conjecture.
You cannot make random statements without any supporting data.
You are interpreting facts to justify your own pre-conceived conclusions.
You are filtering your data to staisfy your pre-conceived conclusions.

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