2.4 Debate

Debate is an aspect of business communication involving both formal and informal arguments that take place in organisations. It includes proposals and defence (of tasks or roles), regulations, deliberations, etc.

Types of Debate:

Karl Popper Debate:

• This is a kind of team debate that takes place among pupils.
• It involves two teams forming the proposing and opposing teams, a panel of judges, a timekeeper, and an audience.
• Karl Popper Debate is not part of organisational debate.

Policy Debate:

• Policy debate occurs in organisations and corporate establishments.
• It occurs when government or management of an organisation wants to formulate new or change existing policies.
• Debaters in policy debate are expected to enlighten the audience on why such policies exist or not by highlighting their importance, benefits, challenges, etc.
• Policy debate is evaluated based on content and delivery.

Congressional Debate:

• It involves debates at formal meetings, especially those of trade unions, legislative debates like those of the US Congress, the Senate, or the House of Representatives, etc.
• The debaters are expected to be logical, to be guided by parliamentary and meeting procedures, as well as to show good knowledge of the topic discussed.

Parliamentary Debate:

• Parliamentary debate has the same meaning as congressional debate, except that it is limited to parliaments.

Public Forum Debate:

• Government agencies, organisations, and individuals use this type of debate to provide enlightenment to the public on certain issues or programmes.

Key Issues in Debate:

Premises:

• Evidence made up of facts, opinions, and logical presentation of ideas.

Evidence:

• They come in the form of statistics, expert opinions, notable examples/illustrations, etc.

Logical:

• Logicality shows the relationship between or among the propositions as premises and conclusions.
• Conclusions should be drawn from premises presented.

Refutation:

• It shows how and why a theory or argument is wrong and unacceptable.

Claims and Counterclaims:

• Debate involves claims and counterclaims.
• Whether proposing or opposing, the debaters are engaged in an exchange of ideas.

Persuasive:

• Every debate is persuasive.
• Debaters aim at persuading the audience to adopt a particular line of thought.

Language:

• The language of debate is simple, understandable, and persuasive.
• The language is not abusive.

Proposing or Opposing:

• Debates are like motions, that is, a statement that needs to be accepted or denied.
• Debaters in support of the motion are said "to propose", while those against it are said "to oppose".

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How to Prepare for Debate:

Defining the Purpose:

• Debaters and other participants should define the aims and objectives of the debate.
• This will help in selection of participants, assessment of their presentations, and award of marks.

Selection of Topic:

• Debate topic should be tailored to reflect the objectives of the debate.
• Debaters and other participants are expected to research on the topic to be acquainted with it.

Selection of Participants:

• Participants are selected based on interest, goal, communication skill, discipline/vocation, etc.

Good Communication Skills:

• Debaters, in particular, should possess good oral communication skills, especially in the language of choice.

Structure:

• Debaters are to structure their presentations into topic, body, and conclusion.

Protocols:

• Each debate forum has unique procedures to follow in their discussion, such as:
  • Acknowledging participants present.
  • Refuting claims.
  • Introducing themselves and the topic.
• Debaters are to master the protocol for the type of debate going on.

Style:

• A good oral presentation requires variations in expression, tone, choosing sentence styles, and the use of figurative expressions, etc.

2.5 Seminar

Seminar is a gathering of trainees, scholars or businessmen and women with the aim of exchanging views on a particular topic or issue.

Types of Seminar:

Business Seminar:

• The seminar is business-related.

Academic Seminar:

• Academic seminar involves teaching and learning, especially by students and lecturers in tertiary institutions.

Agricultural Seminar:

• The theme of agricultural seminar focuses on agriculture and allied products.
• Topics are drawn from different forms of agriculture such as fishery, animal husbandry, crops, etc.

Scientific Seminar:

• Innovations and disadvantages in science and technology form the theme of a scientific seminar.

Skill Acquisition Seminar:

• Such seminars are organised by entrepreneurs for skill acquirers in a specific product or technical knowledge.

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How to Organise Seminars:

Define Purpose:

• Articulate the objectives and goals of the seminar.
• Articulating the purpose will help in:
  • Selection of speakers.
  • Articulating audience needs.
  • Appointment of facilitators.

Define Target Audience:

• Each seminar targets a particular audience.
• The audience is the immediate beneficiary of the seminar.

Select Topic and Theme:

• Topic and theme should reflect the purpose of the seminar.

Prepare Data for the Seminar:

• It involves gathering information from different sources to produce the seminar paper.
• Sources of information for seminars include:
  • Books
  • Journals
  • Experiments
  • Interviews
  • Web posts

Rehearsal:

• Seminars are orally presented.
• Seminar presenters rehearse their papers to be familiar with every part of their articles.

Selection of a Delivery Method:

• Methods of presentation include:
  • Manuscript method
  • Extemporaneous method
  • Memorisation method
• The selection is based on need and type of presentation.

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Writing of Seminar Papers:

Seminar papers are written to report results of an investigation.

Seminar papers report the following:

• Theme of the investigation
• Research problems
• Objectives
• Significance
• Methods of data collection and data analysis
• Findings
• Conclusions and recommendations

The report will include:

• References
• Appendices (if any)
• Executive summary or abstract
• Findings, conclusions, and recommendations