<Inquiry of Different Speech Styles in Student Parliamentary Debate>

Since I'm really interested in debate, my friend and I are participating in the 2013 ICY with the thesis below. Well, actually it isn't a complete thesis-it's just an abridgement. The final draft will be uploaded by June. Enjoy!

<Inquiry of Different Speech Styles in Student Parliamentary Debate>

Korean Minjok Leadership Academy

1300, Sosa-ri, Anheung-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea

1. Research Background and Purposes

We met upon English debating a few years ago. Our speeches were very unstable and went this way and that way in the beginning as we practiced for competitions. Looking through videos of the WSDC, we got to find out different debate styles: tones, accents and intonations. Moreover, as we further went into the debate field, participating in many contests, we were able to access different speech skills. As we tried to figure the ways to improve our debate skills, this led to our curiosity of what kind of style will persuade the adjudicator and thus lead to a win in a parliamentary debate. Under the standardized rules of WSDC, it is our goal to figure out what style of speaking can actually work positively in a debate. Since there are various voices of what method is effective, we believe that this research can lead to a professional and standardized summary of what can actually be a benefit in debate speeches. Also, we believe that this kind of compiled guideline can also help people in the future in implementing diverse speaking styles to make a persuasive speech.

2. Research Questions

i) What are the standards of evaluation in the World School’s Debate Championship?

ii) What are the effects of different accents: British, American, and Australian accents, in making speeches?

iii) What are the pros and cons of different speech styles (e.g. A. Lincoln style speech, B. Obama style speech, Martin Luther King Jr. style, W. Churchill style, and M. Thatcher style)

iv) How should the speech style differ in a policy debate and a moral debate?

3. Key Contents of to Achieve Purposes

i) The basic ballot template and the main considerations the judges of WSDC should consider.

a. Manner

b. Matter

c. Contents

ii) How can English skills in general alter the speech abilities in debates.

a. Vocabulary

b. Grammar

c. Fluency of speech

d. What other rhetorical methods can be used to enhance the speech?

iii) The effects of different accents under the category of the followings:

a. The effects to the audience, how much is it understandable?

b. The effects to the speaker, how efficient is the accent in making an oration?

iv) Research information of famous speeches in general and as well as renowned speakers.

a. Research various analysis on different speeches and speakers.

b. Make an analogy between famous speakers' speeches.

c. Sort out the strong parts and weak parts of famous speaker's oration style.

v) Analyze the necessary styles in the two different types of debates, moral debates and policy debates

a. Figure out styles needed for debates of which topic is an argument to whether to pass a policy or not

b. Figure out styles needed for debates of which topic is a question about moral value or preference.

Workload Division

3. Research Methods

i) Surveys

a. Using surveys of preference on what method of speaking(accent, argument elaboration style) is more persuasive

b. Via actually demonstrating different accents by students who have lived in different countries in the past

c. Via actually demonstrating mock debate(with speakers who argue in different styles) and showing WSDC videos which are distinguished by their elaboration style

d. Surveys will be done toward all the students(approximately 450 people) of our school(since it is a dormitory school) and also on www.surveymonkey.com

ii) Interviews

a. Interview experts in the debate field for the purpose of finding out their standards of marking scores in debates

b. experts : Korean Minjok Leadership Academy debate teacher W. Baumgardner & graduates & seniors

iii) Others

a. Research papers written by NFL(National Forensics League) and other debate institutions

b. Other information extracted from Internet thesis websites

4. Expected Results and Potential Impact

a. Debaters will be able to increase their persuasiveness

b. Clarifying questions that were continuously raised among the debate field but were considered as a taboo (e.g. Is British accent really appealing to judges?)

c. Therefore utilizing these knowledge in real life-enabling a more sophisticated communication style and spreading the debate culture