C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N
Today was our second day of practice. Yesterday Mrs Dlamini taught us more about the whole purpose of debating, the policy and counterpolicy of debating.
"Okay class, today we will be looking at some of the rules and procedures of debating." Mrs Dlamini started. "In a debate, there are two teams. One team is called the Proposition and their job is to agree with the topic given. The other team is called the Opposition and their job is to disagree with the topic."
"So, if there are only two teams, does that mean we will only be competing against one school?" A learner asked.
"No, you will be competing against 10 schools and you will be broken up into teams." Mrs Dlamini answered.
"Ma'am, will we all speak?" Another learner asked.
"Yes. Each team will have three speakers and each of them will have different roles. You will all take turns to speak."
"The topic for the debate is called the motion." Mrs Dlamini continued explaining. "Every motion starts with the words 'this house'."
"House?" Khumo asked confused.
"That's just a fancy way of calling your team. For example, to start the debate a speaker from your team will say, 'This house believes that the government is failing us'."
"Ohhhhhh." We all said in unison.
"After every team member from the Proposition and Opposition has spoken once, one speaker from each team will give a short reply speech which will basically summarize the major issues in the debate and close their team's arguments. The last speaker cannot do the reply speech because they won't have enough time to sit down and write a reply speech right after delivering their main speech. This means that either the first speaker or the second speaker must do the reply speech. We'll choose speakers a bit later."
"During the debate can you interrupt a speaker if they say something you don't agree with or against?" Mbuyisa asked.
"Yes you can, but there are rules. What Mbuyisa just asked class, is called Point of Information. This means that you can interrupt a speaker's speech and challenge them on what they are saying. However, you cannot just get up and start shouting over them. You need to ask for permission, by standing up and saying 'Point of Information', while holding out your hand so that the speaker will notice that you have something to say."
"What if you don't want to hear what they are going to say or respond to their question?" I asked.
"You can either say no thank you or tell them to sit down or you can just ignore them."
"Can we strangle them?" Khumo asked. We all turned our heads to look at him.
"Khumo." Mrs Dlamini started. "I'll strangle you myself."
~*~
YOU ARE READING
Black & White
Historical FictionAs Ayize, a black girl from Soweto, and Norman, a white boy, navigate the dangerous waters of their interracial relationship in apartheid South Africa, they face brutal consequences of their love. Will their story survive in a society built on racia...
