Debating 101 - Getting Started

The next series of posts will involve debate. Techniques. Tips & advice. How to support an argument. Common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid. My more Machiavellian debating ploys.

But we have to learn to walk before we can sprint so I'll start with how to format a proper argument. Some of this may seem painfully obvious, but bear with me. It may be obvious to you. It may be obvious to me, but trust me, I wouldn't mention it unless it became an issue in an argument more than once.

If your opinions are important enough to argue, they are important enough to present them coherently. In print or on the net, that means proper formatting. At the very basic, that means learning how to quote, indent and link, but learning how to bold, italicize, underline and change the size or color of your text is useful as well. If the forum you're posting on is using vBulletin, you can use the following tags:

[indent]your material[/indent]
[quote]material you're responding to[/quote]
[url=http://www.yourlink.com]www.yourlink.com[/url]
[b]bold emphasis[/b]
[i]italics emphasis[/i]
[u]underline emphasis[/u]
[color=blue]color emphasis[/color]
[size=2]change text size[/size]
[font=arial]your text[/font]
[center]center your text[/center]
[left]left justify your text[/left]
[right]right justify your text[/right]

A bit more advanced, but to insert images or smileys:

[img]http://www.specific_link_to_image.gif[/img]

These tags are fairly standard so if the forum you're posting on isn't vBulletin, try them, anyway. More likely than not, you'll need convert them to html tags - just replace the brackets [tag] with the greater & lesser than symbols: <>. If that doesn't work, learn how to format in whatever environment you are arguing in. Sorry to say so, but sadly, it's true - proper formatting makes your posts appear more professional and increases your credibility.

Use the bold, italics, underline, color and size tags (or a combination of them) to emphasize points in your arguments. ANY time you add emphasis to a quote add "(Emphasis mine)" to cue readers.

Use the quote tags when addressing specific comments of your opponent.

Any time you support an argument by quoting an authority and the quote runs longer than a single sentence, use the indent tag to set it off from your comments as a blockquote. Use on-line sources whenever possible and add a link for your readers. Doing so makes it easy for your readers to fact check you or read in context, thereby increasing your credibility. If you didn't find a source on-line, note the author, book and page number(s). If it's a commentary or dictionary, note the entry's name. For example: A.T. Robertson, Robertson's Word Pictures, Luke 23:43. Or something to that effect. (More on proper references later.)

Proper formatting means your arguments are NOT one big old long paragraph. Failing to break your posts into paragraphs is inexcusably rude. A good rule of thumb is 3-5 sentences per paragraph.

Proper formatting also means you take the time to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. Sure, everybody makes mistakes from time to time, but there's no excuse for arguments chock full of these sorts of errors. Sloppy spelling, grammar and punctuation places an unnecessary burden upon your readers to decipher you. It's RUDE. And pardon me for saying so, but arguments peppered with such rudimentary mistakes makes you look like an idiot. Your credibility is actually damaged by your inability to draft a coherent argument.

Italicize foreign words.

DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS UNLESS YOU INTEND TO CONVEY TO THE READER THAT YOU ARE SHOUTING.

Learn the standard net acronyms if you haven't already: LOL, ROTFL, IMO, KWIM, etc. Don't invent new acronyms or overuse acronyms. Doing so makes you look less professional and can even make you look like a fool. If an opponent is using an acronym you don't know, google it. Don't ask unless you are seeking to draw attention to the acronym and/or your opponent for using an unusual acronym or you are deliberately doing so to appear open and more approachable. (More on deliberately exhibiting ignorance later.)

If you're citing Scripture, always indicate which Bible you are using. If the Bible is nonstandard, do not criticize others for challenging your choice. Be prepared to explain and defend that choice.

As for technique...Everyone has his or her own voice when it comes to writing and there's nothing wrong with that. But a few rules of thumb will increase your general readibility.

1. Vary simple and compound sentences.

2. Avoid word repetition unless varying a word will appear wooden or forced.

3. Don't use pretentious vocabulary. Using "big" words will make you appear intelligent, yes, and can increase the credibity of your position, but not if the average reader doesn't know the word. If the average reader doesn't recognize the word, you're just going to come off as a blowhard.

4. Choose a standard way to format for specific situations and stick with it. For instance, any time I quote Scripture, it appears as so: John 3:16 For God so loved the world...(NASB).

5. Use action verbs (jump, run). Avoid passive verbs (was, is, has).

6. Read your argument aloud before posting to identify awkward wording. Any time you have to interrupt a sentence to catch your breath, your sentence is too long. Break it up.

7. If the enviroment you're debating in has a preview function, use it. If you can edit your argument, re-read your post as soon as you've submitted it and revise, if necessary.

8. Strike the words "never" and "always" from your debating vocabulary.

9. Do not use words like "evidently" or "apparently" unless you have posted explicit evidence that makes your assertion apparent. Speculation is not evident or apparent to anyone.

10. Use humor liberally, but only if you are genuinely funny. If you have to explain a joke, you aren't funny.