Bolton School Literary & Debating Society

Welcome!
Bolton School Joint Senior Literary & Debating Society (Lit & Deb for short) is the schools oldest and most exciting club, and aims to give all students a chance to experience the heady thrill of public speaking, in a fun, caring environment. But before you get started there are some things that you need to know about the way that Lit & Deb works. Senior Lit & Deb might, initially, seem a lot scarier than its Junior counterpart, but its nothing to be worried about. Whilst Senior Lit & Deb has its traditions, we still endeavour to make the experience as fun as possible.

Dos
Do start your points with Madam / Mister Chair, Members of the house Do make your points courteously Do use humour in your points when you can Do enjoy yourself Lit & Deb is about having a good time!

Donts
Dont be afraid to speak were not that scary Dont be disheartened if someone rebukes your point rebuke them back! Dont mock other people if they make a mistake were all fallible Dont forget to tell us what you think if youve got any problems or suggestions, tell us!
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Speaking
So youve finally plucked up the courage to volunteer and speak well done! This initial step is by far the hardest, though a great confidence - boost for the future. Following this simple checklist should help you to achieve your best in any debate:

1. Make sure you know who youre speaking with. If they are more experienced than you, they can be a great source of information and advice for the debate ahead. 2. Prepare well in advance for your debate. Whilst some members of the society may feel confident enough to enter a debate blind, it ill-advised and can sometimes be disastrous. 3. Ensure that you know the motion and its exact wording. Whilst the general gist of a motion can sometimes suffice in a debate, arguments are frequently felled by semantics and other technicalities. 4. Get the Floor on your side and never-underestimate the power of humour. This is particularly useful when arguing an impossible motion: ultimately the Floor decides the victor, so any endearing performance, can greatly affect a debates outcome. 5. Try and get to the debate on time. As exciting and delectable as school dinners so frequently are, it really helps to arrive at the society five minutes before it begins. This allows you, not only, to survey your setting, but also to discuss a battle strategy with your partner. 6. Be gracious in victory or defeat. Whilst its good to take a debate seriously, the ultimate aim of Lit & Deb is to have fun and improve speaking skills not to practise emotional breakdown in front of an audience.

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Sitting on the Floor

Whilst staying on the Floor during a debate may initially seem to be a less important job than speaking either for or against a motion, members seated below make an important contributions to debates, whilst also providing many with their first taste of speaking at Lit & Deb.

1. Consider doing some limited research the night before a debate. The more information you have, the better a point you can make. Not only is a well-informed member of the Floor highly impressive, but can also add an extra facet to a debate. 2. Try not to talk to your neighbour mid-debate, when sitting on the Floor. As important as your light-hearted comment no doubt is, a gaggle of giggling pupils is highly distracting, and you run the risk of being humiliated. 3. If possible, please try to come to debates on time. Whilst we have no desire to cause mass indigestion, a sudden flurry of people, ten minutes after the start of a debate, inevitably interrupts a debate. 4. Try and make your points of information (fairly) brief. Although it is very important that your opinion is voiced eloquently, do not underestimate the value of concision. Sometimes, a point can have more effect when it is conveyed with fewer words.

5. Be imaginative pushing the proverbial boat out is a key occupation of

the Floor and any abstract (preferably relevant) points that you can make are more than welcome.

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The Words, Phrases and Idioms of Lit & Deb

Chair Committee Floor Opp. Parliamentary Debating Points of Information
The chairwoman or man who oversees the debate The elected representatives from each division, chosen to decide on motions and chair debates etc. People sat in the audience who are not speaking but can make points Contraction of Opposition A formal style of debating, favoured in competitions A particular feature of Parliamentary Debating, where speakers can be interrupted with new information by the opposition Contraction of Proposition Making points that Disagree with an opponents argument
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Prop. Rebuttal

Summing Up
Speaking at Lit & Deb is a great opportunity and will endow you with skills that are useful for the rest of your life. Not only does Lit & Deb look very good on your CV, its also we hope, great fun and will brighten your Wednesday lunchtimes. However, the society is nothing without its members, and without you, it would cease to exist: we value your time and welcome any suggestions that you may have.

Thank You!

This booklet is intended purely as a guide to new members and its advice is followed at the protagonists own risk. Voting hands may go up as well as down and debating success is not guaranteed by this guide. The author of this booklet accepts no responsibility for the consequences of following this guide, or any serious injury or death that may occur as a result.

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