In a debate much depends on the wording of the question, or proposition. In every case the statement should be perfectly clear, and so framed that no advantage shall be given to either side. Suppose, for example, we are to try to determine whether freshmen should be excluded from high-school teams. We may state the proposition formally in this way:

Resolved, That freshmen should not be excluded from all high-school teams.

To prevent confusion, however, it will be better to avoid the negative form, and say:

Resolved, That freshmen should be excluded from all high-school teams.

Then the affirmative side will have something to build up, and the work of the negative side will be to tear down this structure, whatever it may be. The affirmative undertakes to prove something. The negative must not only prove its side of the case, but must also show that the affirmative has failed to prove what it has undertaken. If the affirmative presents a chain of arguments, the negative has merely to show that one link in the chain will not hold. The burden of proof rests with the affirmative side.

In order that the time set for debating may not be spent in deciding what the debate is to be about, any doubtful term - that is, any ambiguous word or expression - should be carefully defined. If possible, the speakers should meet and agree on the meaning of terms beforehand; but if that is impossible, they must fight it out in the debate. Whenever a speaker uses an ambiguous term, he should state what he understands it to mean.

Exercise

640. State each of the following so that it may serve as the proposition for a debate. Avoid all ambiguity of expression.

1. The power of the federal government over the state governments.

2. The annexation of Cuba by the United States.

3. Woman's suffrage.

4. Immigration to the United States.

5. Is Rowena or Rebecca the real heroine of "Ivanhoe" ?

6. How much pocket money should a high-school student have each week ?

7. The works of Hawthorne and Scott compared for descriptions of real life.

8. The character of Judge Pyncheon in "The House of the Seven Gables" as a description of a possible person.

9. Cooper's knowledge of real Indian life, as shown in "The Last of the Mohicans."

10. Which is worse, slang or bad manners ?

11. The "Ancient Mariner" compared in interest with the "Vision of Sir Launfal."

12. Should a man always offer his seat in a street car to a woman ? 13. A boy's right to hunt and fish for sport.

14. The value of an athletic association for the girls of a high school.

15. Should high-school students work for spending money during the school term?

16. The relative value of a school paper and an athletic association.

17. The relative value of a good library and a good workshop.

18. Is it honest for a student to receive aid in school work from fellow-students?

19. The great value of oral compositions.

20. Should a student spend as much time in athletic exercise as in study?

21. Music as a part of a high-school curriculum.