英语演讲与辩论

英语演讲与辩论

Unit 1 Motions

, Types of Motions:

1. Motions of value: they are motions of moral or philosophical

rights or wrongs. E.g. , Liberty should be valued more than equality.

, Capital punishment is inherently unjust.

, A benevolent dictatorship is the best form of government.

, It is moral to actively take one innocent life to save then others.

2. Motions of policy: they are plans for solving an extant problem.

, This House would abandon the civilian use of nuclear power.

, This House would prohibit speeches which incite hatred.

, This House believes that European Governments should pay parents

to have children. 3. A closed motion has a limited scope for interpretation, a semi-closed motion has a larger

scope and an open motion enjoys comparatively free interpretation.

, A closed motion :

e.g. This House would abolish International Women’s Day.(FLTRP 2006) P14

While their counterparts are celebrating IWD happily in the urban areas, the women in the rural areas might be worried about food for

their children, not to say for themselves. We have to remember that more than 30 million people in China are living under the poverty line, of

which more than half are women. Ladies and gentlemen, having this in mind, do you still want to celebrate IWD?

, A semi-closed motion: the key terms in the motion should be delineated and the scope of the

motion should be narrowed down to avoid the debate running in all directions. E.g.This

House would intervene in Syria. P15

Intervention: economic, diplomatic, military

Firstly, my might focus on diplomatic intervention and interpret the motion as follows: we are here to debate the motion. It is evident that this resolution is referring to the ongoing controversy in Syria. That is the basis for today’s debate. Our model is simple: requesting countries like Russia to

issue pressures on the Assad Administration to negotiate with the protesters. Secondly, we might interpret the motion with regard to economic sanctions. Ladies and gentlemen, thousands of civilians in Syria are being killed or arrested simply because they have different opinions with the Assad Administration. We cannot act as onlookers any more. We are here to call for economic sanctions on the Assad Administration to force them to stop the cruel treatment to people’s proper appeals.

Thirdly, we might interpret the motion in terms of military intervention.

In 1982, at the climax of a six-year Islamic insurgency throughout Syria, President Hafez al-Assad ordered a scorched earth policy against the town of Hama to quell an uprising. In 1982, the world did nothing, and those with power that stood by are complicit in the deaths of those people. Thirty years later, the people of Syria once again need our help, and if we stand by and do nothing, their blood will on our hands.

, An open motion: a linkable motion, which allows a wide variety of definitions. E.g. This

house believes that the glass is half full. (WUDC 1998)

The motion is based on a famous allusion as to whether the glass is half full or half e mpty, and can be interpreted as “Most Chinese people are satisfied with their living standard.” Or “Women play an active role in the society.”

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Rules for Interpreting a Motion

1. The interpretation, or definition, should be clear. It is always

a good idea to use most

frequently used words for the definition rather big or formal ones, esp. those borrowed from

French, Latin or Greek.

2. The interpretation should not be a tautology, which is a remark

or an assertion that is true or

self-proving. E.g. The gift from the Department Store is free of charge./gift—free of charge