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Philippine Copyright© 1969, 2003, 2013
by HARRY C. LORENZO, JR.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be reproduced
without written permission from the Author
First Printing: 1969
Second Printing: 2003 by King’s Way, Cabanatuan City, Philippines
Third Printing: 2013 by Tri-Psyc Enterprise, Lorenzo Ville,
Cabanatuan City

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I Introduction 1
1
The Value of Argumentation and Debate
What is Argumentation? 2
What is Debate? 2
Debate as an Art 3
Debate and Logic 3
Debate and Sport 4
Chapter II The Proposition
7
Types of Propositions 7
8
Characteristics of the Proposition
Chapter III Issues 12
Finding the Issues 12
Types of Issues 14
Chapter IV Types of Debates
The
The
The
The
The
19
Lincoln—Douglas Type 19
Oxford Type 20
Oregon Type 21
One- Rebuttal Type 22
Oregon-Oxford Type 22
Chapter V Evidence and Proof
25
Sources of Evidence 26
Tests of Authority 27
Classes of Evidence 30
Tests of Evidence 32

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Chapter VI Preparing a Constructive Speech
35
How to Start With 35
The Introduction 37
The Discussion 42
The Conclusion 65
Chapter VII Delivering a Speech
71
What is Delivery 71
72
Methods of Delivering a Speech
Using Gestures 73
The Importance of Voice 75
Chapter VIII Types of Arguments 81
81
Deductive and Inductive Arguments
Conversion and Obversion 83
Argument from Analogy 84
87
Argument from Causal Relation
Argument from Sign 90
Argument from Generalization 91
Argument from Relativity 92
Chapter IX Refutation and Rebuttal
95
Methods of Refutation 95
The Rebuttal 102
Chapter X Definition of Terms 109
How to Define Terms
Definition of Definition
Classes of Definition
General Rules of Definition
Special Types of Definition
110
111
112
113
115

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Chapter XI The Syllogism 121
Categorical Syllogism 122
Rules of Syllogism 123
Chapter XII The Hypothetical Syllogism
133
The Disjunctive Syllogism 134
The Conditional Syllogism 135
The Conjunctive Syllogism 137
141
Chapter XIII Special Types of Syllogism
The Enthymeme 141
The Epichireme 142
The Polysyllogism 142
The Sorites 142
The Extra-Syllogistic Inferences 143
Chapter XIV Fallacies 147
Logical Fallacies 147
Material Fallacies 149
153
Chapter XV Other Phases of Debate
The Debater 153
Persuasion 160
160
The Chairman of the Debate
161
The Affirmative Side
The Negative Side 161
Time Allotment 162
Cross-Examination 163
Informal Debate 167
Non- Decision Debate 167
168
How to Judge a Debate
Bibliography 173

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Introduction
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The Value of Argumentation and Debate
Man is one of the weakest of animals and would be doomed to
extinction if it were not for his faculty called “reason”. He has not the
strength of the elephant, he does not possess the subtlety of the serpent
and he is inferior to the swiftness of the deer. He has no ethereal power
to explore the vastness of space above him like the multifarious birds
that blanket the sky and he has not strength sufficient to conquer the
grandeur and the depths of the ocean. While he may be stronger than
the insects, he has no peculiar ability like them to multiply manifold
and make survival possible. Man, however, with all his impediments
and fragilities has been able to survive in a cruel world where strength
seems the only virtue and weakness the only course. This was made
possible through his ability to think. Via his reason, he was able to
conquer nature and become its master. The unknown become known,
the unseen seen, the unreached reached and the impossible became
a reality. Thus, the magnitude and power of man’s reason. There is
nothing to compare with it, not even the whole of the Universe with all
its splendor and magnificence for man’s reasoning permeates through
and goes beyond the totality of phenomena.
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2
Principles of Logic for Argumentation and Debate
Man reasons when he begins to doubt and ponder. We are
always haunted by these doubts and uncertainties in our consciousness.
We doubt the veracity of another’s opinion, and we express our own
ideas which we think are far better than the ideas of others. Thus,
argumentation becomes inevitable. Sometimes our discussion evolves
to more formal deliberations and so we have debates. We clash on any
topic from the frivolous to the most sublime. Only the man who knows
how to persuade and influence through oral and written discourse
can win the confidence of his hearer or reader. It cannot be denied,
therefore, that argumentation is an important aspect in the lives of
men. However, argumentation must be done systematically if a desired
end is to be achieved, i.e., to influence other people’s thinking and
behavior. It is the purpose of this book to give students the proper
guidance in argumentation.
What is Argumentation?
Argumentation is a rhetorical process of influencing the
thought, belief, opinion, and behavior of a hearer or reader by supplying
him with reasons and motives for action. This includes any kind of
discourse with an aim to persuade, from the prattling of a child to the
meticulous and intelligible talk of the philosopher. A salesman argues
when he offers his goods, a small boy argues when he asks money for
a bar of candy and a fool argues when he insists that his folly is better
than the other’s. Argumentation is not only an appeal to reason, but it
is also an appeal to emotion. To argue for instance, that parity rights
be extended beyond 1974 needs not only an appeal to reason but also
an appeal to emotion.
What is Debate?
Debate is a direct, oral controversy between two or more
persons on a definite proposition at a definite time and at a definite
place. Debate though not opposed to discussion is different from the
latter. Discussion takes place at no definite time, with no definite subject
and at no definite place. In discussion, any person can participate and
no time limit is required. Topics may be changed continually in the
course of the conversation. This is not so in debate. First of all, there
must be a definite proposition. No one can get out of this proposition
or change it during the debate. The proposition calls only for two sides,
affirmative and negative, with an equal number of speakers. Those

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Introduction
who are assigned to the affirmative may only defend the affirmative
side and those who are assigned to the negative may only defend the
negative side. Debate demands a definite time. Prior to the debate,
there must be an agreement as to the time of meeting and all debaters
are expected to be there at such a time. Every speaker is under time
pressure. He cannot extend his talk beyond the allotted time as in
ordinary discussion. Debate must have a definite place. Debaters do
not just meet at a place by chance. They assign a definite place for
encounter. Politicians attacking each other during their campaign
speeches from two different platforms, five kilometers away from each
other, are not having any real debate at all.
Debate as an Art
Art may be defined as any specific skill or its application. As
in any art, debate calls for skill. It is not merely wrangling or jargon,
but it is something which requires ability, wit, and skill in the process
of persuasion. It requires skill to make ones talk sound convincing
and sensible. It requires skill to detect and to destroy the arguments
of the opponent. It requires skill to ask pertinent questions and to give
satisfactory answers to the questions hurled at the debater.
Debate as an art has beauty of its own, although not all arts
are necessarily beautiful. Good debates attract intellectual minds as
quality goods attract avid buyers. Students crowd in the auditorium
to listen to an intercollegiate debate; people from a distance walk or
ride to hear popular debaters and forget their dinners just to listen to
a debate over the radio or television. We love to see and hear debaters
like Senator Santiago or Senator Enrile and other well-known speakers
engaged in debate, not only because they have pleasing personalities
but because their ability to speak and argue sensibly is something
which cannot be ignored.
Debate and Logic
Logic is defined as the science of correct thinking. It deals
with the mental activities of men. A person who is good in logic can
put his reasoning in order. He can direct his arguments in their proper
sequence. He is fully aware of the different methods which underlie
the various operation of the mind. Since debate deals mainly with
reasoning which is the primary concern of logic, we can hardly divorce
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Principles of Logic for Argumentation and Debate
debate from logic and, frankly, a person cannot be a good debater
unless he is good in logic. For what is debate but an outgrowth and
application of logic. It is advisable for any student of debate to read
some books in logic like those written by Bittle, Creighton, Burtt, Wolf,
and Cohen.1 A student who reads these books will help himself become
familiar with some of the different rules in logic because they discuss
matters which have great bearing on debate.
Debate and Sport
Debate and sport are similar in many aspects although both
are distinct from each other and belong to completely different fields.
Debate like sport has a coach or trainer. The coach of a debating team
give guidance and directives this debaters in the province of debate
as the coach in a game does so in the world of sports. In some cases,
there are debating teams without a coach. This is true when nobody
is qualified for the task or when nobody is willing to take the job.
Sometimes this happens in a game. For instance, during fiesta where
there are games to be participated in by different towns, players usually
come for the tournament even without a coach. These players are,
of course, less organized and less disciplined. In more formal games,
however, as in more formal debates, there is usually a coach.
Games are played with a referee. He is called the chairman
and moderator in debate. The chairman keeps the order of the debate
and rules according to the criteria and regulations of the contest just
as the referee does in a game. There are also judges in contest debates
as there are judges in games who make decision for the outcome of a
dispute. Sometimes, in sports the referee serves also as judge for the
purpose, as in track and field. In boxing, a referee also makes decision
like the other judges who are assigned to the task. In debate, however,
it seldom happen that one man acts as the chairman and the judge
at the same time. This many happen in a classroom debate where an
Instructor may serve as a chairman and judge at the same time.
1
Celestine Bittle, The Science of Correct Thinking, (revised edition; Milwaukee:
The Bruce Publishing Company, 1950). James Edwin Creighton and Harold R. Smart,
An Introductory Logic, (fifth edition; New York: The Macmillan Company, 1932)Edwin
Arthur Buril, Right Thinking, (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1946). A. Wolf, Textbook
of Logic. (Second revised edition; London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1961).Morris
R. Cohen and Ernest Nagel, An Introduction to Logic and Scientific Method, (New York)
Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1934).