What is a debate?
A debate is, basically, an argument. That is not to say that it is an undisciplined shouting match between parties that passionately believe in a particular point of view. In fact, the opposite is true. Debating has strict rules of conduct and quite sophisticated arguing techniques and you will often be in a position where you will have to argue the opposite of what you believe in.
The Resolution
If a debate is a form of argument, then it logically follows that there must be something to argue about. This is called the RESOLUTION. The resolution changes from debate to debate. They are often about current issues of public importance or about general philosophies or ideas. As in other arguments, there are two sides to any resolution. The team that agrees with the resolution is called the AFFIRMATIVE and the team that disagrees with the resolution is called the NEGATIVE.
