Elements of Debating

Lyon, Leverett S. (Leverett Samuel), 1885-1959Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 232K words
Chapters: 24

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Elements of Debating by Leverett S. LyonAuthor: Lyon, Leverett S. (Leverett Samuel), 1885-1959,Language: English, Class: PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections, Release Date: Nov 19, 2004

Editor's review

Elements of Debating is a practical English primer for beginners in debate, written by Leverett S. Lyon. The title states its purpose: to explain the basic elements and methods of debate. Judging from the public-domain edition, the book belongs to the debate and public speaking category within language and literature, dates from an earlier period, and has a formal style. Its value lies in breaking debate down into learnable components and helping readers understand the basic logic of argument construction, proof, rebuttal, and delivery, making it suitable as an introductory reference for speech and debate training. For Chinese readers who want a systematic introduction to the English debating tradition and to improve their logical expression and critical thinking, it can serve as comparative reading material, though its cases and contexts bear the mark of their time and should not be copied directly. It is best read alongside contemporary debate practice, with outline exercises that turn the book's principles into one's own habits of expression. Overall, this is a moderate-length, practical public-domain primer on the fundamentals of debate.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students new to debate who need an introductory framework
Professionals who want to improve logical expression and public speaking skills
Learners with good English reading ability who are interested in the speech and debate tradition
Teachers of debate or oral English courses looking for reference material

Not a good fit for

Debaters seeking detailed explanations of contemporary competitive debate formats and techniques
Readers with weak English who would struggle to read original English argumentation
People who want extensive modern case studies and practical analysis

Reading tips

Read through the whole book first to grasp the basic framework of debate, then reread the weaker areas in depth.
After each chapter, try writing a short argument or rebuttal outline on an everyday topic.
Watch videos of contemporary debate competitions alongside the book to see how its principles apply in practice.
If English reading is difficult, focus first on each chapter's main ideas and argument structure rather than reading word by word.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for complete beginners in debate?

Yes. It focuses on explaining the basic elements of debate and is clearly structured, so it can serve as an introductory framework. But because it was written long ago and is in English, beginners should preferably have some English reading ability and use contemporary materials alongside it.

Can the methods in the book be used directly in modern debate competitions?

The book sets out basic principles and logic of debate that are broadly applicable, but its cases and contexts bear the mark of their time. Modern formats and rules have evolved, so it is best to use the book's principles as a foundation and adapt them flexibly to current competition requirements.

What level of English is needed to read this book?

The book is English expository prose in a fairly formal style; intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended. If reading is difficult, grasp the chapter structure and lines of argument first, use a dictionary when necessary, and do not read word by word.

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About the author

Lyon, Leverett S. (Leverett Samuel), 1885-1959 Author · American · 1885–1959

Leverett S. Lyon (1885–1959) was an American author. His dates and nationality are clear, but available public information is limited, making it difficult to reconstruct his full life and career. The only work by him in this collection is Elements of Debating, which suggests that his writing was connected with the subject of debate and public expression. The book is an introductory work on debate, typically intended for students or beginning writers, covering the structure of argument, the use of evidence, and techniques of expression; it reflects a practical and clearly organized style of writing. Although reliable records of his other activities and influence are lacking, this work still offers Chinese readers a useful point of entry into early twentieth-century American debate education. His specific background and academic standing await fuller documentation.