Why Motion Quality Matters

The quality of motions defines the quality of debates. A well-crafted motion creates engaging, balanced debates where both sides have strong arguments to make. A poorly crafted motion leads to one-sided debates, confused definitions, or arguments that miss each other entirely. Chief adjudicators and motion-setting committees carry enormous responsibility for the tournament experience.

Anatomy of a Good Motion

Every strong debate motion shares certain qualities:

  • Balance: Both sides should have roughly equal ground. If every reasonable person would agree with one side, the motion is too one-sided.
  • Clarity: The motion should be unambiguous. Debaters should not need to spend significant time defining terms or figuring out what they are debating.
  • Depth: The motion should allow for deep, multi-layered analysis — not just surface-level arguments.
  • Accessibility: Debaters with general knowledge should be able to engage meaningfully, even if the topic is specialised. Avoid motions that require niche expertise.
  • Relevance: While historical or philosophical motions have their place, motions connected to current events or enduring social questions tend to generate more engaging debates.

Types of Motions

Understanding motion types helps you craft appropriate motions for different rounds:

  • "This House Would" (THW): Policy motions where the government proposes a specific action. These require clear, implementable proposals. Example: "THW ban political advertising on social media."
  • "This House Believes That" (THBT): Value or analysis motions where teams debate whether something is true or desirable. Example: "THBT liberal democracies should prioritise economic equality over economic growth."
  • "This House Supports" (THS): Endorsement motions where the government argues in favour of a position, movement, or trend. Example: "THS the rise of remote work."
  • "This House Regrets" (THR): Backward-looking motions that evaluate whether something that happened was net positive or negative. Example: "THR the development of nuclear energy."

Testing for Balance

Before finalising a motion, use these balance-testing techniques:

  1. Three-argument test: Can you quickly think of at least three strong, distinct arguments for each side? If one side struggles to reach three, the motion may be unbalanced.
  2. Devil's advocate test: Argue the side you personally disagree with. If you find it very difficult to construct a compelling case, the motion is likely problematic.
  3. Crowd-source test: Share the motion with experienced debaters and ask which side they would prefer to be on. If there is strong consensus for one side, revisit the wording.
  4. Stakeholder analysis: List the key stakeholders affected by the motion. Does each side have stakeholders whose interests support their case?

Common Motion-Setting Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls that lead to poor debates:

  • Truism motions: Motions where the proposition is obviously true ("THBT education is important"). No reasonable opposition case exists.
  • Squirrelable motions: Motions where vague wording allows the government to "squirrel" — defining the motion in an unexpected way that leaves the opposition unable to prepare.
  • Knowledge-gated motions: Motions requiring specific technical or regional knowledge that creates an unfair advantage for some debaters.
  • Over-specified motions: Motions with so many details that they constrain the debate and leave no room for teams to be creative. Example: "THW impose a 25% tariff on Chinese semiconductors entering the EU, with exemptions for medical devices, phased in over 3 years."
  • Actor-absent motions: Policy motions that do not specify who is implementing the policy, leading to confusion about context and scope.

Crafting Infoslides

For motions that require context, an infoslide provides necessary background information. Good infoslides:

  • Are factual and objective — they should not argue for either side
  • Provide only the information needed to understand and debate the motion
  • Are concise — typically 3–5 sentences maximum
  • Define any technical terms or context-specific concepts

Motion Sets for Tournaments

When setting motions for a full tournament, consider the overall balance of your motion set:

  • Mix topic areas — do not set five rounds of political motions
  • Include both policy and value motions
  • Progress in complexity — earlier rounds can be more accessible, with later rounds demanding deeper analysis
  • Consider the audience — a school tournament should have different motions than an international championship

Use the NekoTab Motion Bank to research what motions have been used at similar tournaments, and the Motion Doctor to test your motions for balance and depth.