presentation in debate

How To Debate: Mastering the Art of Persuasive Discourse

A debate is a form of persuasive communication involving two sides arguing for and against a specific position. The exercise is structured with many rules and conventions that a debater must follow. Knowing the ins and outs of how to debate is crucial for success.

Being able to engage in a spirited debate is an essential skill in today’s complex and interconnected world. Whether in academic settings, professional environments, or personal conversations, the ability to present and defend your ideas effectively significantly affects your reputation and influence.

This article explores key principles and practical tips for developing your debating prowess . It will enable you to articulate your views persuasively, handle counterarguments gracefully, and foster a constructive exchange of ideas. With these tools at your disposal, you’ll be ready to navigate the realm of debates with confidence and intellectual agility.

Table of Contents

What Are The Five Types Of Debates?

Debating is more than just expressing your opinion; it involves the art of persuasive discourse , where logical reasoning, compelling evidence, and respectful communication converge.

Here are five common types of debates:

Policy debates focus on analyzing and evaluating specific courses of action or proposed policies. Participants delve into the potential benefits, drawbacks, and impacts of different policy options, often employing research and evidence to support their arguments.
Value debates revolve around discussing and weighing moral, ethical, or philosophical principles. Participants explore abstract concepts such as justice, liberty, or equality to establish which values should be prioritized and why.
Fact-based debates center on examining empirical evidence and verifying the truth or accuracy of a given statement or claim. Participants present data, research, and expert opinions to support their arguments, often engaging in a rigorous analysis of facts and evidence to determine the most accurate interpretation.
Team debates involve groups of participants working collaboratively to present arguments and counterarguments. Typically structured as a competitive event, these debates require coordination and strategy, with each team member contributing their unique perspective to put forward a cohesive and persuasive case.
Formal debates adhere to specific rules and protocols, often following established formats such as parliamentary or Lincoln-Douglas debates . These debates emphasize structured discourse, timed speeches, and strict guidelines for rebuttals and cross-examinations.

What Are The Three Main Parts Of A Debate?

The three main parts of a debate are the opening statements, the rebuttals, and the closing statements.

The opening statements serve as the foundation of a debate. Each participant or team presents their initial arguments and outlines their main points. This is the opportunity to establish a clear position, provide supporting evidence, and capture the audience’s attention .
Opening statements should be concise and persuasive and set the stage for the rest of the debate.
Rebuttals are the heart of a debate, where participants directly address and challenge the arguments put forth by their opponents. During this phase, debaters critically analyze the opposing views, identify flaws or weaknesses, and present counterarguments supported by evidence and logic.
Rebuttals require quick thinking, effective communication, and the ability to dismantle opposing claims while maintaining a respectful tone .
The closing statements are the final opportunity for participants to leave a lasting impression. In this phase, debaters summarize their main points, reiterate their strongest arguments, and emphasize why their position is superior.
Closing statements should leave the audience with a compelling reason to support the debater’s position. You must also reinforce the key points and provide a sense of closure to the debate.

Is Debating A Skill?

Debating is like mental gymnastics that strengthens several areas. Here’s why:

Sharpens Thinking: Deft debaters research, analyze arguments, and build strong cases. This hones critical thinking and the ability to see different perspectives.
Communication Powerhouse: Debating builds confidence in public speaking and clear communication. You learn to organize thoughts, present arguments logically, and use evidence effectively.
Adaptability on Point: Debates are like intellectual sparring matches. You have to think on your feet, respond to counter-arguments, and adjust your approach as needed.

These skills are valuable in any field, from academics to law to business. So, debating isn’t just about winning arguments, it’s about training your brain to be a stronger, more versatile thinking and reasoning tool.

What Are The Five Basic Debating Skills?

Researching and gathering relevant information is a fundamental debating skill. It involves conducting thorough investigations, analyzing sources critically, and understanding different perspectives to develop well-informed arguments supported by evidence.
Critical thinking is crucial for effective debating. It encompasses evaluating arguments objectively, identifying logical fallacies, spotting inconsistencies, and constructing well-reasoned counterarguments. Developing necessary thinking skills enables debaters to approach complex topics with analytical precision and form persuasive responses.
Debating necessitates clear and articulate communication skills. Debaters should be able to express their ideas coherently, use appropriate language and tone, and engage the audience. Active listening and responding thoughtfully to the points raised by opponents are also key components of effective communication in debates.
Persuasive speaking is the art of influencing the audience and convincing them of the validity of one’s arguments. Debaters should employ rhetorical devices , such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to appeal to their listeners’ emotions, credibility, and logic.
Time management is critical in debates with limited time constraints. Debaters must learn to structure their arguments effectively within the given timeframe, allocate appropriate time for each point, and deliver concise and impactful speeches.

Do’s And Don’ts Of A Debate

DO	DON’T
Research your topic and build a strong case with evidence.	Stay calm and collected, even if challenged.
Focus on ideas, not personal attacks. Listen actively and acknowledge your opponent’s points.	Avoid weak arguments like personal attacks or strawman arguments.
Organize your thoughts, use strong arguments, and avoid filler words.	Let them speak and wait for your turn to respond.
Think of how your opponent might counter your arguments and prepare responses.	Stick to the issue at hand and avoid irrelevant tangents.

How To Debate Step By Step?

Understand the topic: Familiarize yourself with the subject matter, including key terms, concepts, and relevant arguments.
Research and gather evidence: Conduct comprehensive research to support your position. Collect data, facts, examples, and expert opinions that strengthen your arguments.
Structure your arguments: Organize your thoughts by outlining your main points and supporting evidence. Ensure a logical flow and coherence in presenting your ideas.
Engage respectfully: Maintain a respectful and professional demeanor throughout the debate. Listen actively to your opponents, address their points directly, and avoid personal attacks.
Deliver compelling speeches: Present your arguments confidently using clear and persuasive language . Employ rhetorical devices, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to appeal to the audience’s emotions, credibility, and logic.
Rebut opposing arguments: During rebuttal, deconstruct and challenge your opponents’ arguments. Offer counterarguments supported by evidence and logical reasoning.
Stay focused and concise: Remember time constraints and prioritize your strongest points. Keep to the topic at hand and avoid digressions.
Adapt to feedback: Pay attention to comments from the audience, judges, or moderators. Adjust your approach, if necessary, and address any weaknesses or gaps in your arguments.
Conclude with impact: Summarize your main points and reiterate the strength of your position in the closing statement. Leave a lasting impression on the audience and reinforce the key takeaways from your arguments.
Reflect and improve: After the debate, analyze areas for improvement, learn from your experiences, and continue to develop your debating skills.

How Do You Begin A Debate?

To begin a debate , start with a compelling opening statement that captures the audience’s attention. Clearly state your position or proposition and briefly summarize your main arguments.

Hook the audience by using a thought-provoking question, a powerful statistic, or a relevant anecdote to establish the importance and relevance of the topic.

How Do You Structure A Debate?

When structuring a debate, begin with an introduction that clearly defines the topic and provides context for the discussion. Next, present your main arguments logically, ensuring each point builds upon the previous one.

Different Roles

High school students often become debate team members, taking on different roles such as the first affirmative, second speaker, or third affirmative.

In a parliamentary debate, the first speaker, often the prime minister, sets the tone by introducing the debate topic and outlining the team’s case. This crucial role requires thorough research, brainstorming new arguments, and presenting them coherently.

Affirmative And Negative Teams

Once the affirmative team presents its arguments, it’s time for the negative team to respond. The negative speaker must listen attentively, analyze their opponent’s arguments, and provide strong refutations.

Avoid constructing straw man arguments and instead engage with the core of the affirmative team’s points. To strengthen their position, the opposing team should use analogies or points of information to challenge the other side effectively.

Speakers use transition phrases to smoothly guide the audience from one point to another, concluding the debate by summarizing key points and reiterating their position.

How Does Teamwork Function In A Debate?

Teamwork plays a vital role in public speaking.

The affirmative speaker should work seamlessly with their team, ensuring a well-structured, logical debate. Each team member contributes to the overall coherence and success of the discussion, taking turns to present their viewpoints and plugs any gaps in the team’s arguments.

Collaboration and effective time management, facilitated by the timekeeper, are key elements in achieving a strong performance.

What Should Be Your Goal In A Debate?

Ultimately, the goal of a debate is to persuade the adjudicator and the audience. Debaters should present the team’s case clearly and confidently.

They can build a solid foundation by analyzing the opponent’s argument and offering well-reasoned refutations. Avoiding filler and staying focused on the main points ensure a persuasive and impactful performance.

Mastering the art of persuasive discourse in debates requires dedication and practice . Aspiring debaters should embrace teamwork, understand the debate structure, and hone their research, refutation, and public speaking skills.

How Do You Debate Successfully?

Thorough preparation is the key to defeating your opposing team! Conduct research and gather evidence to support your arguments. Develop strong critical thinking skills to evaluate and respond to opposing viewpoints effectively.

Communicate confidently and respectfully, utilizing persuasive speaking techniques and positive body language (make eye contact!) to engage the audience and convey the strength of your position.

How To End A Debate

Ending a debate gracefully shows respect and leaves a lasting impression. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Summarize Your Key Points: Briefly remind everyone of your main arguments and why they’re strongest.
Reiterate Your Stance: Clearly restate your position on the topic.
Address Your Opponent (Gracefully): Acknowledge their strengths (if possible!), but explain why yours hold more weight.
Conclude with a Broader Point: If appropriate, connect your debate topic to a larger issue or implication.
End on a Positive Note: Thank your opponent and the audience for their time and engagement.

By following these steps, you can leave the debate on a high note, demonstrating your sportsmanship and the strength of your arguments.

Adam Howarth

Adam covers the topic of Public Speaking for Digital Authority. From his first experience of oratory with his school debating society to his more recent experiences of promoting the local business scene in Wrexham, Wales, he has always been involved in public speaking.

How to Write a Debate Speech

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,523,081 times.

So, you've joined debate, and it's time to write a debate speech. There are some tried and true methods to writing an effective debate speech. If you understand them, and the components that make up a standard debate speech, you will increase your chances of success.

Sample Speeches

Preparing for the Debate Speech

You may be asked to stand affirmative or negative. In LD (Lincoln-Douglas debate), the first affirmative speech will be at most 7 minutes long, and the first negative speech will be at most 6 minutes. [1] X Research source
The speakers then present arguments against the earlier affirmative or negative speech that was just read. Speakers must listen carefully and be able to counter arguments. There are two segments involving cross-examination (CX), in which the debaters are allowed to ask questions and openly debate the topic. This is most often called cross-examination, or cx for short, and occurs after the first affirmative speech, and the first negative speech.
The best thing you can do to better understand LD/PF/Policy debate is practice and research.

Brainstorm the topic, and research it before you sit down to write. Write out a list of key components for both sides of the issue. If you are on a debate team, do this together. Each member could discuss the key component list, in order to figure out which issues you want to cover in each speech.
Spend some time at the library or on the Internet using credible sources to research the key reasons that seem strongest. Use books, scholarly journals, credible newspapers, and the like. Be very cautious about unverified information bandied about on the Internet.
You will also want prepare to deal with the strongest arguments your opponent(s) might make. Ignoring the other side’s best arguments can weaken your rhetorical appeal.

A basic debate outline should contain six parts: An attention-getter, your stated stance (aff or neg)/ restatement of the resolution, your definitions, your value, criterion, and contentions.
You can break each of those six parts into subcategories. It’s often a good idea to write the contentions last, focusing on the value and criterion to hold it up first.

Writing the Debate Speech

You should address the jury or audience with formal salutations. For example, you could say something like, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.” Debates are very formal in tone.
Making a good first impression with the judges is very important. This leads judges to assume the debater is persuasive. One technique to write a strong introduction is to contextualize the topic, especially in relation to real world events. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Bar Association Leading professional organization of lawyers and law students Go to source
Introductions can also focus on prominent examples, quotations, or on a personal anecdote that can help establish a rapport with the audience and judges. Be careful using humor; it involves risks and can lead to awkward silences if not done right. Find a relevant specific that illustrates the underlying point.

Step 2 Outline where you stand very clearly.

Don’t muddle your position. It needs to be extremely clear whether you affirm or negate the resolution, so don’t hem and haw and contradict yourself. The audience also should not have to wait until the end to find out. Make your stance very clear, and do it early on
For example, you could say, “my partner and I firmly negate (or affirm) the resolution which states that unilateral military force by the United States is justified to prevent nuclear proliferation.” [7] X Research source

Step 3 Make key points to back up your stance.

A good rule of thumb is to back up your position with 3-4 strong points of supporting argumentation. You definitely need to have more than 1 or 2 key points to back up the stance you have taken.
The body of the speech – the key points and their development – should be, by far, the longest part of the debate speech (perhaps 3 ½ minutes to 30 seconds for an opening and for a conclusion, depending on the rules of the debate you are doing).

Focus on the causes of the problem, the effects of the problem, expert opinion, examples, statistics, and present a solution. Try to use visual images, not just generic terms – show don’t tell, and illustrate a point with details.
Appeal to the motives and emotions of the listener with a light touch. Appeal to their sense of fair play, desire to save, to be helpful, to care about community, etc. Ground examples in how people are affected.
Try using rhetorical questions, which make your opponents consider the validity of their point; irony, which undermines their point and makes you seem more mature and intelligent; simile, which gives them something to relate to; humor, which gets the audience on your side when done well; and repetition, which reinforces your point.

Aristotle believed that speakers were more persuasive if they combined elements of logos (persuasion by reasoning) with pathos (having an element of emotional appeal) and ethos (an appeal based on the character of the speaker) - for example, that they seem intelligent or of good will.
There are two ways to use logic – inductive (which makes the case with measurable evidence like statistics or a specific anecdote or example) and deductive (which makes the case by outlining a general principle that is related to the specific topic to infer a conclusion from it - as in, I oppose all wars except those involving imminent self defense; thus, I must oppose this one because it's a war that was not in imminent self defense, and here's why). Or the reverse.
You should use pathos sparingly. Emotional appeal on its own can be dangerous. Logos - the appeal to reason - should be at the core. However, logical appeal without any pathos at all can render a speech dry and dull. Consider what you are trying to make your audience feel. Explaining how a topic affects real people is one way to use pathos well.

Concluding the Debate Speech

One strong way to conclude a debate speech is to bookend the conclusion with the opening, by referring back to the introduction and tying the conclusion into the same theme.
Quotations can be a good way to end a speech. You can also end with a brief summation of the key arguments of the speech to ensure they remain fresh in judges’ minds.

Step 2 Work on your delivery from beginning to end.

Use a clear , loud voice, and be careful to watch pacing. You don’t want to speak too loud or too slowly. Remember that confidence goes a long way toward persuasion.

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

Never add new points in your speech because you still have time, as you might not present it in the best way. When you are nervous, you might even say an argument in favor of the other side and you don't want that. Thanks Helpful 32 Not Helpful 2
Never degrade your topic. Thanks Helpful 33 Not Helpful 3
Don't use all your points in your debate- in an actual debate, it is sometimes useful to have other information to cite if the argument starts going their way Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 3

Tips from our Readers

You can make a sample opening and closing speech beforehand so you can focus more time on developing your arguments during the actual debate.
Make sure to include rebuttals in your speech, as they are just as important as your main arguments.
Practice as much as possible — it will make you more confident and help you maintain eye contact.
Imagine you're just practicing with a friend rather than performing in front of an audience.
Take deep breaths before starting to ease nerves.

Remember, just because you can write a debate speech, it doesn't mean you can say a debate speech effectively. Practice! Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 5

↑ http://www.learndebating.com/english/DEBATING.pdf
↑ https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/faq/reliable
↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-outline-a-speech
↑ https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/newsletters/trial-evidence/five-tips-engaging-opening-statements/
↑ http://www.oxfordsd.org/Page/5582
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/argument/
↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/persuasive-speaking
↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/speech-anxiety

About This Article

To write a debate speech, start by researching the topic thoroughly with credible and scholarly sources, and make an outline of your argument including an introduction, thesis argument, key points, and conclusion. Write the thesis argument and develop 3-4 strong points of argumentation. Be sure to clearly state your stance, and utilize expert opinions, statistics, and examples to support your opinion. To finish the speech, write an interesting introduction that incorporates your thesis and a brief conclusion that summarizes your main points. If you want to learn more, such as how to make your debate speech persuasive, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to prepare for a debate.

Silence falls on the room (unusually for debating). Everyone looks up, at one person, who for that moment has absolute power. She reads out a sentence, very, very slowly. She reads it out again. We hear nothing but the scratching of pens. She gives a signal. Everyone runs out of the room. That's how it is at short preparation or 'short prep' debates, where debaters are given 15 minutes to prepare a motion they have not heard until that moment. It's a pretty scary prospect, having to speak in front of a room full of people, half of whom will be disagreeing with every word you say, about something you knew nothing about until 15 minutes ago. Even more so when your phone and / or tablet has been surgically removed from you (as is the rule in all debating competitions), and you have nothing to rely on but your naked brains and those of your debating partner. Every minute - every second - counts in that prep time. So, how to make the best use of those precious quarter of an hour? Get to the room as fast as you can (this could easily use up two minutes, depending on how big the building you are competing in is and how good your sense of direction is). Make sure you have:

Several pens or pencils
Highlighters
Index cards
A bottle of water

Now you're in the room, alone with each other. What to do first? You should both keep quiet for five minutes. Why? Surely we should be discussing, sharing our ideas? Well, yes, but you have to have some ideas to share first. It's quite possible you will never have thought about the motion topic in your life. Even if the topic is one on which you have both deep knowledge and passionate convictions, you need some time to gather your thoughts. And if you gather your thoughts separately, you'll have twice as many thoughts by the end of the prep time. So, for five minutes silence should fall again, as you scratch away with your pens.

What are you writing about?

You need to be asking yourself questions; big questions. There are seven big questions which apply to every debate motion, which you should always ask. 1. What is the debate about? 2. What do we have to prove? 3. What do they have to prove? 4. What will be changed if the motion is passed? 5. Who are the actors? 6. Who are the stakeholders? 7. What is the mechanism? Write or type these questions out on a piece of card and bring them to every debate. (NB these questions only work with what we call 'policy debates', that is ones where the motion begins 'This house would ...' We'll cover how to prepare for 'principle debates', where the motion begins 'This house believes ...' in a later post.)

How might you answer these questions in practice?

Let's take an example; preparing the motion 'This house would tax meat', with you proposing. It's a nice big, broad motion (only four words long) with lots of scope for interpretation. 1. What is the debate about? This question is asking you to cut through all the practicalities and focus on the essential point of principle. Here, the debate is about whether the state has the right to intervene in the market for the benefit of society as a whole. It's about which is more important; the individual or the collective. 2. What do we have to prove? You are proposing a change to the status quo. First you have to prove there is a problem with the status quo; then you have to prove that your proposed change will solve the problem. There will always be both costs and benefits associated with any change, and you have to prove that the benefits of your proposed change will outweigh the benefits. So, you have to prove that: consumption of meat has bad consequences; taxing it is an effective way to lessen those consequences; the benefits of taxing meat will be greater than the costs. 3. What do they have to prove? As they're defending the status quo, they have to prove either that the status quo works and does not need changing, or that it does need changing but that your way of changing it will either not work or that its costs will be greater than its benefits. (They may also choose to propose a better way of dealing with the problem presented by the motion.) So, they have to prove either that the consumption of meat is not a bad thing (or is even a good thing), or that it is a bad thing but that taxing meat is not the way to deal with it, either because it will not work, or because the costs will be greater than the benefits. 4. What will be changed if the motion is passed? Most debate motions say, 'The world will be a better place if we take this action.' So, what will the world look like if your proposed action happens? It's worth considering both short and long (and sometimes medium) term effects. In the short term, everyone will eat less meat, and the government would have more money. In the long term, climate change will be greatly slowed down now that thousands of acres of land are filled with health giving plants rather than farting cows, and everyone will be slimmer and healthier thanks to their vegetable rich diet; those few who persist in eating meat will be treated for the diseases brought on by their diet in shining new hospitals paid for by the tax on their addiction. 5. Who are the actors? This means who is going to make the change happen. Here, it is the government, as they are the ones who are going to be setting and collecting the tax. 6. Who are the stakeholders? This means who is effected by the change. Here, it is the government collecting (and spending) the tax; meat farmers and retailers who are likely to see their income fall; consumers who will see the price of meat rise. 7. What is the mechanism? This means how will you make the change happen. Here, you get into the nitty gritty. How much tax? 5% of the price? 10%? 25%? Will you add it to the price in shops, or to the price retailers pay to farmers? Which is most likely to achieve the benefits you seek while minimising the costs? Having a high tax rate would be more likely to put people off buying meat; having a low tax rate would make it easier to get popular support for the measure, and would make black market evasion of the tax less likely.

You need to have answers to these questions jotted down in the first two minutes. Yes, two minutes. You have to think fast as a debater. Next, you need to take up another sheet of paper and start brainstorming arguments for both sides (still without talking to your debating partner). Do this for three minutes. In this three minutes, you need to switch off the part of your brain that keeps telling you that what you're doing isn't very good. Don't worry whether the arguments are good or not; just get them down, as many of them as possible. Quantity is more important than quality at this stage. Selection comes later. The five minutes are up. You look up from your notepads. Your eyes meet. What do you do now? First, you share your answers to the big questions, and make sure you agree on the answers. If you're speaking first for the proposition, agree how you're going to define the motion (see our earlier post here on how to do that). With the big answers clear in your minds, you can proceed to the arguments. Go through the ones for your side of the motion first. Choose the six most persuasive. Then rank them by persuasiveness. The first speaker gets the top three in order of persuasiveness, the second speaker gets the next three in order of persuasiveness. Note, no more than three arguments each. Time to reach for the index cards now. Take one for each of your three arguments. On it, write a headline, which should be no more than a word or at most a phrase, and short points on how you're going to expand on it. With the motion we've picked, one of your cards might look like this: HEALTH Excessive consumption of meat = major cause of heart disease and diabetes Taxing it discourages consumption, nudges consumers towards healthier choices by making them cheaper Heavy taxation on tobacco = massive reduction in smoking = major health benefits; taxing meat = same. The smallness of index cards has two advantages: 1. It makes them easier to handle while you are speaking, ensuring you spend more time making eye contact and less time fumbling with your notes. 2. It ensures your notes are concise and focused. Boiling your speech down to three index cards will also help you to signpost it better; see our earlier post here on how to signpost. I'll just take a moment here to remind you that you should NEVER, NEVER, NEVER write out a debate speech in full. That isn't debating; it's essay writing. You can be good at writing essays and good at debating, and you can learn a lot about how to write essays from doing debating, but they are NOT THE SAME THING. I hope I made that clear. This sorting out of your own arguments should take another five minutes. Now it's time to consider the other side's possible arguments and how to rebut them. Do this by taking turns, one person stating the arguments, the other one rebutting them. As well as working out what you will say in rebuttal, this will both get you into the mind set of the other side (which is vital), while also sharpening up your rebuttal responses. It's a bit like footballers passing a ball around to warm up just before kick off. Your final task is to find the point of clash. See our earlier post here on the point of clash. This should be the thing you keep in mind all the way through the debate, your guiding star. You need to keep coming back to it, and keep showing the judge that you are on the winning side of it, particularly if you are speaking last. Very often, it will be the answer to the first question: what is the debate about? Here, the point of clash is the right of the state to intervene to protect the health of the community against the individual's right to make their own choices. You have to show that the damage that meat eating causes to health and the climate outweighs the loss of freedom entailed by a tax on meat. Say the point of clash to each other a few times, as a kind of mantra, to make sure it is at the front of your mind. By now, your brain should be singing, and you should be ready to talk for England (literally, if you are representing England in the Worlds Debating Competition). If you're feeling nervous, embrace it. As every actor, performer and sportsperson knows, that adrenalin rush will sharpen up your performance and make you more focused. Gather up your notes, take a swig of water, and head for the debating chamber. Into battle ...

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The Most Powerful Debate Speech Strategy And Topic Ideas

Hrideep barot.

Speech Topics

Welcome to the exciting world of debate speech and topics! Forget the fancy jargon; let’s talk about how debates aren’t just about winning arguments. Picture it as a journey where we explore ideas and connect. We’re not just tossing words around; we’re diving into the core of what makes us tick.

Think of debates as more than just convincing speeches. They’re like a doorway to understanding and connecting with people. It all begins with a strong start – our introduction. It’s not just about capturing attention; it’s about inviting everyone into a space where ideas clash and minds expand.

In this space, words aren’t just tools; they’re the architects of who we are becoming. Our journey is more than winning debates; it’s about developing critical thinking, becoming great communicators, and understanding each other better. So, let’s kick off this adventure together, where the magic of debate isn’t just in the words we say but in how they shape us along the way.

11 Greatest Debate Topics Of All Time.

How To Write a Debate Speech?

Ways In which Debate Helps Shape Overall Personality.

10 powerful debate strategies which can never go wrong. .

Conclusion.

1. The Existence of a Higher Power: God vs. Atheism

Theological Arguments: Explore philosophical and theological arguments for the existence of God, such as the cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments.

Scientific Perspectives: Consider scientific perspectives that challenge traditional religious beliefs, including evolutionary theory and the Big Bang theory.

Personal Beliefs: Discuss the role of personal experiences and beliefs in shaping one’s stance on the existence of a higher power.

2. Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech Laws

Importance of Free Expression: Discuss the fundamental value of free expression in a democratic society and its role in fostering diversity of thought.

Harm Principle: Explore the harm principle as a criterion for limiting speech and the ethical considerations in regulating hate speech.

Balancing Rights: Consider the challenges in striking a balance between protecting individual rights and preventing harm to marginalized communities.

3. Legalization of Recreational Drugs: Pros and Cons

Individual Liberty: Discuss the argument for individual liberty, asserting that adults should have the autonomy to make choices about their bodies.

Public Health Concerns: Explore the potential negative impacts of drug legalization on public health and societal well-being.

Economic Implications: Consider the economic implications, including potential tax revenue and job creation, associated with the legalization of recreational drugs.

4. Climate Change: Human-Made vs. Natural Causes

Scientific Consensus: Examine the overwhelming scientific consensus supporting the idea that human activities contribute significantly to climate change.

Skeptic Perspectives: Discuss skeptical views that challenge the extent of human impact on climate change, considering natural climate variations.

Policy Implications: Explore the policy implications of different perspectives, including the urgency for mitigation and adaptation measures.

5. Capital Punishment: Morality and Deterrence

Retribution and Justice: Discuss the concept of retribution and whether capital punishment serves as a just response to heinous crimes.

Deterrence Effect: Examine the debate over the deterrent effect of capital punishment on potential criminals.

Risk of Wrongful Execution: Consider the ethical implications of the potential for wrongful executions and the irreversible nature of the death penalty.

6. Immigration Policies: Open Borders vs. Strict Control

Economic Contributions: Discuss the economic benefits of immigration, including contributions to the labor force and entrepreneurship.

National Security Concerns: Explore concerns related to national security, public resources, and the potential strain on social services.

Humanitarian Considerations: Consider the moral and humanitarian aspects of providing refuge to those fleeing violence or seeking a better life.

7. Assisted Suicide: Right to Die vs. Sanctity of Life

Autonomy and Dignity: Discuss the principle of autonomy and an individual’s right to make decisions about their own life, including the choice of assisted suicide.

Ethical and Religious Perspectives: Examine ethical and religious perspectives that emphasize the sanctity of life and the moral implications of assisted suicide.

Legal Implications: Consider the legal frameworks and ethical guidelines surrounding assisted suicide in different jurisdictions.

8. Privacy in the Digital Age: Security vs. Individual Rights

Surveillance Technologies: Explore the capabilities and implications of modern surveillance technologies, including mass data collection and facial recognition.

National Security Justifications: Discuss arguments that support increased surveillance for national security purposes, especially in the context of preventing terrorism.

Individual Privacy Concerns: Examine concerns related to the erosion of individual privacy rights, data breaches, and the potential for abuse of surveillance powers.

9. Universal Basic Income: Reducing Inequality vs. Economic Sustainability

Poverty Alleviation: Discuss the potential of a universal basic income (UBI) to alleviate poverty and provide financial stability to all citizens.

Economic Viability: Explore concerns about the economic feasibility and sustainability of implementing UBI, including potential impacts on workforce participation.

Social and Economic Equity: Consider how UBI might address systemic inequalities and contribute to a more equitable distribution of resources.

10. Censorship in the Arts: Protecting Morality vs. Freedom of Expression

Artistic Freedom: Discuss the importance of artistic freedom as a form of expression and creativity.

Moral and Cultural Sensitivities: Explore the need for censorship to protect societal values, moral standards, and cultural sensitivities.

Role of Cultural Context: Consider how cultural context and shifting societal norms influence the boundaries of artistic expression.

11. Animal Testing: Scientific Advancement vs. Animal Rights

Scientific Progress: Discuss the contributions of animal testing to scientific and medical advancements, including the development of new treatments and pharmaceuticals.

Ethical Treatment of Animals: Examine the ethical considerations surrounding the use of animals in research, focusing on animal rights, welfare, and alternatives to testing.

Balancing Interests: Explore the challenge of balancing scientific progress with the ethical treatment of animals, seeking common ground that respects both human and animal interests.

These elaborations provide a more in-depth understanding of each controversial debate topic, touching on various perspectives, considerations, and implications associated with each issue. Each topic reflects a complex interplay of values, ethics, and practical considerations that make them enduring subjects of discussion and debate.

How To Write A Debate Speech ?

Introduction: grabbing attention.

Begin your debate speech with a captivating introduction to immediately capture the audience’s interest. Consider using a powerful quote, a relevant anecdote, or a surprising fact related to your topic. The goal is to create an immediate connection with your listeners and set the stage for the discussion that follows. Make it clear why the topic is important and worthy of their attention. You might also include a brief overview of the main points you will cover to provide a roadmap for your audience.

Thesis Statement: Clearly State Your Position

Craft a concise and compelling thesis statement that communicates your stance on the topic. This statement should serve as the central point around which your entire speech revolves. Take the opportunity to highlight the significance of your position and why it is the most rational or ethical perspective. Additionally, consider briefly acknowledging the existence of opposing views to demonstrate your awareness of the complexity of the issue.

Main Arguments: Develop Strong Points

For each main argument, delve into detailed explanations supported by robust evidence. This evidence could include relevant research findings, real-life examples, or historical precedents. Be sure to explain the logical connections between your points and the overall thesis. Use persuasive language to underscore the importance of each argument, making it clear why the audience should find your perspective compelling.

Addressing Counter Arguments: Anticipate and Refute

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the opposing viewpoint by anticipating counterarguments. Acknowledge these counterarguments respectfully before providing well-reasoned and persuasive refutations. This not only strengthens your position but also shows intellectual honesty and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives. Use facts, logic, and reasoning to effectively dismantle counterarguments, leaving your audience with a sense of the robustness of your position.

Emphasize Impact: Appeal to Emotions and Values

While presenting your arguments, strategically incorporate emotional appeals to resonate with your audience. Share relatable stories, connect your points to shared values, and use language that evokes an emotional response. This not only adds depth to your speech but also helps create a memorable and impactful impression. A balance between logic and emotion can make your arguments more persuasive and relatable.

Use Persuasive Language: Enhance Convincing Power

Employ a variety of rhetorical devices and persuasive language techniques to enhance the power of your speech. Metaphors, analogies, and vivid language can make complex ideas more accessible and memorable. Consider using repetition to emphasize key points and create a rhythmic flow in your speech. Aim for clarity and precision in your language to ensure that your audience easily grasps the nuances of your arguments.

Maintain Clarity and Organization: Structured Delivery

Organize your speech in a clear and logical structure to facilitate easy comprehension. Begin with a strong introduction, followed by a clear progression of main points. Use transitions between ideas to maintain coherence and guide your audience through the flow of your arguments. A well-structured speech not only aids understanding but also enhances the overall impact of your message.

Engage the Audience: Foster Connection

Encourage active engagement by incorporating rhetorical questions, interactive elements, or moments of audience participation. Foster a sense of connection by speaking directly to the concerns and interests of your listeners. Consider using relatable examples of anecdotes that resonate with the experiences of your audience. Engaging your listeners in this way can create a more dynamic and memorable speech.

Conclusion: Reinforce Your Message

In your conclusion, re-emphasize the key points of your speech and restate your thesis with conviction. Summarize the main arguments in a way that reinforces your overall message. Conclude with a powerful and memorable statement that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion; instead, focus on leaving a strong and final impact that reinforces the significance of your position.

Q&A Preparation: Be Ready for Questions

Anticipate potential questions that may arise from your audience and prepare thoughtful and well-reasoned responses. Demonstrating a thorough understanding of your topic and the ability to address inquiries with confidence adds credibility to your overall presentation. Consider practicing responses to common questions to refine your ability to articulate your position effectively. During the Q&A session, maintain composure and be open to constructive dialogue, further showcasing your expertise and conviction.

Remember, the key to a successful debate speech lies not only in the strength of your arguments but also in your ability to connect with and persuade your audience. Regular practice, feedback, and a genuine passion for your topic will contribute to a compelling and influential presentation.

Check this out to learn about public speaking and debate differences.

Critical Thinking Skills:

Engaging in debates cultivates critical thinking by training individuals to analyze information rigorously. Debaters learn to identify key arguments, evaluate evidence, and discern logical connections. This process enhances their ability to approach complex issues with a discerning and analytical mindset.

Effective Communication:

Debate serves as a powerful platform for honing effective communication skills. Participants develop the art of articulation, mastering the ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively. Regular exposure to public speaking opportunities not only boosts confidence but also refines the delivery of compelling messages.

Check this out to learn how to deliver a memorable speech:

Research and Information Retrieval:

Debates foster strong research skills as individuals delve into diverse topics, evaluate sources, and synthesize information effectively. This process not only enhances information literacy but also teaches valuable skills in data analysis and interpretation.

Empathy and Understanding:

The nature of debates, where participants engage with a variety of viewpoints, promotes empathy and a deeper understanding of different perspectives. Exposure to diverse opinions encourages individuals to appreciate cultural nuances and fosters a more inclusive worldview.

Conflict Resolution Skills:

Debates contribute to the development of conflict resolution skills by emphasizing constructive dialogue and negotiation. Participants learn to navigate differences of opinion, seek common ground, and work towards resolutions collaboratively.

Leadership Qualities:

Active participation in debates fosters leadership qualities such as confidence and initiative. Debaters often take charge of researching, organizing arguments, and leading team efforts, contributing to the development of effective leadership skills.

Time Management:

The time constraints inherent in debates teach individuals to prioritize information effectively. Participants learn to cover multiple points within a structured timeframe, enhancing their ability to manage time efficiently.

Check this out to learn how to ace a 2-minute speech:

Teamwork and Collaboration:

Debating frequently occurs in team settings, fostering teamwork and collaboration. Participants develop skills in effective communication within teams, resolving conflicts, and achieving collective goals.

Debate, as a structured and disciplined form of discourse, provides a platform for personal growth and the development of a well-rounded personality. It not only enhances cognitive and communication skills but also nurtures qualities such as empathy, adaptability, and ethical decision-making, contributing to the holistic development of individuals.

1. Solid Research And Preparation: The Foundation Of Success

In-Depth Understanding: Devote time to thoroughly understand the nuances of your chosen topic. Conduct extensive research to be well-informed on various aspects of the issue.

Counterargument Anticipation: Anticipate potential counterarguments that opponents might present. This allows you to proactively address opposing views and strengthen your position.

Factual Support: Arm yourself with concrete evidence, facts, and statistics. This not only bolsters your credibility but also adds weight to your arguments.

2. Clear And Concise Communication: Precision Matters

Clarity of Expression: Express your ideas in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. Avoid unnecessary complexity that might confuse the audience and dilute your message.

Key Message Emphasis: Emphasize key points with precision. Clearly articulate your thesis and ensure that each supporting argument aligns with and reinforces your central message.

Memorable Language: Use language that is both concise and memorable. Craft statements that leave a lasting impression, making it easier for the audience to recall your key arguments.

3. Active Listening: Addressing Counterarguments Effectively

Attentiveness: Actively listen to your opponents during the debate. Paying close attention allows you to respond effectively and demonstrate respect for differing viewpoints.

Acknowledgment of Valid Points: Acknowledge valid points made by the opposition. This not only showcases your fairness but also allows you to engage in a more constructive and nuanced debate.

Strategic Response: Respond thoughtfully to counterarguments. Be prepared to address opposing views with well-reasoned and compelling rebuttals.

4. Adaptability: Flexibility In The Face Of Challenges

Responsive Approach: Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the flow of the debate. Flexibility allows you to navigate unexpected turns and respond effectively to evolving circumstances.

Open-Mindedness: Demonstrate an open-minded approach to new information. If presented with compelling evidence, be willing to adjust your stance accordingly.

Strategic Agility: Develop the ability to think on your feet and adjust your arguments and responses as the debate unfolds.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Connecting With Your Audience

Understanding Audience Emotions: Consider the emotions and values of your audience. Tailor your arguments to resonate with the experiences and concerns of the people you are addressing.

Emotional Appeals: Incorporate emotional appeals strategically. Connecting with the audience on an emotional level makes your arguments more relatable and persuasive.

Empathy in Communication: Use empathy to establish a genuine connection. Demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives and emotions of your audience.

6. Confidence And Body Language: Projecting Authority

Confident Posture: Maintain a confident and upright posture throughout the debate. Projecting confidence through body language contributes to your perceived authority.

Eye Contact: Make deliberate and consistent eye contact with the audience and opponents. This not only conveys confidence but also fosters a sense of connection.

Vocal Presence: Ensure a strong and clear vocal presence. Speak with conviction and avoid vocal patterns that may suggest uncertainty.

7. Strategic Use of Time: Maximize Impact

Time Allocation: Strategically allocate your time to cover all key points without rushing. Prioritize high-impact arguments and allocate sufficient time for their presentation.

Strategic Pauses: Use strategic pauses for emphasis. Pauses allow the audience to absorb your points and can add weight to your arguments.

Time Management Skills: Develop effective time management skills to ensure that your speech is well-paced and impactful.

8. Consistency in Messaging: Reinforce Your Core Points

Unified Message: Maintain consistency in your messaging throughout the debate. Reinforce your core arguments and thesis to create a cohesive and unified presentation.

Avoiding Contradictions: Be vigilant about avoiding contradictions in your arguments. Inconsistencies can weaken your overall position and undermine your credibility.

Repetition for Emphasis: Repetition can be used strategically to emphasize key points and ensure that your central message is reinforced.

9. Engage the Audience: Foster Connection and Interest

Relatable Examples: Connect with the audience by using relatable examples and anecdotes. Grounding your arguments in real-life situations makes your message more accessible.

Interactive Elements: Encourage audience engagement through rhetorical questions or interactive elements. Active participation fosters a sense of involvement and interest.

Addressing Audience Concerns: Speak directly to the concerns and interests of your audience. Tailor your arguments to resonate with the experiences and values of those you are addressing.

10. Grace Under Pressure: Navigate Challenges with Composure

Calm Demeanor: Remain calm and composed, especially when faced with challenging questions or counterarguments. A composed demeanor enhances your perceived competence and confidence.

Professionalism: Handle pressure with grace and professionalism. Maintain focus on the substance of your arguments rather than getting derailed by external pressures.

Effective Problem-Solving: Develop effective problem-solving skills to address unexpected challenges. Navigating pressure with composure demonstrates resilience and adaptability.

By incorporating these elaborated strategies into your debating approach, you can enhance your effectiveness, build credibility, and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Continuous practice and refinement will contribute to your growth as a skilled and persuasive debater.

In summary, the world of debate is a transformative journey that extends beyond the exchange of arguments. Crafting a debate speech is more than an exercise in persuasion; it’s an opportunity to refine our ability to connect with others. Exploring profound topics in debates prompts introspection and broadens our understanding of the world.

Powerful debate strategies go beyond winning; they teach us adaptability and the importance of emotional intelligence. It’s not just about presenting arguments; it’s about becoming individuals who can navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace. Debate shapes our personality in multifaceted ways. It cultivates critical thinking, enhances communication skills, and instills empathy. Engaging with diverse perspectives fosters a more nuanced worldview, contributing to a well-rounded personality.

In essence, the debate is a dynamic and evolving process that leaves an unerasable mark on our character. It’s a journey that molds us into individuals capable of not only articulating ideas persuasively but also of connecting with others on a deeper level. Through debate, we become architects of our growth, equipped with the skills and perspectives needed to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of life.

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Complete Guide to Debating: How to Improve your Debating Skills

August 1, 2018 - Gini Beqiri

Debating can look intimidating from the sidelines, with speakers appearing confident, passionate and unwavering, but it consists of skills that anybody can learn. Debating may not be something that you encounter in your everyday work but these skills can be incredibly valuable. In this article we provide a guide to the basics of debating.

What is debating?

A debate is a structured contest over an issue or policy. There are two sides – one supporting, one opposing.

Benefits of debating include:

Allowing you to think about aspects and perspectives you may not have considered.
Encourages you to speak strategically.
Improving public speaking skills .
Learning how to create a persuasive argument.
When you have to argue against your personal view you realise that there are two sides to the argument.

Debating examples

The U.K. Prime Minister, Theresa May, answers questions:

This example video shows Theresa May answering questions from MPs in the House of Commons. Notice her strong debating skills and how she answers difficult questions under pressure.

Watch the full video here: Prime Minister’s Questions: 16 May 2018

Debate structure

There are multiple formats a debate can follow, this is a basic debate structure:

A topic is chosen for each debate – this is called a resolution or motion. It can be a statement, policy or idea. The motion is usually a policy which changes the current state of affairs or a statement which is either truth or false. The motion typically starts with “This House…”
The Affirmative team support the statement
The Negative team oppose the statement
Sometimes you will be asked to take a position in the debate but in other debates you will be allocated your position.
Teams are provided with time to prepare – usually one hour
Each speaker presents for a set amount of time
Speakers alternate between the teams, usually a speaker in the Affirmative team starts, followed by a Negative speaker, then the second Affirmative speaker presents, followed by the second Negative speaker etc.
The debate is then judged.
There may be an audience present but they are not involved in the debate

Once you have learned how to debate in one format you can easily switch to another.

Roles of the speakers

Each speaker must typically do the following:

First Affirmative

Contextualise the debate – clearly set out your team’s interpretation of the topic and the significant issues they disagree with.
Provide definitions if necessary.
Outline the team line and the team split – this is where you outline your team’s case and summarise the way your arguments have been divided between your speakers.
Provide 2-3 arguments supporting the motion.

First Negative

Clearly state your definition
Provide your arguments as to why this is the superior definition
Rebut the Affirmative’s arguments supporting their definition
Outline a team line and team split.
Rebut the arguments made by the First Affirmative.
Deliver 2-3 arguments against the motion.

Second Affirmative

If needed, resolve any definitional issues.
Rebut the First Negative’s arguments.
Deliver 2-3 arguments supporting the motion.

Second Negative

Rebut the arguments made by the Affirmative team up to this point, with a focus on the Second Affirmative’s arguments.

Third Affirmative

Rebut specific issues raised by Second Negative and defend any other important attacks on your team’s case.
Conclude your speech with a brief summary (1-2 minutes) of your team’s case. You should include the key issues which you and the Negative team disagreed on during this.
You can introduce new material but this is interpreted as poor team planning.

Third Negative

This is the same structure as the Third Affirmative.

There are many variations of the three against three debate, a commonly known one is Points of Information. This is used a lot in university debates . During a speech the opposition is allowed to ask a question or make a point.

They stand up and say “point of information” or “on that point” etc. The speaker can choose to accept or reject the point. If accepted, the point of information can last around 15 seconds and the speaker can ask for it to stop at any time.

Debate definitions

Younger debaters tend to waste time defining terms so you must first decide whether you need to define a term. Ask yourself: will my speech be confusing if I don’t define this term? Could the opposition misinterpret what I mean without a definition? For example, the motion could be “we should ban plastic straws”. It’s clear what “plastic straws” are but what does “ban” mean?

Two factors which determine the definition of the debate:

1. Context – what is happening in the area that relates to this issue? For example, maybe the government of a country is debating banning smoking in public buildings and you decide to define the term “passive smoking” during the debate. If a significant event related to the topic has occurred then it should be the focus of the debate, for instance, a shocking report may have recently been revealed in the media showing the widespread effects of second-hand smoking.

2. Spirit of the motion – topics are chosen for a reason so what sort of debate was imagined when the topic was chosen? Looking at the spirit of the motion will ensure that you pick a definition that will produce a well-balanced and important debate.

If the topic is vague then you will have more choice of definitions. You have a duty to pick a clear definition and one that will create a good debate. If not, this may cause a definitional challenge which will ruin the debate and frustrate the judges.

For example, the topic may be “we spend too much money on the stars”. Stars can refer to celebrities or astronomy so you need to choose a definition.

Look at the context and see if there has been a recent significant event related to either topics – the media is the best place to look.
Then apply second test – which definition will lead to the best debate, which will be more interesting and debatable?

If one answer passes both tests then that’s your definition. If they tie then either is a good definition.

When providing your definition explain the context used to form the definition. This is important because your understanding of the context may be different from others due to various factors, such as, religion, culture, gender etc.

Learn more about using AI to practice your debating skills .

Basic argument structure

There are various ways of dividing up cases according to groups of arguments, such as, social/economic/political etc. You could assign each speaker to handle a group.

Place the most important arguments first, for example, “The media has more influence on self-esteem than anybody else. This is true for three reasons. Firstly (most important argument)… Secondly…, Thirdly (least important argument)…”

To structure an argument follow these steps:

Claim – present your argument in a clear statement. This claim is one reason why you’re in favour of/against the motion.
Evidence – the evidence supporting your claim, such as, statistics, references, quotes, analogies etc.
Impact – explain the significance of the evidence – how does this support your claim?

Arguments are weakest at the evidence stage as it’s easy to argue against, for example, the evidence may consist of isolated examples or there may be counter evidence. But it’s not a good technique because the opposition can provide more evidence or rebut your criticisms.

It’s difficult to rebut claims because they are usually reasonable but if you can attack a claim then that speaker’s whole argument falls apart. So if you think a claim is vulnerable then rebut it but you will need a strong explanation to show why it doesn’t matter.

European human rights debating for sixth form students from across London.

There are common flaws you can look for to form a rebuttal:

1. False dichotomy – this is where the speaker is trying to falsely divide the debate into two sides even though there are more alternatives than they state. It’s likely the speaker is doing this on purpose but in some cases they do not understand the debate.

2. Assertion – this is when a speaker presents a statement which isn’t actually an argument because there is no reason to believe that the statement is valid. It may just be an assumption. You can point out that there has not been enough examination to prove this validity and then give a reason why the assertion is (probably) not valid.

3. Morally flawed – arguments can be morally flawed, for example, “All criminals given a prison sentence should be given the death penalty instead, this will save the country money and space.” What has been argued is true but it’s clearly morally flawed.

4. Correlation rather than causation – a speaker may suggest a link between two events and suggest one led to the other. But the speaker may not explain how one caused the other event which can make an argument invalid.

5. Failure to deliver promises – sometimes a speaker might fail to complete a task they promised to deliver. For instance, they may state that they will provide evidence supporting a certain claim but they may lose track of what they have said and not actually do this.

6. Straw man – the opposing team introduces an argument and then rebuts it. They may use an extreme example of your proposal or perhaps they were hoping that you would make this argument.

7. Contradiction – an argument the other team presents may contradict one of their previous arguments. You must point out that the arguments cannot be true simultaneously and then explain how this reduces their case’s credibility.

8. Compare the conclusion to reality – think “what would happen if what they (the other team) are suggesting is implemented right now?” This usually shows that it’s more complicated than they have suggested and the changes can cause secondary problems.

Judges generally score the speakers looking at this criteria:

Content / Matter – What the debaters say, their arguments and evidence, the relevance of their arguments.
Style / Manner – How the debaters speak, including the language and tone used.
Strategy / Method – The structure of the speech, the clarity and responding to other’s arguments.

Debating event at the Oxford Union

Important skills for debating

To meet the judges criteria you will have to develop certain skills, consider the following:

You points must be relevant to the topic.
Provide evidence whenever you can and not your personal opinion.
You must put aside your personal views and remain objective when you debate so your argument remains logical. You can be passionate about a topic but interest can turn into aggression and passion can turn into upset.
Consider the audience’s attention span – make it interesting, for example, don’t just present lots of complicated statistics.
Ethos – the ethical appeal
Pathos – the emotional appeal
Logos – the logical appeal
Use notes but keep them brief and well organised. Use a different piece of paper for rebuttals.
Similar to looking at conclusions to create rebuttals, think comparatively by asking yourself “How does my plan compare to what’s happening now/what would happen in the world if the other team won?” You can win the debate if you can make comparative claims about why your arguments matter more than the other team.
Only tell jokes if you’re naturally good at it otherwise this can backfire.
Flexibility is important because you might get allocated the side of the argument you don’t agree with. You’ll have to work hard to overcome your views. Also use this insight to think of the potential arguments you might make and then plan for counter arguments.
Speak clearly and concisely.
You must talk fast enough to have the time to deliver your speech but slow enough so you can be understood.
Project your voice to the back of the room.
Incorporate dramatic pauses.
Emphasise important words and vary your tone appropriately.
Have a relaxed pose and posture.
Avoid filler words.
Know your material.
Emphasise using gestures and avoid nervous gestures.
Maintain eye contact with the audience.
Keep your language simple to avoid confusion.
Refer to the opposite side as: “My opponent”.
When making a rebuttal say: “My opponent said…, however…”
Don’t exaggerate – avoid the words “never” or “always” etc.
Avoid saying that a speaker “is wrong”, instead say that “your idea is mistaken”.

What to avoid

Falsifying, making up or altering evidence.
Publicly disagreeing with the judges’ decision.
Attacking a speaker rather than an idea.
Acting aggressively or offensively towards debaters, judges, audience etc.
Interrupting other debaters as this can suggest that your argument isn’t very strong.
Disagreeing with facts or obvious truths.

British Parliamentary debating

British Parliamentary debating is a popular form of debating so we will briefly explain it: There are four teams made up of two speakers each. Two teams are on the government’s side and the other two teams are the opposition but all the teams are trying to win rather than one side. The motion is given 15 minutes before the debate begins and teams are assigned to positions randomly. They alternate their speeches, with the government’s side starting. Speeches are usually 5-7 minutes.

The first two speakers on the government side are called the “opening government” and the first two speakers on the opposition’s side are called the “opening opposition”. The last two speakers on the government’s and opposition’s side are called the “closing government” and “closing opposition” correspondingly.

British MPs debate a petition seeking to ban Donald Trump from entering the U.K.

The speakers’ roles in the opening half of the debate are similar to the roles of the first and second speakers in the three against three debate described previously. The only difference is that the second opening government and second opening opposition speakers include summaries at the end of their speeches – this is because they will also be competing with the teams in the closing half of the debate.

The closing government and closing opposition aim to move the debate on but not contradict their side’s opening team. As well as rebuttal, the majority of the third speaker’s time consists of presenting either: new material, new arguments, a new analysis from a different perspective or extending previously presented arguments. This is called an “extension” which must be something that sets their team apart and makes them unique.

The last two speeches of the closing teams are summary speeches – they summarise the debate and disagreements between the team. Their most important goal is to explain why their side has won the debate. They are not allowed to present new arguments but they can present new evidence and rebuttal.

During the speeches points of information are offered regularly. Speakers should only accept a maximum of two points of information. The first and last minute is protected time where points of information cannot be offered.

Rather than a side trying to win, all the teams are trying to win – this allows different perspectives to be explored. The teams are then ranked 1st to 4th in the debate.

Debate topics

Almost anything can be debated, here are some popular topics – these have been written as questions but they can be easily adapted into statements:

Is animal experimentation justified?
Should we legalise the possession of cannabis for medicinal use?
Should we recognise Bitcoin as a legal currency?
Is torture acceptable when used for national security?
Should mobile phones be banned until a certain age?
Does technology make us more lonely?
Should guns be banned in the U.S.?
Should we make internet companies liable for illegal content shared on their platforms?
Will posting students’ grades publicly motivate them to perform better?
Should animals be used for scientific testing?
Do violent video games make people more violent?
Should the death penalty be stopped completely?
Should smoking in public places be completely banned?
Should doping be allowed in professional sports?
Should all zoos be closed?
Should consumers must take responsibility for the plastic waste crisis?
Is euthanasia justified?
Is the boarding school system beneficial to children?

Debate topics for children

If you’re trying to think of debate topics for a classroom, consider the following:

Should mobile phones be allowed at school?
Is global warming a problem?
Should violent video games be banned?
Is school detention beneficial?
Are celebrities good role models?
Does social networking have a beneficial effect on society?
Are single sex schools more effective than co-ed schools?
Do celebrities get away with more crime than non-celebrities?
Is cloning animals ethical?
Are humans to blame for certain animal extinctions?

Debating societies

If you’re interested in debating consider searching for a society or debating events near you:

Most universities have a debating society and their webpages usually contain lots of useful information and tips.
Toastmasters
Use Meetup to find debates close to you

Specific to the UK:

Sylvans Debating Club
The Association of Speakers Clubs

How to Write a Winning Debate Speech

What is a Debate?

A classroom debate involves students delivering persuasive speeches to present and support their opinions on a given subject. This activity helps develop critical thinking and communication skills, enabling students to gain a more comprehensive grasp of various topics.

Debate speeches are written according to a set of rules so a moderator can assess their effectiveness and allow others to question or challenge their statements within a formal debate.

A classroom debate is not an unruly fight or pointless argument but a structured formal conversation on a chosen topic in which two teams argue for or against it to convince the neutral moderator that they hold the stronger position.

Debating is a form of persuasive communication, and while we will be sticking to the fundamentals of how to write a debating speech, we also have a great guide to persuasive essay writing that elaborates on specific persuasive techniques.

Complete Teaching Unit on Class Debating

debate speech,debating | class debating unit 1 | How to Write a Winning Debate Speech | literacyideas.com

This unit will guide your students to write excellent DEBATE SPEECHES and craft well-researched, constructed ARGU MENTS ready for critique from their classmates.

Furthermore, this EDITABLE UNIT will provide the TOOLS and STRATEGIES for running highly engaging CLASSROOM DEBATES.

How To Run A Classroom Debate

Before jumping in headfirst to write your debating speech, ensure you understand how a debate is run to maximise your strategy and impact when it counts.

Debates occur in many different contexts, such as public meetings, election campaigns, legislative assemblies, and as entertainment on television shows. These contexts determine the specific structure the debate will follow.

This guide provides a basic step-by-step debate structure we can comfortably run with students in a classroom. By familiarizing students with this structure, they will effortlessly transition to other debate frameworks.

Running a classroom debate can be an engaging and educational activity that helps students develop critical thinking, communication, and research skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to organize and facilitate a successful classroom debate:

1. Choose a Topic For Your Debate.

Also called a resolution or a motion , the topic is sometimes chosen to debate. This is usually the case in a school activity to practice debating skills.

The resolution or motion is usually centered around a true or false statement or a proposal to change the current situation. Often, the motion starts, ”This House believes that….”

Select a topic relevant to your curriculum and the students’ interests. Ensure that it is debatable and has multiple perspectives. Further down this article, you can find a list of popular classroom debating topics.

2. Form Two Debating Teams

Two teams of three speakers each are formed. These are referred to as ‘ The House for the Motion ’ or the ‘ Affirmative ’ team and ‘The House Against the Motion ’ or the ‘ Negative ’ team.

Preparation is an essential aspect of debating. The speech and debate team members will need time to research their arguments, collaborate, and organize themselves and their respective roles in the upcoming debate.

They’ll also need time to write and rehearse their speeches. The better prepared and coordinated they are as a team, the greater their chances of success in the debate.

3. Assign Roles to Students.

Each team member should have a specific role, such as speaker, researcher , or rebuttal specialist . This encourages teamwork and ensures that each student is actively involved.

4. Research and Preparation:

Allocate time for teams to research and prepare their arguments. Encourage students to use multiple sources, including books, articles, and reputable websites. Make sure you read our complete guide to powerful student research strategies.

5. Set Debate Format:

Define the debate format, including the structure of each round. Common formats include opening statements, cross-examination, rebuttals, and closing statements.

6. Establish Rules:

Set ground rules for the debate, such as time limits for each speaker, etiquette, guidelines for respectful communication, and consequences for rule violations.

7. Conduct a Practice Debate:

Before the actual debate, conduct a practice round. This helps students become familiar with the format and allows you to provide feedback on their arguments and presentation skills.
On the day of the debate, set up the classroom to accommodate the format. Ensure that each round has a clear structure, and designate a timekeeper to keep the debate on schedule.

9. Facilitate Q&A Sessions:

After each team presents their arguments, allow time for questions and cross-examination. This encourages critical thinking and engagement among the students.

10. Evaluate and Debrief:

After the debate, provide constructive feedback to each team. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments, presentation skills, and teamwork. Also, please encourage students to reflect on what they learned from the experience.
Have a class discussion about the debate, exploring different perspectives and opinions. This can deepen students’ understanding of the topic and enhance their critical thinking skills.

Consider integrating the debate topic into future lessons or assignments. This reinforces the learning experience and allows students to delve deeper into the subject matter.

Remember to create a supportive and respectful environment throughout the debate, emphasizing the importance of listening to opposing views and engaging in constructive dialogue.

Each speaker takes a turn making their speech, alternating between the House for the Motion, who goes first, and the House Against the Motion. Each speaker speaks for a pre-agreed amount of time.

Ensure your debate is held in front of an audience (in this case, the class), and occasionally, the audience is given time to ask questions after all the speeches have been made.

Finally, the debate is judged either by moderators or by an audience vote.

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How To Write A Debate

How to start a debate speech.

In highly competitive speech and debate tournaments, students are only provided the topic on the day, and limited time is allowed for preparation, but this is not recommended for beginners.

Regardless of the stakes of your classroom debate, the speechwriting process always begins with research. Thorough research will provide students with both the arguments and the supporting evidence for their position on a topic and generate forward-thinking about what their opponents might use against them.

Writing Your Introduction

The purpose of the introduction in a debate speech is to achieve several things:

Grab the attention of the audience,
Introduce the topic
Provide a thesis statement
Preview some of the main arguments.

Grab The Attention Of Your Audience With Strong Hooks

Securing the audience’s attention is crucial, and failure to do this will have a strong, negative impact on how the team’s efforts will be scored as a whole. Let’s explore three proven strategies to hook your audience and align their thinking to yours.

Hook Type	Details
	Quotes from reputable individuals add credibility and authority to your arguments. They demonstrate that influential figures endorse your viewpoint. They provide a concise and impactful way to convey complex ideas or express a widely accepted perspective. Quotations can resonate with the audience, evoke emotions, and make your speech more memorable. By referencing respected individuals, you tap into their expertise and reputation, supporting your position and increasing the persuasive impact of your debate speech. Using a quotation from a well-known person is a great way to draw eyeballs and ears in the speaker’s direction. People love celebrities, even if that celebrity is relatively minor. Using a quotation to open a speech lends authority to what is being said. In addition, the quotation chosen will usually be worded concisely and interestingly, making it all the more memorable and impactful for the audience.
	Quotes from reputable individuals add credibility and authority to your arguments. They demonstrate that influential figures endorse your viewpoint. They provide a concise and impactful way to convey complex ideas or express a widely accepted perspective. Quotations can resonate with the audience, evoke emotions, and make your speech more memorable. By referencing respected individuals, you tap into their expertise and reputation, lending support to your position and increasing the persuasive impact of your debate speech. Using a quotation from a well-known person is a great way to draw eyeballs and ears in the speaker’s direction. People love celebrities, even if that celebrity is relatively minor. Using a quotation to open a speech lends authority to what is being said. In addition, the quotation chosen will usually be worded concisely and interestingly, making it all the more memorable and impactful for the audience.
	An anecdote is a short, personal story that illustrates or emphasizes a point, often used to make a subject more relatable, and they are a valuable way to ease the audience into a complex topic. Your stories can be used to make complicated moral or ethical dilemmas more relatable for an audience. Anecdotes are also an effective way for the speaker to build a rapport with the audience, which, in turn, makes the task of persuading them an easier one.

Introduce Your Topic With Efficiency and Effectiveness

Once the audience’s attention has been firmly grasped, it’s time to introduce the topic or the motion. This should be done straightforwardly and transparently to ensure the audience understands the topic of the debate and the position you are approaching it from.

For example, if the topic of the debate was school uniforms, the topic may be introduced with:

Provide Your Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a concise declaration summarizing the points and arguments of your debating speech.

It presents a clear stance on a topic and guides the reader on what to expect in the content.
A good thesis statement is debatable and allows for opposing viewpoints and discussion.
It serves as a roadmap for the writer, ensuring coherence and focus in the piece.
It helps the audience understand the purpose and direction of the work from the beginning.

The thesis statement should express the student’s or the team’s position on the motion. Clearly explaining the speaker’s side of the debate. An example can be seen here.

Provide A Preview Of Your Arguments

The final part of the introduction section of a debate speech involves previewing the main points of the speech for the audience.

There is no need to go into detail with each argument here; that’s what the body of the speech is for. It is enough to provide a general thesis statement for each argument or ‘claims’ – (more on this to follow).

Previewing the arguments in a speech is especially important as the audience and judges only get one listen to a speech – unlike a text, which can be reread as frequently as the reader likes.

debate introduction examples for students

Attention grabbers task.

After explaining the different types of attention grabbers and the format for the rest of the introduction to your students, challenge them to write an example of each type of opening for a specific debate topic.

When they’ve finished writing these speech openings, discuss with the students which one best fits their chosen topic. Then, they can continue by completing the rest of the introduction for their speech using the format described above.

You might like to try a simple topic like “Homework should be banned.” you can choose from our collection further in this article.

Writing T he Body of the Speech

The body paragraphs are the real meat of the speech. They contain the in-depth arguments that make up the substance of the debate, and How well these arguments are made will determine how the judges will assess each speaker’s performance, so it’s essential to get the structure of these arguments just right.

Let’s take a look at how to do that.

How to structure an Argument

With the introduction out of the way, it’s time for the student to get down to the nitty-gritty of the debate – that is, making compelling arguments to support their case.

There are three main aspects to an argument in a debate speech. They are:

The Warrant

	The first part of an argument, The claim is the assertion that the argument is attempting to prove. It’s the starting point and sets the direction for your whole argument, so it’s super important to make it clear and convincing.
	Think of the warrant as the support system for your claim. It’s like the proof or reasoning that backs up what you’re saying. It’s the part that explains why your evidence actually supports your main point, making your argument strong and convincing.
	Finally, The impact in an argument highlights why the claim is important, going beyond proving the point. It explores the broader implications, helping draw meaningful conclusions from the established truth of the assertion.

Following this structure carefully enables our students to build coherent and robust arguments. Ttake a look at these elements in action in the example below.

Brainstorming Arguments

Present your students with a topic and, as a class, brainstorm some arguments for and against the motion.

Then, ask students to choose one argument and, using the Claim-Warrant-Impact format, take a few moments to write down a well-structured argument that’s up to debate standard.

Students can then present their arguments to the class.

Or, you could also divide the class along pro/con lines and host a mini-debate!

Concluding a Debate Speech

The conclusion of a speech or a debate is the final chance for the speaker to convey their message to the audience. In a formal debate that has a set time limit, the conclusion is crucial as it demonstrates the speaker’s ability to cover all their material within the given time frame.

Avoid introducing new information and focus on reinforcing the strength of your position for a compelling and memorable conclusion.

A good conclusion should refer back to the introduction and restate the main position of the speaker, followed by a summary of the key arguments presented. Finally, the speaker should end the speech with a powerful image that will leave a lasting impression on the audience and judges.

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Examples of strong debate Conclusions

The Burden of the Rejoinder

In formal debates, the burden of the rejoinder means that any time an opponent makes a point for their side, it’s incumbent upon the student/team to address that point directly.

Failing to do so will automatically be seen as accepting the truth of the point made by the opponent.

For example, if the opposing side argues that all grass is pink, despite how ridiculous that statement is, failing to refute that point directly means that, for the debate, all grass is pink.

Our students must understand the burden of the rejoinder and ensure that any points the opposing team makes are fully addressed during the debate.

The Devils Advocate

When preparing to write their speech, students should spend a significant proportion of their team collaborating as a team.

One good way to practice the burden of the rejoinder concept is to use the concept of Devil’s Advocate, whereby one team member acts as a member of the opposing team, posing arguments from the other side for the speaker to counter, sharpening up their refutation skills in the process.

20 Great Debating Topics for Students

Should cell phones be allowed in schools?
Is climate change primarily caused by human activities?
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Is social media more harmful than beneficial to society?
Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be embraced or rejected?
Is the death penalty an effective crime deterrent?
Should schools implement mandatory drug testing for students?
Is animal testing necessary for scientific and medical advancements?
Should school uniforms be mandatory?
Is censorship justified in certain circumstances?
Should the use of performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
Is homeschooling more beneficial than traditional schooling?
Should the use of plastic bags be banned?
Is nuclear energy a viable solution to the world’s energy needs?
Should the government regulate the fast food industry?
Is social inequality a result of systemic factors or individual choices?
Should the consumption of meat be reduced for environmental reasons?
Is online learning more effective than traditional classroom learning?
Should the use of drones in warfare be banned?
Is the legalization of marijuana beneficial for society?

These topics cover a range of subjects and offer students the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking debates on relevant and impactful issues.

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Debating strategies for students.

Research and preparation are essential to ensure good performance in a debate. Students should spend as much time as possible drafting and redrafting their speeches to maximize their chances of winning. However, a debate is a dynamic activity, and victory cannot be assured by pre-writing alone.

Students must understand that the key to securing victory lies in also being able to think, write (often in the form of notes), and respond instantly amid the turmoil of the verbal battle. To do this, students must understand the following keys to victory.

When we think of winning a debate, we often think of blinding the enemy with the brilliance of our verbal eloquence. We think of impressing the audience and the judges alike with our outstanding oratory.

What we don’t often picture when we imagine what a debate winner looks like is a quiet figure sitting and listening intently. But being a good listener is one of our students’ most critical debating skills.

If students don’t listen to the other side, whether by researching opposing arguments or during the thrust of the actual debate, they won’t know the arguments the other side is making. Without this knowledge, they cannot effectively refute the opposition’s claims.

Read the Audience

In terms of the writing that happens before the debate takes place, this means knowing your audience.

Students should learn that how they present their arguments may change according to the demographics of the audience and/or judges to whom they will be making their speech.

An audience of retired school teachers and an audience of teen students may have very different responses to the same arguments.

This applies during the actual debate itself too. If the student making their speech reads resistance in the faces of the listeners, they should be prepared to adapt their approach accordingly in mid-speech.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The student must practice their speech before the debate. There’s no need to learn it entirely by heart. There isn’t usually an expectation to memorize a speech entirely, and doing so can lead to the speaker losing some of their spontaneity and power in their delivery. At the same time, students shouldn’t spend the whole speech bent over a sheet of paper reading word by word.

Ideally, students should familiarize themselves with the content and be prepared to deliver their speech using flashcards as prompts when necessary.

Another important element for students to focus on when practising their speech is making their body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures coherent with the verbal content of their speech. One excellent way to achieve this is for the student to practice delivering their speech in a mirror.

And Finally…

Debating is a lot of fun to teach and partake in, but it also offers students a valuable opportunity to pick up some powerful life skills.

It helps students develop a knack for distinguishing fact from opinion and an ability to assess whether a source is credible or not. It also helps to encourage them to think about the other side of the argument.

Debating helps our students understand others, even when disagreeing with them. An important skill in these challenging times, without a doubt.

Debating Teaching Strategies

Clearly Define Debate Roles and Structure when running speech and debate events: Clearly define the roles of speakers, timekeepers, moderators, and audience members. Establish a structured format with specific time limits for speeches, rebuttals, and audience participation. This ensures a well-organized and engaging debate.

Provide Topic Selection and Preparation Time: Offer students a range of debate topics, allowing them to select a subject they are passionate about. Allocate ample time for research and preparation, encouraging students to gather evidence, develop strong arguments, and anticipate counterarguments.
Incorporate Scaffolded Debating Skills Practice: Before the actual debate, engage students in scaffolded activities that build their debating skills. This can include small group discussions, mock debates, or persuasive writing exercises. Provide feedback and guidance to help students refine their arguments and delivery.
Encourage Active Listening and Note-taking during speech and debate competitions: Emphasize the importance of active listening during the debate. Encourage students to take notes on key points, supporting evidence, and persuasive techniques used by speakers. This cultivates critical thinking skills and prepares them for thoughtful responses during rebuttals.
Facilitate Post-Debate Reflection and Discussion: After the debate, facilitate a reflection session where students can share their thoughts, lessons learned, and insights gained. Encourage them to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments and engage in constructive dialogue. This promotes metacognitive skills and encourages continuous improvement.

By following these tips, teachers can create a vibrant and educational debate experience for their students. Through structured preparation, active engagement, and reflective discussions, students develop valuable literacy and critical thinking skills that extend beyond the boundaries of the debate itself.

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How to Make a Debate Presentation

A proper debate involves one point, with two people or teams each taking either the positive or the negative side of that point. A debate presentation is typically an oral event, but some types of debates lend themselves well to visual presentations. Creating a visual debate presentation helps your audience remember your key points so they can make the most informed decision on the presented issue. Presentation software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, is one way to organize your debate information.

Begin the presentation by stating specifics on the topic. This should be posed as a question or statement on the first slide of your presentation. For instance, if you're debating the merit of school uniforms, your first slide would read along the lines of "Are Uniforms Beneficial for Students?" Keep the main point clear and concise to avoid confusing.

Video of the Day

State your position on the second slide. In a proper debate, you either take the affirmative or the negative position. Sometimes a position will be assigned to you; sometimes you'll be asked to make your own choice. Ensure that your audience understands your position by using text in the presentation. For instance, "School uniforms benefit students academically and socially."

Drill your argument down to a few key points. Since you want your audience to understand and take your side, less than five points keeps your debate presentation concise but memorable. Choose strong points that demonstrate your position on the matter. In the school uniform example, persuasive points could include grades, social repercussions and monetary benefits.

Gather evidence to support your points that you can include in the slides of your presentation. Studies, research and surveys work well to prove your point. Whenever possible, find and use graphics which are easy to audience to understand, such as a graph depicting the grades of students who wear uniforms contrasted with grades of students who don't wear them. Assign the graphics to each point page.

Finish your presentation with your conclusion. The conclusion gives you the opportunity to restate the issue and your position on the issue. You can also reiterate a few key points from your presentation, but the conclusion period should be precise and short as a strong ending to your debate. Use your last slide to restate your position in the negative or the affirmative to remind the audience of the purpose of your debate, then end your presentation.

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International Debate Education Association: Lincoln Douglas Debate

Debate — Questions, Structure, and Topics

What is a debate.

A debate is a form of public discourse that presents organized arguments by two opposing sides. In a typical debate, two sides (affirmative and negative) are given a proposition to debate using a structured format that differs based on the type.

The affirmative side advocates for the proposition, providing supporting evidence and explanation, while the opposing side refutes the resolution. Therefore, the affirmative wants to convince the audience to adopt the resolution, while the opposition side wants them to reject it.

The audience varies depending on the topic of the debate. Consider the following examples:

Political: Voters

Policy: Lawmakers

Trial: Jury

Public Debate/Forum: Community members

Debate questions

The basis of a debate stems from the resolution, a declarative statement determined by a question. The resolution contains the claim the two sides will debate. These statements derive from debate questions:

Debate questions

Should school uniforms be mandatory?	Schools should require uniforms.
Is animal testing ever justified?	Animal testing is never justified.
Is social media harmful to adolescents?	Social media negatively affects adolescents.
Does homework help students succeed?	Homework is not beneficial.
Should everyone be required to vote?	The law should require everyone to vote.
Do kids need recess?	Kids need recess during the school day.
Is skill or effort more important?	Effort is more important than skill.
Should colleges pay their athletes?	Colleges should not pay student-athletes.
Is homeschooling better than public schooling?	Public school is more beneficial than homeschooling.
Is cyberbullying worse than traditional bullying?	Cyberbullying is worse than face-to-face bullying.

Structure for debate

The specific structure depends on the form of debate. However, every formal debate contains a judge, opposing sides, speeches, and a decision.

Debates are set up to persuade a panel of judges rather than the opponent.

There are always two sides in a debate – one that agrees with the resolution (affirming) and one that disagrees (opposing).

Each debate includes rounds of speeches that present the side’s argument. The placement of the speech in the debate impacts its purpose.

The constructive speech is each team’s first speech to build their case.

Rebuttals provide the opportunity for both sides to discredit their opponent’s argument.

Cross-examination allows each side to question the other side.

The period where speakers from both sides can ask and answer each other’s questions is called crossfire . The grand crossfire functions in the same way, except all four speakers participate.

Closing statements offer each side a final opportunity to present their argument.

Upon conclusion of the debate, the judge(s) or moderator decides the winning side.

Types of debates

Team policy, Lincoln-Douglas, spontaneous argumentation, public forum, and parliamentary are the most common types of debates.

Team policy debates consist of two teams of two who take a position concerning a predetermined policy. One team argues to enact the policy while the opposing team members offer reasons to reject it.

Policy debates are structured as follows:

Team policy debate structure
1st affirmative constructive	8 minutes
Cross-examination of the 1st affirmative	3 minutes
1st negative constructive	8 minutes
Cross-examination of the 1st negative	3 minutes
2nd affirmative constructive	8 minutes
Cross-examination of the 2nd affirmative	3 minutes
2nd negative constructive	8 minutes
Cross-examination of the 2nd negative	3 minutes
1st negative rebuttal	5 minutes
1st affirmative rebuttal	5 minutes
2nd negative rebuttal	5 minutes
2nd affirmative rebuttal	5 minutes

Lincoln-Douglas debates consist of one speaker debating against another speaker and are a common form of high school debates. The topic typically concerns social and philosophical issues with questions concerning ideas such as morality, justice, democracy, etc. They focus on determining if certain thoughts or actions are good or bad, right or wrong, and moral or immoral. Presidential debates typically look most like Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Lincoln-Douglas debate structure
Speaker A: Making the case	6 minutes
Speaker B: Cross-examination of speaker A	3 minutes
Speaker B: 1st rebuttal	7 minutes
Speaker A: Cross-examination of speaker B	3 minutes
Speaker A: 1st rebuttal	4 minutes
Speaker B: Final rebuttal	5 minutes
Speaker A: Closing rebuttal	5 minutes

Spontaneous argumentation (SPAR) is a quick and simple type of debate. It typically involves two debaters given a topic right before the debate, allowing only a few minutes for preparation.

SPAR debate structure
Affirmative case	3 minutes
Cross-examination of the affirmative	1.5 minutes
Negative case	3 minutes
Cross-examination of the negative	1.5 minutes
Negative counter-arguments	2 minutes
Affirmative counter-arguments	2 minutes
Negative closing statement	2 minutes
Affirmative closing statement	2 minutes

Public forum debates feature two teams with two speakers each who debate a topic regarding a current event.

Public forum debate structure
Speaker 1: Constructive speech (pro or con)	4 minutes
Speaker 2: Constructive speech (pro or con)	4 minutes
Cross-fire	3 minutes
Speaker 3: Rebuttal speech (pro or con)	4 minutes
Speaker 4: Rebuttal speech (pro or con)	4 minutes
Cross-fire	3 minutes
Speaker 1: Summary	2 minutes
Speaker 2: Summary	2 minutes
Grand cross-fire	3 minutes
Speaker 3: Final focus (closing statement)	2 minutes
Speaker 4: Final focus (closing statement)	2 minutes

A parliamentary debate includes two teams with two speakers each. The affirmative team is often referred to as the government and is trying to uphold the resolution, whereas the negative team (the opposition) opposes the government’s viewpoint. The government identifies a problem and offers a solution, while the opposition argues against that solution. The rules for this type of debate originated from British parliamentary procedure.

Parliamentary debate structure
1st affirmative constructive	7 minutes
1st negative constructive	8 minutes
2nd affirmative constructive	8 minutes
2nd negative constructive	8 minutes
Negative rebuttal	4 minutes
Affirmative rebuttal	5 minutes

Debating tips

When debating, the following strategies can positively affect the outcome:

While some debate formats allow for a limited amount of preparation time, utilize the time provided. It is best to take as much time as possible to formulate an argument. Going into a debate unprepared not only impacts the argument but can negatively influence body language, eye contact, volume, pacing, etc.

Focus and stay on topic. Make sure each sentence has a purpose and supports the argument.

Use good public speaking skills like appropriate eye contact, volume, pacing, intonation, inflection, posture, etc., which show the speaker’s confidence. Sometimes the presentation can be as important as what is presented.

Debates provide speakers with the opportunity to respond to their opponent’s argument. Focus on actively listening to the opposing side. While it is possible to predict their argument, providing a direct response to something they said is much more persuasive than moving forward as if there is no opposing side.

The point of a debate is to attack the argument , not the opponent.

Debate topics

The following are example topics for each main type of debate:

Team Policy Debate

The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of its water resources.

The United States federal government should substantially increase its security cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and cybersecurity.

New York should offer universal healthcare to its residents.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

In a democracy, a free press ought to prioritize objectivity over advocacy.

Radicalism is preferable to incrementalism to achieve social justice.

Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.

The actions of corporations ought to be held to the same moral standards as the actions of individuals.

Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR)

Lying is sometimes justified.

High schools should require uniforms.

Voting is a duty and not a right.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Money can buy happiness.

Public Forum Debate

Japan should revise Article 9 of its Constitution to develop offensive military capabilities.

The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.

Parliamentary Debate

In the US criminal justice system, truth-seeking ought to be valued above attorney-client privilege.

Chain stores are detrimental to the best interests of the American public.

The United States Senate should eliminate the filibuster.

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55 Great Debate Topics for Any Project

General Education

A debate is a formal discussion about a topic where two sides present opposing viewpoints. Debates follow a specific structure: each side is given time to speak either for or against the topic at hand.

Many students study debate in high school to improve their speaking skills. As a debater, you learn how to clearly structure and present an argument. The skills you develop as a debater will help you on everything from a college admissions interview to a job presentation.

Selecting debate topics is one of the most important parts of debating. In this article, we’ll explain how to select a good debate topic and give suggestions for debate topics you can use.

How to Select Good Debate Topics

A good debate topic is one that lets the participants and the audience learn about both sides of an issue. Consider the following factors when selecting a debate topic:

Interest: Are you interested in the topic? Would the topic be interesting to your fellow classmates, as well as to the audience listening to the debate? Selecting a topic that you’re interested in makes the preparation part of the debate more exciting , as well as the debate more lively.

Argument Potential: You want to choose a debate topic that has solid argument potential. If one side is clearly right, or if there isn’t a lot of available information, you’ll have a hard time crafting a solid debate.

Availability of Data: Data points make an argument more robust. You’ll want to select a topic with lots of empirical data that you can pull from to bolster your argument.

Now that we know how to select a debate topic, let’s look at a list of good debate topics.

Debate Topics Master List

If you’re searching for your next debate topic, here are some suggestions.

Social and Political Issues Debate Topics

All people should have the right to own guns.
The death penalty should be abolished.
Human cloning should be legalized.
All drugs should be legalized.
Animal testing should be banned.
Juveniles should be tried and treated as adults.
Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today.
Violent video games should be banned.
The minimum wage should be $15 per hour.
All people should have Universal Basic Income.
Sex work should be legal.
Countries should be isolationist.
Abortion should be banned.
Every citizen should be mandated to perform national public service.
Bottled water should be banned.
Plastic bags should be banned.

Education Debate Topics

Homework should be banned.
Public prayer should not be allowed in schools.
Schools should block sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on their computers.
School uniforms should be required.
Standardized testing should be abolished.
All students should have an after-school job or internship.
School should be in session year-round.
All high school athletes should be drug tested.
Detention should be abolished.
All student loan debt should be eliminated.
Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.
All schools should have armed security guards.
Religion should be taught in schools.
All schools should be private schools.
All students should go to boarding schools.
Sexual education should be mandatory in schools.
Public college should be tuition free.
All teachers should get tenure.
All school districts should offer school vouchers.

Health Debate Topics

Healthcare should be universal.
Cosmetic procedures should be covered by health insurance.
All people should be vegetarians.
Euthanasia should be banned.
The drinking age should be 18.
Vaping should be banned.
Smoking should be banned in all public places.
People should be legally required to get vaccines.
Obesity should be labeled a disease.
Sexual orientation is determined at birth.
The sale of human organs should be legalized.
Birth control should be for sale over the counter.

Technology Debate Topics

Social media has improved human communication.
The development of artificial intelligence will help humanity.
Individuals should own their own DNA.
Humans should invest in technology to explore and colonize other planets.
Governments should invest in alternative energy sources.
Net neutrality should be restored.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies should be encouraged or banned.
Alternative energy can effectively replace fossil fuels.
Cell phone radiation is dangerous and should be limited.

How to Prepare for a Debate

Once you’ve selected your debate topic, the next step is to prepare for your debate. Follow these steps as you get ready to take the podium.

Read Your Evidence

The most important step to building your debate confidence is to familiarize yourself with the evidence available. You’ll want to select reputable sources and use empirical data effectively.

The more well read on your topic you are, the better you’ll be able to defend your position and anticipate the other side’s arguments.

Anticipate the Other Side’s Arguments

As part of your debate, you’ll need to rebut the other side’s arguments. It’s important to prepare ahead of time to guess what they’ll be talking about. You’ll bolster your own side’s argument if you’re able to effectively dismantle what the other side is saying.

Plan to Fill Your Speech Time

Each speaker at a debate is limited to a certain amount of time. You should plan to use every second of the time that you’re allotted. Make sure you practice your talking points so that you know you’re within the time frame. If you’re short, add in more evidence.

Practice to Build Confidence

It can be scary to take the stage for a debate! Practicing ahead of time will help you build confidence. Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Even if your argument is great, it won’t matter if no one can understand it.

Final Thoughts

Debate is a great way to hone your public speaking skills and get practice crafting and defending an argument. Use these debate topics if you're searching for a focus for your next debate.

What's Next?

Looking for ways to keep the debate going in non-academic life? Then you'll love our list of 101 "this or that" questions to argue over with your friends.

Thinking about how you can use your argumentative skills in a future career? Read up on the five steps to becoming a lawyer to see if that's a path you want to pursue.

Getting ready to take an AP test? Here’s a list of practice tests for every AP exam, including the AP literature exam .

It can be hard to schedule time to study for an AP test on top of your extracurriculars and normal classwork. Check out this article on when you need to start studying for your AP tests to make sure you’re staying on track.

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Three tips for a successful debate or presentation.

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 26: Audience members listen to the Republican presidential candidates ... [+] debate at the University North Florida on January 26, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. The debate is the last one before the Florida primaries January 31st. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

There is much anticipation surrounding this election season's first presidential debate. It's each candidate's opportunity to present their ideas to a wide audience and persuade viewers of their positions. Similarly in a business presentation, a presenter must win over the audience and clearly communicate his point of view in a way that causes the audience to take action.

Here are a few tips to make a debate or presentation a successful event:

1. Know your subject. To be convincing as an authority on your subject and to be able to speak astutely, you should have an in-depth understanding of the topic and think on your feet. In a debate questions may come from the mediator or opponent, and in a business presentation a skeptical audience could confront you with a rigorous Q&A session. Knowing "your stuff" will make you prepared for anything that comes at you. But, knowing your arguments is just the half of it. You must also be able to combat the opposition with sound arguments. To be able to do that, it's important that you understand the other side's position. Your audience's opinions may also differ from yours, so you are not only countering your competition's point of view, you are also trying to convince the audience that your arguments are stronger and sounder.

2. Mind your actions. At any speaking event or meeting, all eyes are on you. You are not only being judged on what you say but also on your demeanor. Be mindful of your composure, avoid slouching or leaning. Pay attention to non-verbal reactions to your opponent's statement ‒ an eye roll or pursed lips could come across as rude or antagonistic. And be aware that even when you are not speaking, you are still being watched!

3. Hold your composure. The goal of your speech or presentation is to give the audience the opportunity to hear your thoughts, comprehend your message, and act upon them. In a highly stressful, heated setting, it is easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. But raising your voice or getting upset will not benefit your cause. Instead, keep collected even if your opponent or audience is trying to draw you into a shouting match. You will earn more respect for being calm and able to express your thoughts in a composed manner.

One of the things that make the presidential debates unique in comparison to most presentations is the lack of visual aids ‒ don’t try to mimic this exclusion. Visual aids complement what you are saying to help convey your message. And, most importantly, they are processed much faster than words and are easier to remember.

With any debate or presentation, keep in mind that your goal is to persuade your audience that you, or your company and its products and services, are the right choice. Mastering your subject to cogently formulate your thoughts and arguments will help you communicate your value statements and position in contrast to the competition. When the audience understands your message, they are more likely to accept and retain your position, leading them to take action. To convincingly establish your authority and expertise on the subject, stay mindful of your composure and actions.

Best of luck to tonight's debaters and keep these tips handy for your next presentation!

This article was originally published on the Propoint blog .

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How to Start a Debate: Learn How to Introduce Yourself and Greet

Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
Post published: October 16, 2023
Post category: Scholarly Articles

How To Start a Debate : Debate is a formally organized argument or discussion involving two or more persons of two opposing sides, whereby the sides express opposing views towards the subject of discourse. Simply put, debate is the discussion of opposing views.

The importance of knowing how best to start a debate cannot be overemphasized. The default of a speaker as regards protocols and procedures in a debate is in fact detrimental to the entirety of the presentation.

how to start a debate by introducing yourself and greeting

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Table of Contents

Features of a Debate

For an activity or occasion to be considered a debate, the following must be present in the scene:

1. Team: this is the group of people involved in the debate activity. Debates usually involve two team namely affirmative team and negative team. Each team is constituted by two or three speakers.

Affirmative team is the “ yes ” team. They are the group which are for and not against the given topic. They are in support of the given topic and are to establish that the given position is true.

Negative team argues against the given topic. Negative team is also known as the opposing team. They are to establish that the given topic is false.

2. The Judge : the Judge presides over the debate, observes, records and decides the winner of the debate exercise. There is usually more than one judges officiating a debate. After the exercise, their records will be evaluated and be presented as the final decision.

How to greet and introduce yourself in a debate

3. Audience: these are the listeners who are present in the debate arena. There is no debate without an audience.

4. Time Keeper: this is a person assigned to record time and regulate the timing available for the presenters and the debate activity as a whole.

5. Moderator: this is the official whose duty is to anchor the debate. He or she enforces the regulations of the debate.

Also see: How to become a successful lawyer

Features of a Quality Presentation

1. Persuasive: the arguments of the presenter must be sound enough to convince the audience. To be persuasive, the language and tone need to be confident, positive and authoritative. The points made must be valid and relevant.

2. Logical: the presentation must be rational, explicit and articulate.

3. Informative: the presentation must be knowledgeable and educative.

4. Well Structured: the information contained in a good debate must be presented in an orderly manner.

The purpose of a debate is to convince and persuade the audience and the judge that your view should be considered and preferred.

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Types of Debate

1. Team Policy Debate: in this type of debate, the affirmative team proposes a plan while the negative or opposing team opposes the proposed plan. It usually involve two sides. While one side advocate for the given topic, the other side advocate against it.

2. Cross Examination : Shortly called cross – ex. In this type of debate, the opponents are allowed in the middle of the presentation to ask questions to each other for the purpose of ascertaining or understanding a point made.

3. Lincoln Douglas Debate : This is a debate had in 1958 between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican Party candidate of the United States senate from Illinois, and Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party Candidate.

4. Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR): for this type of debate, the students debate on a different topic in each round. Here there is usually a limited time for preparation.

5. Public Forum Debate: for this type, students debate on current rising issues. It also allow for rebuttals and cross-examination.

6. Parliamentary Debate : this is an academic debate usually in higher institutions based on British model of government. It involves two sides, one known as the government and the other known as the negative team or opposition team.

Starting A Debate

Starting a debate begins with preparation. Preparation here demands meticulous and extensive research on the topic of the debate. The research here involves sourcing for logical, statistical and verifiable points to justify one’s stance. It is important and advisable to extend your research to understanding the stance of the opposing team. This gives a foresight on the possible line of argument and defense of the opposing team and renders them predictable.

By so, you are already guided on how to prepare your own line of argument, counterargument and rebuttals. The benefit of understanding your opponent’s stance is that you have heavier point of defense against them and you are visited with less surprises during presentation.

Steps On Presenting A Sound Debate

Step 1. Understanding the Topic: The first step is to understand your topic. Understanding your topic gives you confidence and certainty. There is no other means other than by conducting extensive and defensive research. As stated earlier, research should focus on both sides of the debate topic.

Then, it is important to outline your points accordingly starting from the introduction, the content of the argument and the conclusion.

Step 2. Greetings: Before introducing your topic, it is cultural to first of all acknowledge the presents of the audience, the judge, the time keeper, the moderator and any other personnel collectively. This usually comes by way of, “ Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, Panel of Judges, Accurate Time Keeper, Moderator ” etc. The phrase “ Ladies and Gentlemen ” covers every other person not specifically mentioned.

Step 3. Introduction: After the greetings comes the introduction. This is a brief oral explanation of what constitute the basis of an issue. Here the presenter is expected to state the topic of the debate and then categorically state his or her stance in the debate, whether in support of the given topic (affirmative) or against it (negative). The introduction is expected to be very sharp, catchy, concise and explicit.

The tone of presenting your stance should be assertive and convincing that indeed, this is unequivocally your stance. Remember that the manner of introduction and how appealing it is arouses and sustains the interest of the judges and audience. So it is most advisable to begin it best.

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Step 4. Body of the Argument: Now that your presentation has started, you should focus on the main substance of the debate which is the body of the argument. The presenter should firstly, win the curiosity and the attention of the audience by giving a captivating background.

This could be achieved by relaying a point through a story, by creating working instances and suitable scenarios, etc. the presenter is expected to establish unquestionable definitions preferably supported by notable authorities. Mastery of the art of persuasion is an addendum advantage for a debater.

The presenter can also achieve emphasis and arouse curiosity by the use of rhetorical questions. Logic and statistics can be employed too as long as it is favourable to the presenter’s stance and is relevant, valid and convincing. It is necessary to maintain eye contact because it showcases confidence and certainty.

These are the factors judges also look at while taking performance records. The presenter is advised not to read verbatim as this makes the presentation unnatural. This does not in any way suggest that one should cram the argument. The presenter can instead highlight his or her points or outline them as stated earlier.

Tonality : Application of tonality is beautiful and admirable. It is the rising and falling of the pitch. This is the application of tonal emphasis where appropriate. This helps in making the voice and speech interesting, and of course catches and sustains the interest of the audience and the judges. This has a way of appealing to people’s emotion. The tone is expected to match the severity of the debate topic.

Time keeping: There is a reason why every debating activity has a time keeper. Time keeping is of essence in a debate. The presenter is expected to wrap up his or her point within the given time. Most times, every point made upon the exhaustion of the given time does not count. This does not suggest that the presenter should be too fast in speech.

Team: Debate team usually consist of two or three presenters for a team. The topic is usually shared for each team accordingly, from the first speaker to the last. It is necessary for each speaker to restate his or stance in the debate before proceeding.

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Step 5. Conclusion: The concluding points should be resounding, concise and precise. It may come by way of summarizing the points discussed earlier. The presenter may end by restating his or her stance in the topic.

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Below are tips on how to make people like you from introducing yourself:

1. Be aware of the circumstance: Circumstances may demand varying approach. Most often, it is not about what you say or what you intended, but the effect in a given circumstance. For instance, the same approach that is suitable in an interview session may not be suitable when one is trying to get business prospects; hence why it is most advisable to be conscious of the circumstance.

This will enable you know the suitable approach in a given circumstance. Being aware of the circumstance also extends to observing the position of the person you are having the conversation with. Being aware of the circumstance will help you know what exactly to do, i.e when to keep the introduction short, long, chatty, jovial, and so on.

2. Maintain a friendly and approachable outlook: Maintaining a friendly outlook is an irresistible approach. By being friendly, you make yourself approachable. And by being approachable, a friendly connection is established at the very point of your introduction. You can achieve being friendly and approachable by putting up a genuine smile.

The smile has to be genuine, i.e, let it come from your heart. A fake smile can be observed at a spot, and it has no friendly effect. Not only does maintaining a friendly approach make the other person be at ease and comfortable with you in the first instance, it also improves your confidence.

3. Show some interest in the conversation right from the point of introduction: Showing interest here entails that you should be involved in the conversation. It is recommended that any occasion that would require you to have conversations must be spontaneous. There is no point getting to the point of introduction if interest does not exist. And it is not enough for interest to be present. The interest has to be shown through your involvement in the conversation, your style of presentation, your listening ability, the maintenance of adequate eye contact, affirmation of the other person’s thought, and every other factor that is necessary for an effective communication.

How do you start an introduction for a debate?

Avoid making the conversation het up or stressful by interrupting when the other person is still talking. Focus more on paying attention and listening to the other. Get interested in the person. Your responses would suggest whether or not you are getting it right by the degree of interest exhibited.

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This is where we are going to stop for now, however, I recommend that you watch the YouTube video below if you want to continue to learn more tips on how to start a debate. Trust me, you will enjoy watching.

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

This Post Has 5 Comments

How to introduce my self and greetings

Thank you so much,i really appreciate this.More pls.

This is a great article! I’m a new blogger and this is a great way to start a debate.

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Introduction to Debating

Oct 07, 2014

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Introduction to Debating. The basics Preparing a case (team) Preparing a speech (individual) Rebuttals. Pre-Activity. The basics. Every debate must have a topic 2 teams – Proposition and Opposition Proposition (or Affirmative) argues that the topic is true.

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Presentation Transcript

Introduction to Debating The basics Preparing a case (team) Preparing a speech (individual) Rebuttals

Pre-Activity

The basics • Every debate must have a topic • 2 teams – Proposition and Opposition • Proposition (or Affirmative) argues that the topic is true. • Opposition (or negative) argues that the topic is not true.

2 Types of Arguments • Debaters require 2 types of arguments: • (1) Substantive Arguments • Prepared arguments in favour of a team’s stand. • Shows why your team is right. • (2) Rebuttals • Your attack on your opposition’s arguments • Shows why your opposition is wrong.

Speakers • 3 speakers on each team, identified by their speaking number (e.g. 1st Proposition, 3rd Opposition) • 1st and 2nd speakers on both teams are expected to have substantives • All speakers except the 1st Proposition are expected to rebut • The 3rd speeches are used for rebuttals and summary

Protocol • Debaters are expected to acknowledge both the chairperson and the audience when starting a debating speech • E.g. “Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen”

Basic Layout

Order of Debate • The 1st Proposition speaks first, and participants speak with the sides alternating:

Judging Categories • Adjudicators use 3 categories to consider debates: • Style [ /40]: the way that a particular speech is presented (i.e. how interesting, humorous, sincere, fluent) • Content [ /40]: the arguments presented (i.e. support and elaboration provided, strength of arguments) • Strategy [ /20]: the structure and relevance of your speech

Rules • Refer to document for timing and roles of speakers.

Preparing for the Debate • Each debater first needs to work as a team to prepare a case, which is essentially your group of prepared ideas about why your side of the motion is true. • Teamwork is essential here because should debaters choose to work individually, the lack of a team stance will be obvious during the debate.

Preparing a Case • To prepare a case, you need to do 5 things: • Find The Issue: Decide what the main issue of the motion is about, especially if the motion is metaphorical or generic. • Find Your Definition: Decide what the words of the motion mean for the purposes of the debate • Find Your team’s Case Approach: You need to think of arguments about why your side of the motion is true. As teammates, you join your arguments into a single case approach • Find your team’s Arguments: Distinct points supporting your side of the debate, supported by logical reasoning and concrete examples. • Find The Split: Divide the arguments between the 1st and 2nd speakers, so that each speaker knows what to present.

Preparing a case: Step 1 (Finding the Issue) • The first step is to find the issue that needs to be debated. • If the motion has a clear issue, debate that issue.

E.g. “THBT the government should ban smoking”. • It is clear that most people would read this motion as a reference to the issue of tobacco smoking. • Decide on the most commonsensical issue to debate on. • It is not okay to identify the issue as, e.g. marijuana smoking, or smoking salmon, or lying (i.e. throwing a smokebomb). It wouldn’t be clever.

How about motions with relatively vague issues? • Find the issue that is most obvious and the most debatable. • E.g. “THBT the carrot is better than the stick”. • This is clearly non-literal (a metaphor). • The most obvious issue would be whether incentives are more effective than punishments.

How about motions that do not seem to have any clear issue? • Where there is no clear issue, select an issue that the motion could refer to. • E.g. “THBT it’s not about winning or losing, but how you play the game”. • Is it about sports? Is it about politics? It is about academics? • The best approach would be to select the most general philosophical issue, i.e. whether the means justify the ends, and use sports and politics as examples.

Preparing a case: Step 2 (Finding the Definition) • Both teams need to find out what the motion means, not in general, but for the purposes of the debate. • The 1st Prop presents the team’s definition of the debate in the form of a clear statement. • By defining the motion, the 1st Prop is essentially saying that both teams should debate based on his team’s understanding of the meaning of the debate.

The 1st Opp may disagree with the Prop’s definition of the motion (especially if they’ve prepared using a different definition and slant).

How to define a motion • Define terms in the motion and not every single word. • Don’t bother defining articles such as ‘a’ or ‘the’. • Decide if words should be defined individually or as a phrase, e.g. “political correctness”. • Do not define metaphorical terms literally. • Do not give dictionary definitions – this removes the context of the debate from your definition.

Limit the scope of the motion through your definition • E.g. “THBT we should abolish the GST” • ‘We’ could be defined as the citizens of Singapore, acting through the Parliament of Singapore. • E.g. “THBT criminal sentences are not too harsh” • It would be reasonable to limit the debate to the First World if you are the Proposition. Without doing so, the Opposition can argue that beheading of criminals in developing countries are too harsh and it would be hard to rebut this later on. • Note that limiting the scope of the debate must be reasonable. E.g. you can’t limit the scope of the debate to Developing Countries for the 2nd motion, or limit the time scope of a particular debate to, say, the 15th Century.

Preparing a case: Step 3 (Finding your team’s Case Approach) A caseline, spoken by the 1st speaker, is a single, concise sentence that explains the main idea behind your case, explaining 2 things: • Why you say the motion is true (or not) true • How this can be proven

Emphasis on Caseline • Each speaker should mention the team’s caseline at least once during their speech (usually at the beginning for the sake of clarity). • Return to this caseline repeatedly to reinforce team’s case.

Example of Caseline Motion: THBT globalisation is doing more harm than good. Caseline: Globalisation’s emphasis on private enterprise results in economic competition that advantages a few developed nations at the expense of other developing nations, which form the majortity of the world’s population.

Developing the Caseline • The caseline should be further developed in some detail to form the Team Stance. • The Team Stance is essentially a proposed model. • E.g. THBT marijuana should be legalised • Team Stance would propose a model for legalising marijuana, e.g. introducing laws to ensure compulsory health warnings are placed on marijuana products, requiring licenses to sell marijuana products etc.

The Opposition would also have to prepare an alternative model. • This will counter the rebuttal of “nothing being proposed or done about the situation”. • An alternative model is however not needed if the situation requries simplifying, or the alternative model presents more complex issues compared to the status quo.

How many arguments? • The 1st and 2nd speaker should have 1-2 arguments each. Any less – the content would not be comprehensive. Any more – there will not be sufficient time to develop the arguments in detail. • Hence, each team should prepare 2 - 4 substantive arguments as a team.

Preparing a case: Step 4 (Finding your team’s Arguments) • A complete and distinct argument consists of 4 components: • Main Point: Clear, short and simple statement of what your argument is about. • Explanation: Logical explanation of why the argument is sound and true. The audience should ask: “yes, this sounds possible, but does it apply to the real world?” • Examples: Concrete real-world examples (not philosophical and abstract ones) that answer the audience’s question above. • Tie-Back: Shows exactly how the argument supports the team’s case approach presented earlier.

Preparing a case: Step 5 (Finding your team’s Split) The team’s got their arguments, but how will the arguments be divided among the 1st 2 speakers?

(1) Group the arguments • Identify which arguments belong together • Identify common logical lines that unite the arguments for each speaker.

Both speakers must present why the case is true. Assume the audience will only listen to either the 1st or 2nd speaker. • E.g. “THBT euthanasia should be legalised” – Arguments can be grouped into 2 categories “Patients” (1st speaker) and “Society in general” (2nd speaker). • Audience 1 that listens to Speaker 1 will be convinced that euthanasia should be legalised because of the benefits to patients. • Audience 2 that listens to Speaker 2 will be convinced that euthanasia should be legalised because of the benefits to society in general.

Assuming the split is done this way: • Speaker 1 (background and history of euthanasia) • Speaker 2 (benefits to patients and society in general) • Audience 1 that listens only to Speaker 1 cannot be convinced that euthanasia should be legalised simply by knowing about the history of euthanasia. • This split would then be invalid because Speaker 1 is perceived to be unpersuasive.

Common Splits • Society / Individual • International / Domestic • Political / Social or Economic • Short-term / long-term

Which arguments should the 1st and 2nd speakers take up? • Most important points (1st Speaker) followed by less important points (2nd Speaker) • Primary group of people affected (1st Speaker) followed by Secondary group (2nd Speaker) • Big Picture (1st Speaker) vs Specific Domain (2nd Speaker)

Preparing Individual Speeches 1st Prop: • Formal introduction • Definitions • Prop’s caseline • Case split • Outline of his arguments • The arguments • Summary of arguments • Conclusion

1st Opp: • Brief introduction • Accept or challenge definitions • Rebuttals • Opp’s caseline • Case split • Outline of his arguments • The arguments • Summary of arguments • Conclusion

2nd Speakers: • Rebuttals + definitional challenges if still in doubt • Brief link to case approach • Outline of arguments • The arguments • Summary of arguments • Conclusion

3rd Speakers: • Rebuttals • Summary Reply Speakers: • Either 1st or 2nd speaker • Summarise opponent’s entire team case • Respond to opponent’s entire team case • Summarise own team’s case

Specific skills Introducing the debate (1st Prop) • Not simply greeting the chairperson / audience, but introducing the issues of the debate to the audience, including factual or historical background

Brief link to team’s case (2nd Speakers) • Provide a brief link to your case before beginning on arguments. • E.g. “Our team has showed you that [case]. My first speaker discussed our case from a political perspective, looking at the role of political parties and the public service. I will continue our case from a social point of view. Specifically, I will have 2 arguments…”

Signposting (All speakers) • Make sure the audience and adjudicators are clear about where you are in the debate • E.g. “Firstly, Secondly, my first argument relates to, Our case, in conclusion”.

Rebuttals What to rebut: • Arguments, assertions, examples, statistics, underlying assumptions that may not be sound or relevant to the debate • Logical fallacies • Opponent’s unreasonable definitions, illogical caselines. What NOT to rebut: • Technicalities, e.g. opponent speaking beyond time allocated, POIs not accepted, etc.

Motion 1 THBT governments should not place limits in the areas which scientists may research Prop: Opp:

Motion 2 THW legalise all drugs Prop: Opp:

Motion 3 THW force more organisations to place more women in senior positions Prop: Opp:

Motion 4 THBT students should be made to take part on compulsory charity work Prop: Opp:

Motion 5 THW ban the use of models who are below a healthy weight Prop: Opp:

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Paris’ Olympics opening was wacky and wonderful — and upset bishops. Here’s why

Paris Olympics organizers apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” during the glamorous opening ceremony, but defended the concept behind it Sunday. Da Vinci’s painting depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene during Friday’s ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers.

Delegations arrive at the Trocadero as spectators watch French singer Philippe Katerine performing on a giant screen, in Paris, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

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Paris Olympics

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting clinches her first medal a day after fellow female boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria secured a victory amid an outcry fueled by gender misconceptions.
Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson pulls out of the women’s 200 meters and will not race for an individual medal at the Paris Games.
Meanwhile, this millennia-old port city is hosting Olympic sailing.
See AP’s top photos from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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What’s the deal with the Olympics? Your burning questions, answered .

PARIS (AP) — Paris: the Olympic gold medalist of naughtiness.

Revolution ran like a high-voltage wire through the wacky, wonderful and rule-breaking Olympic opening ceremony that the French capital used to astound, bemuse and, at times, poke a finger in the eye of global audiences on Friday night.

That Paris put on the most flamboyant, diversity-celebrating, LGBTQ+-visible of opening ceremonies wasn’t a surprise. Anything less would have seemed a betrayal of the pride the French capital takes in being a home to humanity in all its richness.

But still. Wow. Paris didn’t just push the envelope. It did away with it entirely as it hammered home a message that freedom must know no bounds.

A practically naked singer painted blue made thinly veiled references to his body parts. Blonde-bearded drag queen Piche crawled on all fours to the thumping beat of “Freed From Desire” by singer-songwriter Gala, who has long been a potent voice against homophobia . There were the beginnings of a menage à trois — the door was slammed on the camera before things got really steamy — and the tail end of an intimate embrace between two men who danced away, hugging and holding hands.

“In France, we have the right to love each other, as we want and with who we want. In France, we have the right to believe or to not believe. In France, we have a lot of rights. Voila,” said the audacious show’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly.

Jolly, who is gay, says being bullied as a child for supposedly being effeminate drove home early on how unjust discrimination is.

The amorous vibe and impudence were too much for some.

“Know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” posted far-right French politician Marion Maréchal, adding a hashtagged “notinmyname.”

Here’s a closer look at how Paris both awed and shocked.

A 21st-century update of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’

DJ and producer Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon who calls herself a “love activist,” wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo as she got a party going on a footbridge across the Seine, above parading athletes — including those from countries that criminalize LGBTQ+ people. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butch on both sides.

The tableau brought to mind Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” which depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him.

Jolly says that wasn’t his intention. He saw the moment as a celebration of diversity, and the table on which Butch spun her tunes as a tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”

Still, critics couldn’t unsee what they saw.

“One of the main performances of the Olympics was an LGBT mockery of a sacred Christian story - the Last Supper - the last supper of Christ. The apostles were portrayed by transvestites,” the spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, posted on Telegram.

“Apparently, in Paris they decided that since the Olympic rings are multi-colored, they can turn everything into one big gay parade,” she added.

The French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops deplored what it described as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” and said “our thoughts are with all the Christians from all continents who were hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes.”

LGBTQ+ athletes, though, seemed to have a whale of a time. British diver Tom Daley posted a photo of himself recreating the standout Kate Winslet-Leonardo DiCaprio scene from “Titanic,” only with the roles reversed: He was at the boat’s prow with arms outstretched, as rower Helen Glover held him from behind.

Is that a revolver in your pocket?

When a giant silver dome lifted to reveal singer Philippe Katerine reclining on a crown of fruit and flowers, practically naked and painted blue, audiences who didn’t think he was Papa Smurf may have guessed that he represented Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy.

But unless they speak French, they may not have caught the cheekiness of his lyrics.

“Where to hide a revolver when you’re completely naked?” he sang, pointing down to his groin. “I know where you’re thinking. But that’s not a good idea.”

“No more rich and poor when you go back to being naked. Yes,” Katerine continued.

Decades after Brigitte Bardot sang “Naked in the Sun,” this was Paris’ reminder that everyone starts life in their birthday suit, so where’s the shame?

Paris museums are full of paintings that celebrate the human form. Gustave Courbet’s “Origin of the World” hangs in the Musée d’Orsay. The 16th-century “Gabrielle d’Estrées and one of her sisters,” showing one bare-breasted woman pinching the nipple of another, hangs in the Louvre.

France sends a message

Clad in a golden costume, French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura strode confidently out of the hallowed doors of the Institut de France, a prestigious stronghold of French language, culture and commitment to freedom of thought. Even without a note being sung, the message of diversity, inclusion and Black pride was loud.

The most listened-to French-speaking artist in the world was a target of fierce attacks from extreme-right activists when her name emerged earlier this year as a possible performer at the show. Paris prosecutors opened an investigation of alleged racism targeting the singer.

Nakamura performed with musicians of the French military’s Republican Guard, who danced around her.

Au revoir, closed minds and stuffy traditions.

Off with their head!

When London hosted the Summer Games in 2012, it paid homage to the British monarchy by giving Queen Elizabeth II a starring role in the opening ceremony. Actor Daniel Craig, in character as James Bond, was shown visiting the head of state at Buckingham Palace before the pair appeared to parachute out of a helicopter over the stadium.

The French love to joyfully tease their neighbors across the English Channel and, perhaps not incidentally, took a totally different, utterly irreverent tack.

A freshly guillotined Marie Antoinette, France’s last queen before the French Revolution of 1789, was shown clutching her severed head, singing: “The aristocrats, we’ll hang them.” Then, heavy metal band Gojira tore the Paris evening with screeching electric guitar.

Freedom: Does anyone do it better than the French?

AP journalists Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed.

For more coverage of the Paris Olympics, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games .

When is the next presidential debate? Here's where things stand between Trump, Harris

A new candidate means a new debate matchup, but whether or not former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will faceoff on TV is up for debate itself.

The Republican candidate had agreed to three debates against President Joe Biden before the sitting president bowed out of the race last month and endorsed Harris to represent the Democratic Party.

Trump emerged victorious in first June 27 debate, which escalated concerns about Biden's ability to carry out a second term and win reelection. The president began facing scrutiny from several figures in his own party calling on him to step down, right up until he decided to do so on July 21.

Since Biden's exit, Harris quickly garnered the support of Democratic leaders and her campaign raised over $126 million in three days . The former U.S. senator of California also secured the number of delegates required to become the Democratic nominee and is expected to do so at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago scheduled for Aug. 19-22.

Here's what to know about a possible Harris vs. Trump clash on the debate stage before Election Day.

When is the next presidential debate?

ABC News originally planned to host the second presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. ET, but with Biden out of the race the status of the debate remains unclear.

Do Trump and Harris qualify for the debate?

According to ABC News' rules, Trump and Harris must receive at least 15% support in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters in order to participate in the next debate.

Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. would also have to reach this requirement, though his approval numbers have mainly averaged around half that percentage, and he failed to qualify for the first debate hosted by CNN.

The candidates must also agree to ABC News’ rules for the debate, which have not yet been publicly released.

The candidates are also required meet the Constitution’s requirements to serve as president by appearing on a sufficient amount of state ballots to attain a majority of electoral votes during the election.

Why wont Trump debate Harris?

Trump has explained that his delay in agreeing to the debate is due to his distain for ABC News as the host network. He has recently expressed a desire for Fox News to host the debate instead.

The former president previously said he wanted to debate Harris and had agreed to the Sept. 10 debate with Biden.

On July 25, Trump's campaign communications director Steven Cheung said it's premature to schedule a debate with Harris until it becomes certain she will represent Democrats as the party's nominee.

"Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee," Cheung said in a statement. "There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party . . . that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone 'better.' Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds."

What has Harris said about debating Trump?

Kamala Harris made it clear she's ready to debate Trump when speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on July 25.

"I have agreed to the previously agreed upon Sept. 10 debate. He agreed to that previously. Now, it appears he is backpedaling but I'm ready," Harris said. “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage. Let’s go."

At a Tuesday rally in Atlanta, Georgia, the vice president challenged Trump to debate her in front of thousands of supporters. She also criticized Trump and his vice president pick − U.S. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio − for recent digs made at her.

"He and his running mate sure have a lot to say about me and by the way don't you mind some of their stuff to be plain weird. Well Donald I do hope you'll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage because as the saying goes if you got something to say, say it to my face ," Harris said.

Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY

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OHIO Speech and Debate coach chimes in on the importance of debate in presidential election

Jennifer Talbert is shown with the Distinguished Service Award

The presidential election cycle isn’t normally something that impacts Jennifer Talbert’s workload. But this summer, because of the impact the recent debate has had on the upcoming election, and the potential impact of a future debate, the coach of Ohio University’s Speech and Debate team has been very busy.

“I’ve done several media interviews with state, national, and international media outlets,” said Talbert. “It’s been interesting and fun.”

Talbert is part of the School of Communication Studies in the Scripps College of Communication. Her full title is the John A. Cassese Director of Forensics. Before coming to Ohio University, she coached Speech and Debate at the collegiate level for 26 years. Talbert’s research agenda centers on political activism. Previously, she taught at William Carey University, Kent State University, Ball State University, and Wichita State University.

“Before the debate between President Biden and former President Trump, I was asked about the kinds of topics I thought would be covered in the debate. And I was pretty spot on, saying immigration and inflation and other pressing topics the American people say are important to them,” said Talbert. “I was also asked about how I thought the performances were going to be.”

Talbert told the journalists how important it is to be prepared for a debate and that practice is the key to success.

“I thought both candidates would be rusty. Trump didn’t participate in any of the Republican debates in the primaries. Neither had debated in a long time. I said that both candidates needed to have a strong debate to get the wind behind their sails,” said Talbert. “Biden needed to not have any gaffes and sound like he knew what he was talking about. I told the journalists that things could go awry for him, especially because of the age question.”

Biden struggled during the debate, and his performance eventually led to him stepping out of the race.

“Elections are not decided based on presidential debate because most people who watch the debates, for them, it’s like watching football. They are fans of a candidate and tune in to cheer their person on,” said Talbert. “But Biden’s age was already in question. He seemed very well prepped for that debate and had talking points, but he could not express them. He was not fully prepared. He wasn’t prepped out enough. I think he did great for an 81-year-old. But at 81, it’s hard to be under that pressure and stress.”

Talbert also did not think Trump performed well.

“He didn’t seem as prepared or prepped,” said Talbert. “He kept repeating the same things over and over again and some of it was erroneous information.”

Students on the Ohio University Speech and Debate team focus on being prepared. The students become critical thinkers who can pull things apart and put things back together. They run practice debates constantly because Talbert says the more you do it, the better you are.

“You cannot be successful on a wing and a prayer. You have to practice it over and over and over again,” said Talbert. “You also have to be able to take criticism. If you can’t take critique, it’s very difficult to get better. I think a key ingredient to being better at speech and debate is the ability to take criticism. You don’t have to agree with every critique, but you can’t think those critiques are wrong every single time.”

Talbert says if there is another debate, this time between former President Trump and the expected Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, it will be a bigger factor in the election than debates have been in the past.

“Even though Kamala Harris has been the vice president for the last four years, to many people she is an unknown entity. I think more people will watch, especially younger people and people of color,” said Talbert. “If she performs well, it’s an opportunity to get momentum behind her from younger people. I think this next debate is key for both candidates especially since the last one ended so poorly.”

To DoxyPEP or Not to DoxyPEP: Experts Debate the Specifics

The use of doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) may provide a much-needed boost to the fight against bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which continue to raise public health challenges across the globe. But are there limits to the range of people to whom clinicians should recommend what is essentially a morning-after pill for STI prevention?

This was the debate that played out at the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) in Munich, Germany, where several presentations highlighted the benefits of doxyPEP—and the challenges that may prevent its widespread use.

A New Tool Against STIs

Doxycycline has been used for over six decades for the prevention and long-term treatment of various infectious diseases, including malaria and Lyme disease. This widely available antibiotic is now gaining attention as a biomedical intervention for curbing the spread of STIs. In a series of recent clinical trials , doxycycline was shown to reduce the incidence of STIs in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) when taken as a 200 mg dose within 72 hours after condomless sex.

While doxyPEP has a significant impact on chlamydia and syphilis, data show that it makes a much smaller dent in the incidence of gonorrhea. Nevertheless, one study demonstrated that the combined incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis decreased by two-thirds among MSM with a history of bacterial STIs who took doxyPEP compared with their counterparts who received the standard of care.

Despite encouraging real-world results from communities where doxyPEP has become the standard of care for people who take HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the large-scale implementation of this preventive measure across diverse populations is unlikely to follow a straightforward path. While guidelines in the United States and Australia have recently been updated to include doxyPEP as an intervention for reducing the incidence of STIs, uniform recommendations are still lacking in most parts of the world. Some experts have been reluctant to recommend its use on a larger scale, citing concerns such as potential antimicrobial resistance and the impact on the human intestinal microbiome.

“At the end of the day, we have to do more,” said Philip Chan, M.D., M.S., during a session that was specifically framed as a debate about the future of STI control in vulnerable populations. “We need more tools in the toolkit, and doxyPEP represents another potential effective tool. PrEP is a pillar of ending the HIV epidemic across the world. I believe that doxyPEP could be as effective as PrEP is in HIV in preventing [sexually transmitted] infection.”

That said, Chan, an associate professor in the department of medicine at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, also noted that while doxyPEP has the potential to reduce the incidence of bacterial STIs at the individual and population levels, it may not be a one-size-fits-all intervention. The key is to focus on populations that are at high risk for acquiring bacterial STIs and recommend doxyPEP on a case-by-case basis, he said.

“To me, it’s partly about equity,” Chan explained. “We know that the LGBTQ population is historically marginalized and underserved. We have this effective STI intervention that works in MSM and transgender women. There is no way that we [should not] recommend it in those groups.”

Is Overreliance on DoxyPEP a Risk?

Henry de Vries, M.D., a professor at the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, cautioned clinicians to avoid making blanket recommendations when it comes to the use of doxyPEP. “There are, at this moment, too many unknown [variables] remaining to justify broad implementation of doxyPEP,” de Vries argued during the debate at AIDS 2024. “We need to know the long-term effects of intermittent, frequent high-consumption of doxycycline, especially the potential negative impact on human microbiomes. We [are increasingly aware] that the gut microbiome is very important in health and disease. This is especially important when it is used in populations of gay and bisexual men who are often burdened with co-infections.”

De Vries, who treats STIs and skin infections at the Amsterdam Center for Sexual Health, said that clinicians should also consider the possible impact of doxyPEP on antimicrobial resistance. “DoxyPEP ignores the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship,” he said. “Let’s follow the precautionary principle. It will be hard to de-implement doxyPEP once fully embraced.”

Chan concurred on the point of drug resistance. “Antimicrobial stewardship is always on my mind,” he said. “I like what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, which is to consider doxyPEP in MSM and TGW who have had a bacterial STI in the last 12 months. Focus on the populations that are at higher risk of bacterial STIs.”

While antimicrobial resistance is rare to nonexistent in syphilis and chlamydia, clinicians should be concerned about it in relation to gonorrhea and other infections, such as cutaneous community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, which is typically treated with doxycycline, Chan added.

Is DoxyPEP an Option for Cisgender Women?

Whether doxyPEP will work in other populations beyond MSM and TGW remains to be seen, de Vries said. The search for effective strategies for curbing congenital syphilis, which disproportionately affects pregnant women and neonates in sub-Saharan Africa, is ongoing.

Unfortunately, doxyPEP did not reduce STIs in a study often referred to as the dPEP Kenya study , which enrolled 449 cisgender women aged 18 to 30 years in Kenya. But that may not be because the drug itself was ineffective: “We believe that the dPEP study in Kenya failed because of the lack of adherence,” Chan said. “This is a theme in HIV and STI prevention. We also saw that in the [initial] studies for HIV PrEP. We have to start considering some of these issues, especially some of these social questions, when it comes to designing studies.”

Benn Kwach, a research scientist at the Centre for Microbiology Research affiliated with Kenya Medical Research Institute, in Kisumu, Kenya, cited several possible explanations for a lack of doxyPEP efficacy in cisgender women, such as anatomy, resistance, and adherence. Kwach discussed barriers to the uptake of doxyPEP in the Kenya study in an oral abstract session at AIDS 2024. While initial major barriers included side effects, stigma, and privacy concerns, repeated interviews at six and 12 months after the end of the study showed that stigma and privacy concerns became the main barriers, along with forgetfulness. Other barriers included inconvenient dosing schedules, misconceptions, lack of knowledge, peer influence, and social dynamics. The speaker explained that three key themes emerged as facilitators to the use of doxyPEP in women: the perceived value of doxyPEP in preventing STIs, familiarity with doxycycline, and use of a discrete pill case.

“Adherence to doxycycline prophylaxis could be better supported in this population by decreasing frequency of dosing and urgency of dosing to allow for optimal location and timing of dosing,” the authors wrote. “Understanding both barriers and facilitators is crucial in developing effective drugs. Effective barrier management and [facilitator] promotion are essential for success.” Kwach noted that food security, which was not assessed during the study, may have also played a role in increasing the side effects associated with doxyPEP.

Women in areas where STIs are endemic and likely to go undetected, such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa, could benefit from clear guidance on the use of doxyPEP. “Efforts to include doxyPEP in national prevention guidelines are crucial and call for urgent consideration for Zambia and other countries,” said Henry Muzuwandile, on behalf of the Key Population Consortium, in Zambia. “We do understand the implications of cost and possible resistance, however, it is more expensive to host a funeral than it is to spend a dollar on prevention. It is more complicated to deal with pelvic inflammatory disease in females than it is to put forth an intervention that can prevent it.”

Self-Medication and Role of Providers

Another facet to the conversation is that the broad availability of doxycycline is likely to result in expanded access to, and usage of, doxyPEP by people who feel it could benefit them. “Whether you like it or not, doxy will be widely spread in the community,” Nikolay Lunchenkov said during the doxyPEP debate.

Lunchenkov, who represented the Estonia-based Eurasian Coalition on Male Health, pointed out that people across Eastern Europe and Central Asia may have easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions. Since interest in doxyPEP has increased following results from the efficacy trials, clinicians should educate their patients on correct dosage and precautions when taking doxycycline, he added.

As guidelines around doxyPEP use rapidly evolve, current utilization appears highly inconsistent. Survey results from Italy presented during a poster session at AIDS 2024 showed that, while 28% of individuals who received HIV PrEP at a community clinic were aware of doxyPEP, only 9% reported using it. Almost half of the users reported inadequate dosing. “The lack of national guidelines on doxyPEP leaves a gap in STI prevention where individuals with perceived high risk of exposure are informally self-administering doxycycline as PEP,” the study authors said. “DoxyPEP needs to be implemented within appropriate national guidelines to reduce STIs circulation.”

Understanding the factors that influence willingness, such as perceived STI risk, and receiving a recommendation from a health care provider may facilitate doxyPEP uptake. Findings from an online questionnaire completed by more than 1,000 MSM from Taiwan who were living with HIV or taking HIV PrEP between October 2023 and March 2024 showed that after receiving counseling, 86% of participants were willing to take doxyPEP and 46% were given doxyPEP prescriptions.

Bridging Populations: A Key Link in the Chain of Transmission

Chan pointed out that doxyPEP offers a unique opportunity to interrupt the chains of STI transmission within and across sexual networks. For example, “Bisexual males are bridging populations between MSM and cisgender heterosexual women,” he said. “Even if doxyPEP only reduced—and there is good data on that—incidence of bacterial STIs in MSM, I would expect that there would be some effect in reducing incidence of bacterial STIs in cisgender heterosexual women as well, just by the bridging partners.”

Presenters at AIDS 2024 generally appeared to agree that doxyPEP has the best chance of success when combined with other preventive strategies, including condom use, counseling, and STI screening. DoxyPEP may play a key role in the combined efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV and STIs, which have a “serious cousinship relationship,” Muzuwandile said.

TheBodyPro is proud to be an official media partner of AIDS 2024.

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Opening Ceremony DJ claims she's gotten death threats over Olympics ‘Last Supper'

Barbara butch's lawyer said in a letter posted to the dj's instagram that butch “has been threatened with death, torture and rape, and has also been the target of numerous anti-semitic, homophobic, sexist and grossophobic insults", by the associated press • published july 30, 2024 • updated on july 30, 2024 at 8:07 am.

The storm of outrage about the Paris Olympics' Opening Ceremony took a legal turn Tuesday, with a DJ who performed at the show saying her lawyer is filing complaints over a torrent of threats and other abuse that the LGBTQ+ icon has suffered online in the ceremony's wake.

Barbara Butch's lawyer said in a letter posted to the DJ's Instagram that Butch “has been threatened with death, torture and rape, and has also been the target of numerous anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and grossophobic insults.”

Butch’s agent confirmed to The Associated Press that the Instagram account is the DJ’s.

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Watch Celine Dion's entire performance at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

See the best moments from the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Although the ceremony's artistic director Thomas Jolly has repeatedly said that he wasn't inspired by “The Last Supper,” critics interpreted part of the show that featured Butch as a mockery of Leonardo Da Vinci's painting showing Jesus Christ and his apostles.

Butch, who calls herself a “love activist,” wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo as she got a party going during her segment of the show. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butch on both sides.

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French Catholic bishops and others were among those who said Christians had been hurt and offended. Paris Olympics organizers have said there was “never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group” and that the intent was to “celebrate community tolerance.”

Jolly has said he saw the moment as a celebration of diversity, and the table on which Butch spun her tunes as a tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”

Olympics: The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings. #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/2vnMNrlmMi — Paris 2024 Olympics (English) (@OlympicsParis) July 26, 2024

The statement from Butch's lawyer Audrey Msellati said she is filing several complaints. Typically, French judicial authorities examine such complaints and determine whether to launch a formal police investigation.

The statement said Butch has been “the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harrassment and defamation.”

In a statement of her own, also posted on Instagram, Butch said: “Whatever some may say, I exist. I’ve never been ashamed of who I am, and I take responsibility for everything - including my artistic choices. All my life, I’ve refused to be a victim: I won’t shut up.”

Her lawyer’s statement said legal complaints would be filed regardless of “whether committed by French nationals or foreigners and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future.”

She said she “was extremely honored” to perform in Friday’s ceremony and “my heart is still full of joy.”

“I’m committed, and I’m proud. Proud of who I am, of what I am, and of what I embody, both for my loved ones and for millions of French people. My France is France !” she wrote.

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The Most Powerful Debate Speech Strategy And Topic Ideas

11 Greatest Debate Topics Of All Time.

Ways In which Debate Helps Shape Overall Personality.

1. The Existence of a Higher Power: God vs. Atheism

2. Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech Laws

3. Legalization of Recreational Drugs: Pros and Cons

4. Climate Change: Human-Made vs. Natural Causes

5. Capital Punishment: Morality and Deterrence

6. Immigration Policies: Open Borders vs. Strict Control

7. Assisted Suicide: Right to Die vs. Sanctity of Life

8. Privacy in the Digital Age: Security vs. Individual Rights

9. Universal Basic Income: Reducing Inequality vs. Economic Sustainability

10. Censorship in the Arts: Protecting Morality vs. Freedom of Expression

11. Animal Testing: Scientific Advancement vs. Animal Rights

How To Write A Debate Speech ?

Thesis Statement: Clearly State Your Position

Main Arguments: Develop Strong Points

Addressing Counter Arguments: Anticipate and Refute

Emphasize Impact: Appeal to Emotions and Values

Use Persuasive Language: Enhance Convincing Power

Maintain Clarity and Organization: Structured Delivery

Engage the Audience: Foster Connection

Conclusion: Reinforce Your Message

Q&A Preparation: Be Ready for Questions

Critical Thinking Skills:

Effective Communication:

Research and Information Retrieval:

Empathy and Understanding:

Conflict Resolution Skills:

Leadership Qualities:

Time Management:

Teamwork and Collaboration:

1. Solid Research And Preparation: The Foundation Of Success

2. Clear And Concise Communication: Precision Matters

3. Active Listening: Addressing Counterarguments Effectively

4. Adaptability: Flexibility In The Face Of Challenges

5. Emotional Intelligence: Connecting With Your Audience

6. Confidence And Body Language: Projecting Authority

7. Strategic Use of Time: Maximize Impact

8. Consistency in Messaging: Reinforce Your Core Points

9. Engage the Audience: Foster Connection and Interest

10. Grace Under Pressure: Navigate Challenges with Composure

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Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience