Debate Skills

5 minQuiz at the end

What is a Debate?

A debate is a structured argument where two sides present opposing viewpoints on a motion (a statement or topic). The goal is to convince a neutral audience or judges that your side is correct.

Debate Structure

Motion: "This house believes that social media does more harm than good."

  • Proposition — argues for the motion
  • Opposition — argues against the motion

A typical debate format:

  1. First speaker (Proposition) — opens with main arguments
  2. First speaker (Opposition) — opens with counter-arguments
  3. Additional speakers develop their side's case
  4. Rebuttals — directly address what the other side said
  5. Summary speeches — wrap up each side's case

Building a Strong Argument

Every argument needs three parts:

  1. Claim — your point: Social media increases anxiety in teenagers.
  2. Evidence — facts, statistics, examples: Studies show a 40% rise in anxiety since 2012 correlating with smartphone adoption.
  3. Reasoning — explain why the evidence supports the claim.

Rebuttals

A rebuttal directly counters an opponent's argument:

  • "My opponent claimed X. However, this ignores Y. The evidence actually shows Z."

Logical Fallacies to Avoid

  • Ad hominem — attacking the person, not the argument: "You'd say that, wouldn't you."
  • Straw man — misrepresenting the opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
  • False dichotomy — pretending there are only two options when there are more
  • Appeal to emotion — using feelings instead of evidence