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 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 to develop your debating prowess , enabling 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 statement s 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, 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 c ompelling reason to support the debater’s position. You must also reinforce the key points and provide a sense of closure to the debate.

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.
Skillful time management ensures that debaters make their strongest case while leaving sufficient time for rebuttals and closing statements.

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: Use clear and persuasive language to present your arguments confidently. 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 find themselves as 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 uses 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 fill 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 adopt a clear and confident point of view while presenting the team’s case.

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.

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.

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

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Public Speaking

How to Write a Debate Speech

Last Updated: May 10, 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 1,504,009 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 29 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 Write a Debate Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to the world of debating, where ideas clash, arguments are made, and minds are changed. Whether you’re a seasoned debater or just starting out, having a solid outline is key to delivering a compelling and organized argument. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a debate outline, step by step.

Understanding the Basics of a Debate Outline

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of creating a debate outline, let’s first understand what a debate outline is and why it’s important. A debate outline is a roadmap for your argument, helping you structure your points and evidence in a logical and persuasive manner. It ensures that you cover all the necessary points and stay on track during the debate.

Step 1: Choose a Side

The first step in creating a debate outline is to choose a side on the topic at hand. Whether you’re assigned a side or given the freedom to choose, it’s important to clearly define your position before moving forward with your outline. Consider the arguments for both sides and decide which one you can best defend.

Step 2: Research the Topic

Once you’ve chosen a side, it’s time to gather evidence to support your argument. Research the topic thoroughly, looking for reputable sources and data that back up your claims. Make sure to consider counterarguments as well, as addressing them can strengthen your position.

Step 3: Craft Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the central argument of your debate, summarizing the main point you will be making. It should be clear, concise, and debatable. Take some time to refine your thesis statement, ensuring that it effectively captures the essence of your argument.

Step 4: Outline Your Arguments

Now that you have your thesis statement, it’s time to outline your arguments. Start by brainstorming the main points you want to make in support of your thesis. Organize these points in a logical order, with each point building upon the previous one. Remember to include evidence and examples to support each argument.

Step 5: Include Counterarguments

To anticipate and address potential counterarguments, it’s important to include them in your outline. Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and explain why they are not as strong as your own arguments. By addressing counterarguments, you can demonstrate your critical thinking skills and strengthen your overall argument.

Step 6: Organize Your Outline

Once you have all your arguments and counterarguments laid out, it’s time to organize your outline. Start by creating a clear introduction that introduces the topic and your thesis statement. Then, outline each of your main arguments, followed by your counterarguments. Finally, conclude with a strong closing statement that reinforces your thesis.

Step 7: Revise and Refine

After creating your initial outline, take some time to revise and refine it. Look for gaps in your argument, weak points that need strengthening, and areas where you can add more evidence or examples. Consider seeking feedback from peers or mentors to improve the quality of your outline.

Q: How long should a debate outline be?

A: There is no set length for a debate outline, as it will vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the depth of your arguments. However, a typical debate outline should be concise and focused, providing a clear roadmap for your argument.

Q: Can I use visuals in my debate outline?

A: While debate outlines are typically text-based, you can certainly use visuals such as charts, graphs, or diagrams to support your arguments. Just make sure that the visuals are relevant and enhance the overall clarity of your outline.

Q: How should I format my debate outline?

A: There is no strict format for a debate outline, but it’s important to use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize your arguments clearly. Make sure to use a consistent format throughout your outline for easy readability.

In this guide, we’ve covered the essential steps to creating a debate outline that will help you deliver a compelling and well-structured argument. By following these steps and incorporating your own unique style and voice, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled debater. Happy debating!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 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.

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.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

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How To Prepare For A Debate: 8 Ways To Win & Build Reputation

Anthony metivier.

March 28, 2024
Learning , Thinking

Feature image for how to prepare for a debate of a woman yelling at a man with a megaphone

Good. You’ve got a shot at winning. All without screaming and ruining your reputation like so many debaters do without realizing it.

Rest assured, anyone worth debating probably already knows how to debate well. So the sooner you start mastering this form of presentation, the better you’ll do when it’s your turn to enter the arena.

It’s also good to be prepared to avoid unnecessary debates as well.

And in some cases, win them in advance, cancelling them out.

For example, I was once challenged to a debate about free will. I took the position that it didn’t exist.

But when I asked my opponent for his details to set up the online portal where the debate was going to take place, he refused. He said he would rather remain anonymous.

I replied that if he was so sure free will exists, he could surely convince himself to supply a name.

He didn’t even bother to make a name up just to get past this hump in the setup process. When I pointed this out, he folded completely. As a result, I was placed in a position of declaring the debate “won,” when in truth, this person simply outed themselves as not taking the topic seriously enough to warrant the occasion with him at all.

I tell this story because being ready for all kinds of circumstances in and around debating is key.

So if you’re ready for my best tips, let’s dive in.

The Foundational Rules of How To Prepare For A Debate & The Importance Of Understanding Them

Debates can quickly get heated, especially not all people communicate in the same ways. As researchers have shown , whether you win the debate or not, all debates present opportunities for you to either grow trust or reduce it before the public.

In other words, literally everything you say during a debate influences how you’re perceived. And if you’re being recorded, it’s important to note that the tone and volume of your voice may not transfer as you intended in a live setting.

For this reason, modern debaters not only need to know the rules of the debate setting in which they’re engaging. They also need to think about the interpersonal and intrapersonal effects created by the medium used to broadcast the debate.

blue shirt woman thinking and writing on her notebook

One: Understand Different Kinds of Propositions

Debaters argue towards resolutions based on propositions or statements that essentially call for change. This change might be a change in belief or behavior, or both.

In order for people to change their minds or how they act in the world, the burden of proof falls on the person bringing the proposition.

As a debater, you should be familiar with the different kinds of propositions, which generally boil down to:

Propositions of fact
Propositions of value
Propositions of action

Fact-based propositions call for objective reasonin g. Although fanciful philosophical questions may arise, these need to be identified and placed aside.

Propositions of value, on the other hand, do take subjective reasoning into consideration. Some people think that subjectivity is anathema to reason, but actually you can use reasoning skills to value all kinds of subjective responses to things and events in the world.

Two: Analyze Propositions Ahead Of Time And In Real-Time

To prepare for debate, you’ll want to strategies for analyzing propositions before the event begins.

However, sometimes new and unannounced propositions while arise during a debate. In order to prepare to analyze these, you can do three things:

Engage in debating frequently and analyze propositions in real time
Watch plenty of debates
Watch debate reviews and breakdowns

These days, it’s easy to find many recorded debates and people breaking down the performance of others and their own performances.

In terms of how to analyse propositions, you will want to learn;

Semantic analysis (or the analysis of meaning)
Issue analysis (what’s at question or what is the nature of the conflict)
What’s being generalized or subject to abstract vs. concrete thinking

Three: Understand Types Of Evidence Before Gathering Data

My good friend Ben Cardall is known as a Real Life Sherlock Holmes. In his professional work as an investigator, he’s fantastic about helping people understand what evidence is and when it makes sense to commit certain kinds of information to memory.

The two broad types of evidence are:

Authoritative

The first category includes data that is observed and reported objectively. In other words, if someone witnesses an accident, they should list only matters pertaining to the time, number of automobiles, their colors, how many people were involved, what they looked like, etc. But offering judgments about who was to blame in an accident is subjective, not factual.

Authoritative evidence comes from experts. They may interpret factual evidence, and can sometimes be wrong or guilty of injecting subjective opinions. But overall, we weigh their input differently due to their experience and ideally their ability to honestly list any biases they hold.

The more you’re aware of these matters, the better prepared you’ll be in debate.

Four: Dive Deeper Into The Nature of Evidence

A lot of people cite studies when providing evidence. In fact, I’ve done so in the article you’re reading now.

When preparing for debates, it’s key that you don’t just take the presentation of evidence for granted. You need to start asking questions like:

Did I actually read the study, or just a journalistic report about it?
Who conducted this study?
What are their credentials and how/where were they earned?
When was the study conducted?
Where and by whom?
Why did they conduct the study?
What statistical methods were used?
What were their sampling techniques?
How many subjects were involved?
Who interpreted the findings of the study and how?
What ethical standards did they impose?
How much of their job security depended on their interpretations?

All of these questions will help you determine just how authoritative various pieces of evidence are in reality.

You also need to be aware of certain “ halo effects .” For example, if you like me, you might be biased towards liking my friend Ben Cardall without doing your own research about him.

I get no particular kickback whether or not you read Ben’s book or follow his YouTube channel, etc. But I am aware that every time I place a spotlight on someone who creates knowledge, some people will be persuaded to take more interest in that resource. And my own work relies on this effect too.

But that doesn’t make anything any of us say valid. As a debater, you need to ask all of the questions I’ve just listed in order to be as effective as possible.

Five: Develop Your Knowledge Of Reasoning

There are many kinds of reasoning that you will want to master in debate. If you have certain polymathic personality traits , they might already be at work in your life. Otherwise, you’ll want to learn and practice pointing them out while debating.

Some of the most important kinds of reasoning to understand and deploy include:

Reasoning from example
Reasoning from comparison
Reasoning from analogy
Reasoning from effect to cause
Reasoning from cause to effect
Reasoning from criteria to labeling
Reasoning from circumstantial evidence to hypothesis

Thomas Krafft delivering an onstage presentation

Six: Understand The Formal Procedures And Evaluation Of Each Debate

Not all debates follow the same procedures. For example, the Munk Debates might not follow the same format as your high school sessions. So it’s important to understand each debate on its own terms.

Some debates may use specialized terminology as well, such as status quo, rebuttal, presumption, etc. Make sure you’re aware of the exact terms used, as well as:

Time limits imposed on speakers
Rules on how ideas and rebuttals are exchanged
How the debate is evaluated and the winner determined

Typically, a debate will open with the construction of a case by the person affirming the proposition. In other words, if the burden of proof is on you, you’ll start the debate by analyzing the proposition, talking about how you’ll organize your presentation of the evidence and then delivering it in order.

Since most debates are conducted through speaking, it’s good to know how to memorize a presentation .

Seven: Know How To Expose Fallacies

Perhaps the strongest tool you’ll want to have in your toolbox is knowledge of logical fallacies and a strategy for exposing them.

As I mentioned above, everything you do in a debate will either diminish or raise the audience’s trust in your rhetorical skills. This effect was noted thousands of years in ago in a book called Rhetorica ad Herennium .

Because developing and maintaining trust is so important, it’s important to understand that anyone can fall into fallacious argumentation. They are not necessarily attempting to be deceptive anymore than you are. Fallacies occur when:

You use incorrect reasoning
Faulty evidence is supplied
Issues go ignored
You offer “ loaded questions “
You straw man or otherwise attack a person instead of focusing on the argumentation

Fallacies are tricky and there’s a lot more to them than this. For that reason, I refer you back to the critical thinking books I mentioned above. They will help you avoid all kinds of fallacies as a debater and point them out when you encounter them.

Above all things, just remember that when you point out various fallacies, you are always revealing your own skills at remaining objective and civil.

Eight: Be Prepared For Hostility

Although you now know just how important it is to point out fallacies in a civil manner, that doesn’t mean your debate partner or the audience will reciprocate.

Part of entering any debate requires bringing levels of mental strength that allow for humans to be human. Hostility often arises when topics like politics, religion, education, culture, economics or even unpopular viewpoints arise.

As a result, you may be stared at, face a restless audience or even be yelled at by protestors. In order to deal with such responses, it’s best to treat them like symptoms. Look for the underlying causes.

Although I wouldn’t say Peter Boghossian’s performance of doing this recently was not perfect, here is a good example of someone skipping over the symptoms and looking for the causes.

Here’s my only criticism:

Hearing, “I feel sorry for you” could come off as an insult. As a result, there’s a chance of increasing the cause that lead to the individual’s “symptoms” in the first place. By the same token, Boghossian is expressing an interest in the transformation his position offers the person attacking him. Although impassioned, I believe his response is authentic.

Finally, when it comes to knowing how to prepare for a debate, do some analysis of human psychology. There are some fairly standard ways people respond to contentious issues. For centuries, people have used Memory Wheels to categorize and remember all kinds of possible issues and enabled themselves to deliver optimal responses on demand.

Step Into the Arena With Confidence

As you’ve seen, there are many psychological tactics that will help you win debates. Sure, you can read books like Robert Cialdini’s Influence , but that kind of stuff is more about marketing. Principles like social proof and reciprocity can get you slaughtered in a debate even though it’s useful to know about them. In fact, you can present them in a debate, but using them as debate tools directly can lead you into all kinds of fallacious thinking that exposes you to losing.

When it comes to debating effectively, you’ll do well to follow the rules above and keep learning more. You’ve got theory, study of actual debates and then getting your own experience to cover each and every time you go to debate.

That’s how the pros do it, and you should too, even if you just want to get better at informal debates.

When it comes to remembering everything we just covered, feel free to grab my Free Memory Improvement course:

It gives you four videos and worksheets that will help you memorize just about anything on demand using a Memory Palace .

Then, as you study the debating styles of various masters of argumentation, you’ll be able to quickly absorb their rhetorical techniques and practice them. While also avoiding their mistakes and pitfalls.

At the end of the day, we all have blindspots.

So as a final tip, make sure to record and study your own debate performances. Look at yourself objectively. Create your own benchmarks for improvement guided by the rules we’ve discussed today, ongoing study and ongoing practice.

That’s how to enter any arena and win.

And if you lose?

Make it a win by studying and practicing even harder with more doses of reflective thinking . That will help you develop the metacogntive levels of thinking that have always helped the greatest debaters of all time make a stand and make a change.

There's a moral element to memory and you can use these 5 rules from Albertus…

Declarative memory and nondeclarative memory are incredibly different. Get the best declarative memory example now…

It's easy to improve your reasoning skills. These detailed strategies and examples will help you…

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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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Download our Debate Organizer

Stay fousssed with this handy template to keep all your ideas organized.

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.

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

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.

A COMPLETE UNIT FOR TEACHING OPINION WRITING

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How to Prepare for a Debate Presentation and Win: 9 Steps

Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
Post published: December 28, 2021
Post category: Scholarly Articles

How To Prepare For a Debate and win: A debate, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a formal discussion on a specific topic at a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which competing viewpoints are presented and which usually finishes with a vote. A debate is a well-organized discussion.

Tips to win Debate Competitions at School

Two sides alternate speaking for and against a certain point of dispute, which is frequently centered on a current subject. Unlike disagreements with family or friends, however, each individual is given a specific amount of time to speak and any interjections are carefully monitored.

Because the topic of the argument is frequently predetermined, you may find yourself needing to endorse viewpoints with which you do not ordinarily agree.

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Table of Contents

The Different Types of Debate

a. Debate in Parliament : A legislative discussion is held to support or oppose proposed legislation. They cannot be postponed or delayed due to a lack of research, and it places a strong emphasis on reasoning and persuasion, two essential skills for any excellent debater.

Furthermore, because it resembles British parliament discussions, it is the most prevalent style of debate employed in parliament and assemblies.

How to prepare for a Debate presentation

You will have 15-20 minutes to prepare your discussion before each round, and you are only allowed to bring a pen and paper inside the prep area. Six speeches are spoken during a round of parliamentary debates: four constructive and two rebuttal speeches.

Also see: How to introduce yourself professionally

b. Academic Dissension : Academic debate is a fantastic approach to improve your educational skills while also learning about new subjects. Many different speeches, such as Lincoln Douglas, might be used as a model for the format.

Students learn how to defend their point of view in front of others through debate competition. Improve your writing and thinking skills as well.

c. Leaders Debate : It’s also referred to as a presidential debate since it allows contenders to introduce themselves to potential voters. They’re broadcast on the radio, and they’re hosted on the internet by media companies or organizations that aren’t affiliated with any government.

d. Debate on Team Policy : Two debaters battle against each other in eight speeches, four constructive and four rebuttals, as well as cross-examination, functional and strategic amounts of evidence swiftly and clearly.

Furthermore, it is the most popular debate format in high school and college. It is mostly concerned with evidence collection and organizational skills. It’s critical to realize that cross-examination can be utilized as part of a strategy to defeat your opponent.

How to prepare for a Debate presentation and win excellently

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e. Debate on Cross-Examination : In college, cross-examination is a new sort of debate that takes place in between speakers. It is the technique in which an opponent debater asks questions in order to fully comprehend and clarify their opponent’s point of view.

A cross-examination debate allows you to engage your opponent and show that you are confident in your ability to talk convincingly.

f. The Lincoln–Douglas : The Lincoln–Douglas debate is a sort of one-on-one competitive debate popular in high schools across the United States. Because the format generally emphasizes logic, ethical ideals, and philosophy, it is frequently referred to as a values debate.

Its main purpose is to convince as well as to present a clear and cohesive argument. It gives a free and open forum for people from all walks of life to express themselves.

To avoid the mindless memorization and repetition that so many young debaters have to deal with, they should concentrate on logical argument to defend a broad premise. Furthermore, the Lincoln-Douglas format is simple.

Recommended: How to conclude and summarise your debate presentation

g. Spontaneous Argumentation : Students can improve their speaking and debating skills by participating in a spontaneous argumentation (SPAR) debate. The debaters are given subjects at random and have only a few minutes to prepare their remarks. Because there is no need for research-heavy arguments in these types of talks, they focus more on presentation than content.

This style of speech appears to be less difficult to prepare than other speeches that demand a significant amount of time.

h. Constructive Dissension : In a constructive speech, you should use evidence and reasoning to back up your key points. To do so effectively, you must first introduce yourself in an engaging manner that grabs the audience’s attention.

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Basic Debating Techniques

a. Style: The way you present your ideas is referred to as style. This is the most fundamental aspect of debate to learn. Content and strategy are useless until you communicate your message with confidence and conviction.

b. Speed : It’s critical to speak at a speed that’s rapid enough to sound clever and give you enough time to convey what you’re thinking, yet slow enough to be understood.

c. Tone : It’s your varied tone that makes you sound interesting. It’s tedious to listen to one tone for the duration of a talk.

Also see Easy way to remember what you read for long

d. Volume : While it is occasionally important to speak loudly, it is not necessary to shout throughout every dispute, regardless of context. There’s no need to speak louder than the volume at which everyone in the room can hear you comfortably. It’s obvious that speaking too quietly is a bad idea because no one will be able to hear you.

e. Clarity : Debating is all about being able to convey difficult problems succinctly and convincingly. The main reason people start sounding muddled is that they lose their “ stream of thought ” that keeps them moving. It’s also critical to keep things plain. Long words might make you sound intelligent, but they can also make you sound incoherent.

Also see: How To Become the Best Version of Yourself: 11 Effective Tips

e. Note-use and eye contact : Notes are necessary, but they must be concise and well-organized in order to be useful. Attempting to speak without notes is a waste of time. Of course, notes should never become obtrusive and interfere with your audience’s ability to hear you, nor should they be read verbatim. Most people make a rough outline of their speech, with brief notes beneath each category.

When making rebuttal notes during a debate, it’s best to do so on a separate sheet of paper so you can take down the specifics of what the other speakers have said and then transfer a rough outline onto the notes you’ll be using.

Maintaining eye contact with the audience is crucial, but shift your gaze as needed. Nobody enjoys being scrutinized.

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Preparing For a Debate: 9 Steps to Win

1. Understand your topic : Each debate’s topic is chosen by the moderator. In any argument, there are always two sides: the affirmative and negative positions. To debate effectively, regardless of the stance you’ve been assigned, you’ll need to know a lot about the subject. Remember that knowledge is the cornerstone of excellent argument.

Going to a debate without understanding anything about the subject is like to drafting a research paper without doing any study. The topic will almost always be a long-standing contentious issue or a recent problem that has to be resolved. Once you’ve received the topic, have a discussion with your team about everything you know about it.

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2. Make a list of your counter-arguments : Preparing your counterarguments is, of course, a necessary part of learning how to be a better debater. Here are two crucial pointers for debaters: First and first, never underestimate your opponents; second, expect that they are as well-informed and prepared as your team.

Understand that criticizing your opponents’ ideas in order to deconstruct and discredit them is one of the most effective debate methods. This means you should not only evaluate your opponents’ arguments, but also come up with counter-arguments.

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3. Use stats and evidence to support your points: One secret about winning a debate that many people don’t really know is the use of stats or evidence to support arguments. First and foremost, you have to understand that a debate is not just a contest to know who is better in public speaking, shouting, time management or seriousness only. What matters the most is what you have to support your arguments.

So for example, if you say that a “ Lawyer is better than a Doctor” , what do you have to show it? That is where stats and evidence comes in. When you able to prove your point with evidence and stats then you are good to go.

Also, there is no doubt that people tend to be more interested in what you are saying during a debate when you have authorities added. Trust me, even when those authorities are wrong it will be counted as a plus to you. However, that doesn’t mean you should go about giving wrong and fake evidence just to prove your point. But off course, you can mention authorities like websites, magazines, professionals, books etc, to support your points and that will suffice.

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4. Establish Your Refutations : If you want to know how to effectively debate, you need be able to develop refutations. As previously mentioned, developing counterarguments to counter your opponents’ arguments is a successful strategy. A smart debater, on the other hand, is aware that opponents will prepare their own counterarguments.

How to Prepare a Short Preparation Debate

Anticipate the counterarguments that the other side may use against you and prepare appropriate solutions. It can cost you points if you fail to refute your opponents’ counterarguments. Successfully defending your points with refutations, on the other hand, will not only show the judges that you have prepared for the debate, but it will also hurt your opponents’ morale.

Also see: Are lawyers liars? Find out the truth today

5. Get your cue cards ready : At this point, you must know your topic and have prepared your arguments, counterarguments, and refutations. It’s best to learn these by heart, although memorizing them can be difficult. After all, you are only human, and you are prone to make mistakes. Prepare cue cards to address this issue.

How to prepare and win a debate argument

Organize your cue cards and use them as a reference when making your statements. Your cue cards will act as a guide to ensure that you do not forget anything or wander from the topic, similar to how cue cards are used in presentations. But don’t forget to write legibly; you don’t want to waste time straining at cards that are nearly unreadable.

6. Get acquainted with the rules : Knowing the rules is another important aspect of debate preparation. Debate is a straightforward notion. Your primary goal is to persuade your audience that your viewpoint is correct. However, while the premise is straightforward, the mechanics can be challenging.

Debate rules and steps differ based on the mechanics established by your teacher or group. Their rigidity, on the other hand, is something they all have in common. Because it would be unjust if debaters were allowed to break from the rules, they are tightly enforced. As a result, learning how to prepare for a debate should entail a comprehensive review of these rules. Remember that teams will be fined if they break the regulations. When it comes to debate, the more rules you know, the less likely you are to breach them.

Also see: How to become a successful lawyer

7. Set a Time for Yourself : Staying within the time limit is one of the most crucial rules of debate. Each participant is given the opportunity to present their case and answer to their opponents. Debaters are given varying amounts of time, but it is usually only a few minutes. Some discussion organizations, for example, limit participants to only four to five minutes.

Steps to prepare for a Debate presentation

Because you only have a limited amount of time to present your ideas, you must use it wisely. Learn how to discuss in a clear and succinct manner. Use straightforward and precise language to avoid being excessively wordy. Because of the time constraint, you must select only your strongest arguments. When practicing, use a stopwatch to guarantee that you do everything before you run out of time.

8. Perform your practices in Front of a Mirror : While evidence-based arguments are the most important tools you may employ in a debate, your presence and demeanor are as important. After all, debating is a sort of public speaking. While debating, you should have a cool and confident demeanor.

When your opponent’s score points, don’t seem disheartened or dejected; displaying your emotions will simply encourage the other team to focus their efforts on lowering your morale. Practice in front of a mirror to monitor and enhance your body language. It’s important to remember that learning to debate entails more than just memorizing or disputing points; it also entails carrying yourself with charisma.

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9. Rehearse : Debating is primarily a team endeavor, despite the fact that debaters are granted the floor separately. A team is only as strong as its weakest member, as the proverb goes. You should support one another in becoming better debaters. Study debate tips together and put them into practice. Don’t be hesitant to give each other feedback. Recognizing each other’s flaws will help you grow as a couple in the long term.

Learn how to organize a debate for optimum efficiency. Then, with your teammates, arrange a debate. Half of the squad, for example, may pick one side while the other takes the other side. This strategy will acquaint you with both sides of the argument. As the opposing side looks for flaws in your reasoning, this will also help you defend your stance. These debating methods can help you do better in the argument. Remember that the more you understand about all sides of an argument, the more likely you are to win a debate.

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Though participating in a debate might be intimidating, it can also be rewarding since it broadens your awareness, encourages critical thinking, and sharpens your persuasive abilities. However, you must know how to prepare for a discussion in order to be effective.

The tactics and tips mentioned will aid you in your preparation for debating tournaments. A good debate requires a mix of topic knowledge, argument ability, and the ability to express the appropriate attitude. You can both train your intellect and win discussion competitions by using these tactics.

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.

Propositions in Debate Definition and Examples

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

Hill Street Studios/Getty Images

An Introduction to Punctuation
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

In an argument or debate , a proposition is a statement that affirms or denies something.

As explained below, a proposition may function as a premise or a conclusion in a syllogism or enthymeme .

In formal debates, a proposition may also be called a topic, motion , or resolution .

Etymology From the Latin, "to set forth"

Examples and Observations

"An argument is any group of propositions where one proposition is claimed to follow from the others, and where the others are treated as furnishing grounds or support for the truth of the one. An argument is not a mere collection of propositions, but a group with a particular, rather formal, structure. . . .

"The conclusion of an argument is the one proposition that is arrived at and affirmed on the basis of the other propositions of the argument.

"The premises of an argument are the other propositions which are assumed or otherwise accepted as providing support or justification for accepting the one proposition which is the conclusion. Thus, in the three propositions that follow in the universal deductive categorical syllogism, the first two are premises and the third the conclusion :

All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Socrates is mortal.

. . . Premises and conclusions require each other. A proposition standing alone is neither a premise nor a conclusion." (Ruggero J. Aldisert, "Logic in Forensic Science." Forensic Science and Law , ed. by Cyril H. Wecht and John T. Rago. Taylor & Francis, 2006)

Effective Argumentative Essays

"The first step in arguing successfully is to state your position clearly. This means that a good thesis is crucial to your essay. For argumentative or persuasive essays, the thesis is sometimes called a major proposition , or a claim. Through your major proposition, you take a definite position in a debate, and by taking a strong position, you give your essay its argumentative edge. Your readers must know what your position is and must see that you have supported your main idea with convincing minor points." (Gilbert H. Muller and Harvey S. Wiener, The Short Prose Reader , 12th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2009)

Propositions in Debates

"Debate is the process of presenting arguments for or against a proposition. Propositions for which people argue are controversial and have one or more individuals presenting the case for the proposition while others present the case against it. Every debater is an advocate; the purpose of each speaker is to gain the belief of the audience for his side. Argument is the core of the debate speech—the superior debater must be superior in the use of argument. The chief means of persuasion in debate is the logical mode." (Robert B. Huber and Alfred Snider, Influencing Through Argument , rev. ed. International Debate Education Association, 2006)

Clarifying Propositions

"[It often requires] some work to extract a clear representation of an argument from any given prose passage. First of all, it is possible to express a proposition using any kind of grammatical construction. Interrogative, optative, or exclamatory sentences, for example, can, with appropriate contextual stage setting, be used to express propositions. In the interests of clarity, therefore, it will often be helpful to paraphrase an author's words, in expressing a premise or conclusion, into the form of a declarative sentence that transparently expresses a proposition. Second, not every proposition expressed in an argumentative prose passage occurs within that passage as either a premise or a conclusion, or as (a proper) part of a premise or conclusion. We'll refer to these propositions, which are neither identical with nor embedded in any premise or conclusion, and to the sentences by which they are expressed, as noise . A noisy proposition makes a claim that is extraneous to the content of the argument in question." (Mark Vorobej, A Theory of Argument . Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Pronunciation: PROP-eh-ZISH-en

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What we know, and don't know, about the presidential debates

President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two general election debates: One in June and one in September

WASHINGTON -- After months of questions about whether general election debates would happen, President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two of them: one in June and one in September.

But there are still some nitty-gritty details to be worked out, including the formats of the events and who will moderate. Here's what we know so far:

Trump and Biden have agreed to two debates. The first will held at 9 pm. Eastern time on June 27 at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, in a critical battleground state. “To ensure candidates may maximize the time allotted in the debate, no audience will be present," CNN said in a statement. To qualify, candidates must receive at least 15% in four national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards.

Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash would moderate the debate, CNN said.

The second debate will take place on Sept. 10 and will be hosted by ABC. While ABC has yet to detail where that debate will take place or the format, it set the same 15% polling threshold as CNN. Anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate that debate, the network said.

“It is my great honor to accept the CNN Debate against Crooked Joe Biden," Trump posted on his Truth Social site. “Likewise, I accept the ABC News Debate against Crooked Joe on September 10th."

Biden said he'd done the same.

“Trump says he’ll arrange his own transportation,” Biden wrote on X. “I’ll bring my plane, too. I plan on keeping it for another four years.”

The first debate will play out in a jam-packed and unsettled political calendar, before either candidate becomes his party's official nominee at the summer conventions — scheduled to begin July 15 for Republicans and Aug. 19 for Democrats.

The June 27 match-up will come after the expected conclusion of Trump’s criminal hush money trial in New York, foreign trips by Biden in mid-June to France and Italy, and the end of the Supreme Court’s term. That term will include a ruling on whether Trump is immune from federal prosecution for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The debate will also come before the expected start of two criminal trials on opposite coasts for the president’s son, Hunter.

The second debate would take place before most states begin early voting — though some overseas and military ballots may already be in the mail.

Trump's campaign is also pushing for more debates. In a memorandum Wednesday, senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles sent a memo to Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon saying, “we believe there should be more than just two opportunities for the American people to hear more from the candidates themselves.” They proposed holding one debate per month, with events in June, July, August and September, in addition to a vice presidential debate.

“Additional dates will allow voters to have maximum exposure to the records and future visions of each candidate,” they wrote. Biden's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment on the Trump team's push for additional match-ups.

Trump has also expressed other preferences. In an interview Wednesday morning with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, he agreed the debates “should go two hours” and also said he'd prefer if the men stand instead of sit.

“A stand-up podium is important," he said, adding he thinks Biden wants to sit. He also said he would prefer the events take place in larger venues, before a live audience.

"It’s just more exciting,” he said.

The Biden campaign outlined its own preferences in a letter Wednesday. It wants candidates' microphones muted when they aren't recognized to speak to promote “orderly proceeding,” and it is opposed to live studio audiences.

“The debates should be conducted for the benefit of the American voters, watching on television and at home — not as entertainment for an in-person audience with raucous or disruptive partisans and donors, who consume valuable debate time with noisy spectacles of approval or jeering," O’Malley Dillon wrote.

Biden's camp also argued third-party candidates should be excluded. “The debates should be one-on-one, allowing voters to compare the only two candidates with any statistical chance of prevailing in the Electoral College," O’Malley Dillon wrote, “not squandering debate time on candidates with no prospect of becoming President.”

There should also, she wrote, “be firm time limits for answers, and alternate turns to speak — so that the time is evenly divided and we have an exchange of views, not a spectacle of mutual interruption.”

The deal between the campaigns now sidelines the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan group that has organized them for more than three decades. Both campaigns had expressed longstanding concerns about the commission’s operations, with Trump blaming it for microphone issues during a debate in 2016 and Biden’s campaign calling its plans “out of step with changes in the structure of our elections and the interests of voters.”

Both sides had taken particular issue with the dates the commission had announced, arguing the debates should happen earlier, before voting begins.

In a statement, the debates commission noted it had been “established in 1987 specifically to ensure that such debates reliably take place and reach the widest television, radio and streaming audience. Our 2024 sites, all locations of higher learning, are prepared to host debates on dates chosen to accommodate early voters. We will continue to be ready to execute this plan.”

The debates will be the first televised general election match-ups to be hosted by an individual news organization. The 1960 debates, which helped show the power of the medium to influence public opinion, were hosted jointly by the leading networks of the day, ABC, CBS and NBC. The presidential debates of 1976, 1980 and 1984 were organized by the League of Women Voters, and every debate since has been hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Traditionally the debates are simulcast across all networks and other streaming outlets to reach the widest possible viewing audience. It was not yet clear whether the 2024 matchups would be shared similarly.

The Biden and Trump teams accepted the invitations from ABC and CNN after the Biden campaign proposed that the debates this year be hosted by any broadcast organization that hosted a Republican primary debate in 2016 and a Democratic primary debate in 2020. In that event, "neither campaign can assert that the sponsoring organization is obviously unacceptable: if both candidates have previously debated on their airwaves, then neither could object to such venue.”

Those criteria would eliminate Fox News, which did not host a Democratic primary debate in 2020, and NBC News, which did not host a GOP one in 2016 — though its corporate affiliates CNBC and Telemundo were co-hosts of one debate each that year.

Trump has said he accepted a debate invitation in October from Fox News, though Biden's team dismissed it as “playing games.”

Both Biden and Trump are expected to engage in intensive preparation sessions before the debates. Former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, who now works at Airbnb, told the AP he will use vacation time to help Biden get ready to face off with Trump. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who helped Trump prepare for previous debates, seems unlikely to reprise the role, having suffered a falling out with the presumptive GOP nominee.

It is unclear whether any third party candidates will qualify for the debates, but both CNN and ABC's criteria appear to pose an challenge for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He railed against the plan on X on Wednesday, accusing Trump and Biden of "colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want.

“They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win," he wrote. “Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy.”

In addition to their polling requirements, both CNN and ABC said that in order to qualify, a candidate’s name must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to qualify that person to reach 270 electoral college votes.

So far, Kennedy has qualified for the general election ballot in three states -- California, Michigan and Utah, according to AP Elections Research. He is listed as an independent or minor party candidate in eight more states, but hasn’t yet qualified for the ballot in them. They are Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Those 11 states have a combined 123 electoral college votes, meaning he would need to get on the ballot in additional states in order to qualify.

___ Colvin reported from New York.

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ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

What to Know About CNN’s Presidential Debate

The debate, scheduled for June 27, will be one of the earliest presidential debates ever scheduled.

Share full article

A television monitor on a large stand shows a split screen of Donald Trump and Joe Biden during a debate on CNN.

By Chris Cameron

May 16, 2024

President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump will participate in a CNN debate on June 27, just six weeks away.

It is one of the earliest presidential debates ever scheduled, and the event was brokered without the involvement of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has hosted debates for nearly 40 years. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, could qualify for the debate as well if he meets certain criteria.

Here’s what to know:

What are the terms of the debate?

Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump will face off against each other at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, just a few miles from the Fulton County jail where the former president was booked last year in his felony criminal case in the state. That case concerns his effort to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

The debate will be held in a crucial swing state that Mr. Biden won in 2020 by just 11,779 votes . But it will take place without an audience, satisfying a condition from Mr. Biden’s team, which wanted to avoid an in-person audience that could cheer, boo or otherwise derail the discussion. Mr. Biden’s team also called for CNN to cut off the candidates’ microphones when they use up their allotted time.

The debate will be moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the hosts of CNN’s marquee political news program, “State of the Union.”

Could R.F.K. Jr. participate?

Yes, it is possible. CNN has laid out several conditions for third-party candidates. One requires earning at least 15 percent support in four national polls, approved by the network, between March 13 and June 20. Mr. Kennedy already has at least two approved polls that show him above 15 percent, one from CNN and one from Quinnipiac University . He has another five weeks to pick up two more qualifying polls.

Mr. Kennedy must also get on the ballot in enough states that he has a chance to win the 270 electoral college votes needed to be elected president. He is currently on the ballot in five states , worth a total of 84 electoral college votes.

Mr. Biden, in announcing his desired format on Wednesday, said that he expected the debates to be one on one. Mr. Trump said on Thursday that he was not wedded to that condition.

CNN did not comment.

What makes this debate different from ones in previous elections?

Both the Trump and Biden campaigns have a mutual interest in circumventing the Commission on Presidential Debates and excluding Mr. Kennedy, who is drawing support from their own voters .

But it might actually be easier for a third-party candidate like Mr. Kennedy to qualify for the CNN debate, as compared with a traditional debate hosted by the commission. Under the rules for the commission’s debates, Mr. Kennedy would need an average of 15 percent support across five recent national polls , instead of 15 percent support in any four of the approved polls.

The average could have sharply decreased Mr. Kennedy’s viability. One poll released this week by The Economist and YouGov showed Mr. Kennedy with just 3 percent support , and Mr. Kennedy has polled only as high as 16 percent in other recent polls . Even the most favorable average of five recent polls would give Mr. Kennedy about 13.8 percent support.

Maggie Astor contributed reporting.

Chris Cameron covers politics for The Times, focusing on breaking news and the 2024 campaign. More about Chris Cameron

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

President Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to two debates on June 27 on CNN and Sept. 10 on ABC News, raising the likelihood of the earliest general-election debate in modern history. Here’s how each of them might try to win the debates .

Trump’s search for a running mate is still in its early stages, but he is said to be leaning toward more experienced options who can help the ticket without seizing his precious spotlight.

Biden commemorated the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, meeting with plaintiffs and their families at the White House as he tries to shore up support among Black Americans , who helped deliver him the White House in 2020.

As Trump’s criminal trial winds down, a center-left group is trying to goad him into testifying through an ad . Trump instead is visiting Minnesota, where his campaign says it can broaden the electoral battlefield with a play for the state that always disappoints Republicans.

A Remarkable Pivot: Larry Hogan, the former two-term Republican governor of Maryland who won his party’s nomination for the state’s open Senate seat, said that he supports legislation to codify abortion rights in federal law.

Gavin Newsom Accuses Trump: The California governor, speaking at the Vatican, used sharp language to describe the former president’s appeal to fossil fuel executives for campaign donations, calling it “open corruption.”

How Rich Candidates Burned Cash: It is a time-honored tradition in U.S. politics: wealthy people burning through their fortunes to ultimately lose an election.

Montana’s Senate Race: Republicans are trying to paint Senator Jon Tester as a Washington sellout, while their own candidate, Tim Sheehy, faces scrutiny over his credibility and how he sustained a gunshot wound. It all comes down to the question of trust.

Tennessee House adopts new rules setting strict debate limits, banning visual aids

The controversial rules package also includes a measure allowing the house to silence members found to be out of order during a house session..

After nearly two hours of debate, the Tennessee House of Representatives formally adopted new rules Wednesday banning members from using papers and visual aids to explain legislation and implementing a 5-minute time limit on bill presentations in committee.

The controversial rules package also includes a measure allowing the House to silence members found to be out of order during a House session. Members voted 70 to 19, overcoming stringent objections from Democrats, to adopt the rules, first recommended by the House Rules Committee on Monday.

"There has been much conversation about limiting the voices of the people and even representatives in the people's House ― and actually, Mr. Speaker, I agree," Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, said during debate. "Voices have been silenced, Mr. Speaker. There are many in this body that monopolize the time that silences the voices of the vast majority of district across the state."

Zachary brought a list of the total times spent speaking on the House floor for every member during the last regular session from January to April, compiled by the House clerk.

"Who has spoken the most on this House floor? Who has monopolized debate on this house floor?" Zachary asked, before beginning to read the list.

Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis ― one of the newest members of the House ― has spoken on the House floor more than any other member, with comments totaling 3 hours and 43 minutes, according to the tally Zachary release. House Minority Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville was second, with a total of 2 hours and 16 minutes of speaking time. Rep. Justin Jones was third, with 2 hours and 12 minutes.

"The top nine speakers on the House floor over the last year are all from the minority party," Zachary said. "There is not a Republican on this list that shows up until number 10."

Pearson and Jones had considerable speaking time as House Republicans expelled the two in April. They were quickly reappointed and won election again last year.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, came in 10th place, with 40 minutes and 44 seconds of debate time in the last year.

As Zachary spoke, Jones and Pearson, along with a few spectators in the gallery, broke out in applause.

"The trajectory, that changed over the last year and a half because of those that come here to promote their own agenda, push themselves, represent themselves, and lift themselves up, versus being concerned about what goes on in the rest of the state," Zachary said. "Members' voices are being silenced. We need these rules to ensure everybody in this House has the opportunity to speak and that those who are here to monopolize don't have the opportunity to do that any longer."

Zachary sat down to thundering applause from his colleagues in the majority.

"There was a representative who mentioned that I spend as much time as possible advocating for District 86, and I want to thank you for that, because my constituents' voices do matter," Pearson responded. "My constituents' opinions do matter, and they need the opportunity that I get to advocate for the issues that they care about."

Debate Wednesday focused on approving a package of proposed rules rules adopted by the House Rules Committee on Monday.

The committee voted down all proposed changes except for those in a GOP caucus package presented by House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville. Committee members on Monday axed proposals to ban guns in committee rooms (they are currently prohibited in the House chamber), extend debate on bills from the current 5 minutes to 15 minutes, and require members elected by special election to be appointed to committees immediately upon arrival to the body.

More: TN House rules panel allows members to carry guns — not visual aids — in committee rooms

In considering the rules package on Wednesday, the House was required to vote on proposed rules changes from the committee as a whole, without opportunity to amend them unless there is a vote to suspend the rules – which would have required confirmation from the majority of the controlling Republican Party.

Jones calls Sexton 'drunk with power,' is voted out of order

During debate, Jones described an incident during which he claimed a member of the House Speaker Cameron Sexton's security detail did not allow Lamberth to get on an elevator with the speaker.

"He pushed the Republican leader and said you cannot get on with the speaker," Jones said. "I want to make clear that these rules are not about Democrats versus Republicans. But it's about each of us as members and a speaker who is drunk with power."

Sexton's office declined to comment on the incident and deferred to the Tennessee Department of Safety. The Department of Safety did not respond to a request for comment from The Tennessean. Lamberth did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

Immediately, Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, called Jones out of order. Members voted 68 to 20 in favor of finding Jones out of order.

Under the current rules in effect, Jones was required to sit down. If found out of order under the new rules, his speaking time would be reduced from 5 to 2 minutes.

Members found out of order to be immediately silenced

Despite objections from Democrats, House members approved a new rule to temporarily silence members ruled out of order by the speaker, and confirmed by a majority of members.

"What happens when we have members that don't ever want to be on topic? In a baseball game, we have an umpire: we have someone at bat, when you get three strikes, you're out," Garrett said. "That's what these rules are designed to do, is effectively promote the democracy that's debated in this House."

For a first out-of-order offense, the member will not be able to participate in any further discussion of the that current subject. If found out of order a second time, the member will have their speaking time reduced from 5 minutes to 2 minutes. On a third violation, the member will be barred from speaking on the floor for two legislative days.

"The creation of new rules that are rooted or stem from injustice still are unjust rules," Pearson said. "Rules that are meant to penalize and meant to attack other members, just because they become rules, don't make them right."

Bill presentations limited to 5 minutes

Under the new rules, members will have only 5 minutes to present bills in committee, matching the bill presentation time limit that already exists on the House floor. Democrats repeatedly proposed to extend that to 10 or 15 minutes during the Rules Committee meeting on Monday.

"Why are we limiting debate if we're a deliberative body, and our premise is to consider bills?" said Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville.

Lamberth argued the new rule will expand debate opportunities. Another rule gives the speaker authority to extend the time for debate on a bill, in coordination with party leadership. Debate time would be evenly divided between members of both parties, with participation managed by party leadership.

House Minority Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, argued that the time limit is “arbitrary.”

“That is very concerning,” Clemmons said. “We have a voucher piece of legislation this year that is a very complex idea and policy. The fact that we can set a time limit on that bill to be limited to five minutes on the House floor is very concerning.”

Visual aids banned, guns permitted in committees

Among other provisions, lawmakers limited "welcoming and honoring" comments typically made at the beginning of each session, and prohibited members from using visual aids, props, or papers while presenting bills in committee. Lawmakers voted down a proposal from Jones to prohibit carrying of guns in committee rooms.

Members of the public will continue to be allowed to carry paper-sized signs in committee rooms and in the House gallery.

In the House, parliamentary inquiries and points of order will now be handled privately through party leaders in coordination with the House parliamentarian.

“When there is a point of order or parliamentary inquiry – that is not an opportunity for us to just continue to debate," Lamberth said. "That is an opportunity to really get an answer to your question."

Vivian Jones covers state politics and government for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] .

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Rosewood Miramar Beach proposal sparks debate at Montecito Assoc. Board meeting following church and neighbor presentations

MONTECITO, Calif.-The Montecito Association Board Meeting took place in the Cold Spring School auditorium where community members listened to presentations responding to the Rosewood Miramar Beach housing and retail proposal.

The proposal calls for the building of approximately 26 housing units near the Posilipo Ln. side of the resort property and a dozen boutiques near Eucalyptus Ln.

But the presentations were not made by Miramar owner and developer Rick Caruso.

Rev. Channing Smith from All Saints By Sea Episcopal Church gave the first presentation and slide show with the help of another church member.

A group of neighbors led by Brandon Aroyan and Cliff Gherson gave the second presentation.

Church members are concerned about losing their view of the mountain range.

They showed a photo of the picture window in the church's new Columbarium that was built with donations from the late Leslie Ridley-Tree.

Aroyan compared the shopping plan to a mall that would disrupt his otherwise quiet neighborhood.

The photographer said he was inspired by the late Ansel Adams to fight developments, but never thought he would have to do so in his own backyard.

Another neighbor compared it to Rodeo Dr.

"We are very concerned about the potential development we don't want views to be blocked and we don't want Beverly Hills here in Montecito." said Mary Jameson Boehr.

Padric Davis disagrees.

Davis used to work a church pre-school and remembers how the developers worked with school to be good neighbors.

She said Carusso even invited the children over to have their photos taken with Santa.

Montecito resident Rock Rockenbach supports the housing portion of the project.

"I understand that neighbors might not want this in their backyard, but progress is progress and requirements of the state are being foisted upon us," said Rockenbach, "and I think it is great that he has stepped forward to do what needs to be done to fulfill those requirements."

Caruso was not present, but his son Justin was standing in the back next to colleagues who answered questions.

Katie Mangin said shops will help fund the workforce housing without any public financing.

"We put a plan together that introduced apartments for our employees, shops and market rate apartments."

She said they have been listening and have made major changes that they believe will improve the project.

"We gave eliminated the driveway on Eucalyptus, we eliminated an entire floor of market rate apartments, we reduced the amount of space for shops, all while finding a way to increase the number of apartments for our employees," Mangin.

She said the plan is 72 percent affordable housing for Miramar employees and a dozen shops.

"That is what this is about and to find a way to pay for it and to make it sustainable long term, we have introduced shops."

She said they intend to move forward.

"The skin in the game for me is providing housing for employees at the Miramar that make it what it is, I watch how hard they work everyday and deserve that," said Mangin.

The luxury hotel opened in 2019 and offers free public parking out front.

The proposal calls for 55 additional spaces operated by a valet, plus a vehicle lift beneath an elevated deck.

The area is zoned for the plan but still has a number of county hurdles before construction can begin.

For more information visit https:montecitoassociation.org

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For Debaters
Intro to Debate. This presentation teaches the basics of argument construction and explores what constitutes an argument, what one looks like, etc. As a presentation for the St. Louis Urban Debate League, it appears to focus on Policy Debate… in reality, almost the entire presentation can apply to any format of debate.
Propositions in Debate Definition and Examples
In an argument or debate, a proposition is a statement that affirms or denies something. As explained below, a proposition may function as a premise or a conclusion in a syllogism or enthymeme . In formal debates, a proposition may also be called a topic, motion, or resolution . Etymology. From the Latin, "to set forth".
Debate Club
Free Google Slides theme and PowerPoint template. Debate clubs are a great way to learn the art of persuasive speaking in a fun, educational environment. By mastering the skills of argumentation and critical thinking, you can expand your knowledge and understanding of all kinds of topics. Get creative with this custom presentation template ...
Debate
Debate is a series of lectures for and against on a given topic by knowledgeable persons.this presentation will help to know more about the topic i.e. debate, their functions, rules, characteristics and cautions while delivering debate. hope that you will find this presentation helpful. this subject belongs to enhance the communication skills and interaction with persons at the competitive level.
What we know, and don't know, about the presidential debates
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Here's what we know about presidential debates and if they matter
With changing debate rules and changing watch habits of American, do presidential debates matter enough for Americans to watch? Here's what we know now. Inside courtroom College protests Start the ...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responds to being left out of presidential debate
Fri, 17 May 2024 00:57:47 GMT (1715907467360) Gallery - News3 v1.0.0 (common) 2d23ec6d6bf5d2661ea0fd6bede09fb31fb9748c
TN House: New rules adopted on debate, visual aids, silencing members
After nearly two hours of debate, the Tennessee House of Representatives formally adopted new rules Wednesday banning members from using papers and visual aids to explain legislation and ...
Rosewood Miramar Beach proposal sparks debate at Montecito Assoc. Board
The Montecito Association Board Meeting took place in the Cold Spring School auditorium where community members listened to presentations responding to the Rosewood Miramar Beach housing and ...