how to open a debate essay

How to Write a Good Debate Essay

When the word “debate” occurs in an essay title, you are being asked to examine a subject in which there are opposing views. The aim is that your essay will lead to support for one side, based on clear argument, effective judgement and justification for the decisions presented and arguments presented. The foundation of a good debate essay is effectively completing research combined with being able to refer to facts and credible information. The biggest challenge is to remain unemotional, whilst still persuading your audience of the validity of the arguments you are making in support of your chosen side.

Writing your debate essay

Introduction.

Your introduction should ensure that your reader understands what topic is being debated and encourage them to read more. One effective way to start is with a question, which sets the stage for you to state your position on the subject (your thesis statement). For example, “Does online learning creates laziness in students?”.

The aim is that your readers will have an immediate answer to the question, and this then drives the arguments you are presenting. An alternative approach is to refute a statement, framing the subject negatively, for example, “There are studies which suggest online learning creates laziness, however, studies have shown that online learning actually increases motivation”. In this case you are encouraging the reader to support your argument. In both cases, you have set a foundation with your introduction which needs to be built on by effective arguments and evidence.

The body text of your debate essay should be separated into paragraphs, each one of which will cover a different reason / rationale for the viewpoint you set out in your introduction. For each point you should provide back-up information from credible sources, which demonstrates that you have evaluated evidence before drawing a conclusion and opinion. Each paragraph should introduce your argument for or against, depending on your perspective, and include where appropriate, statistical evidence, illustrative data and clearly referenced sources. A good tip with a debate essay is to also present the counterargument for your point and refute it with viable sources to demonstrate why it is incorrect, demonstrating your understanding of the subject. The structure of the body text should be logical, moving from one argument to another with effective connections such as “Furthermore”, “Notwithstanding”, “Moreover” or similar to ensure coherence of argument.

The conclusion to your debate essay should be a summing up of all the positive points you have made, reaffirming your stance on the issue and should refer back to your thesis statement or original question. This enables you to demonstrate that you have effectively provided a strong justification for your point of view and in so doing, persuaded the reader of the accuracy of your perspective and opinion.

Key Words for a Debate Essay

In the same way
On the other hand
Nevertheless
On the contrary
Subsequently
Specifically
Furthermore
In consequence

Tips For Writing A Debate Essay

An argumentative paper depends on various aspects that can either build the conversation or break it. Here is how to write a debate essay step by step and get your point through in a convincing manner:

Choose the topic wisely. Make sure it is a controversial topic that can have a debate both ways. You can pick any topic from child education to medicinal marijuana. The topic itself needs to have a compelling pull to keep the audience involved.
Once the topic is decided, figure out which side you are on. For topics like domestic violence, most people will be against it, but you can still create an argument around it confidently.
Make sure you have done your research to articulate the facts and stats which go both in favour and against the topic. Your opponents may have a different perspective than you, but if you have solid grounds that can prove your stance, you can make them agree with you.
Know your audience. The readers of your essay will be very crucial to you building your argument. If you are writing a term paper, you may focus more on sentence building, structuring, and formatting. But if you are drafting for a competition, you need solid supporting research which can be cited and argued.
Have your facts ready. Without figures and numbers, a paper loses credibility. It becomes more of an opinion-piece than a debate essay grounded in facts.
The last, the most important factor. Select an issue you are most passionate about. If you feel strongly about it, you will be able to express your thoughts and also be able to research it with dedication.

Consider these tips combined when you think about how to make a debate essay convincing and interesting. Don’t forget, your opponent may not agree at all with your verdict, but at least you would present your vision with strong arguments and leave a good impression on the readers.

How to Structure a Debate Essay in 5 Easy Steps

Table of Contents

Learning how to structure a debate essay is a fundamental skill for anyone who wishes to be successful in their academic careers.

The student can learn about the subject of debate and its different points of view by doing a lot of research. This enables the student choose a point of view and back it up with evidence.

Empirical research, in which the student gathers data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments, is often required for argumentative tasks.

This article advises on the 5-step technique to structure a debate essay. Let’s dive in!

What Is a Debate Essay?

Debate essays are the same as argumentative essays. An argumentative essay is a scientific paper that presents, argues, and defends a particular point of view supported by evidence, facts, and examples.

These essays are written to persuade others that your point of view is worth sharing. Students must use a first-person perspective to produce an excellent debate essay.

Regardless of the depth or breadth of their study, argumentative essays are obligated to develop a strong thesis and adhere to logical reasoning.

5 Steps to Structure a Debate Essay

Structuring a debate essay can be the most challenging task for students due to the difficulties of making an argument.

Knowing where to start your essay will give you confidence and assurance that you can successfully map out your essay . These are the structures upon which a debate essay rests.

1. Specific Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is well-stated, specific, and located in the essay’s first paragraph.

Students should provide background information by reviewing the issue broadly in the introductory paragraph of an argument essay.

The next step is for the writer to establish the necessity of or interest in the topic (exigence). This thesis statement needs to focus on the right way to meet the assignment’s requirements.

It will be challenging for students to write a compelling essay if they do not comprehend this section.

2. Proper Transitioning

There should be smooth progressions between the paper’s introduction, main body, and conclusion.

In an essay, transitions serve as the cement between paragraphs. Without a consistent line of reasoning, the reader will become confused, and the essay will fall apart.

A good transition should summarize the prior section’s ideas and set the stage for the new ideas in the subsequent section.

4. Provide Proof to Back Your Thesis

Your proof can be factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal. The information obtained to support your thesis statement in an argumentative essay must be current, accurate, and comprehensive.

The thesis statement needs to be backed up by evidence, be it factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal. However, students should think about more than one perspective when gathering evidence.

An effective and well-rounded argumentative essay will also cover the thesis’s counterarguments.

Dismissing data that might disprove a thesis is immoral. It isn’t the student’s responsibility to demonstrate why opposing viewpoints are incorrect. However, they should explain why contrary viewpoints may lack updated information.

3. Provide Evidence-Based Paragraphs

Start by discussing a broad notion in each paragraph. This will help the essay stay focused and organized throughout. In addition, the clarity that results from brevity will be appreciated by the reader.

Each paragraph of the essay’s body should flow from and support the thesis statement introduced in the essay’s introduction.

Your thesis statement should be backed up by research in some paragraphs, which should be appropriately labeled. It should also detail why and how the evidence backs up the premise.

Arguing an issue requires thinking and explaining the other side of the argument. Students writing debate essays should devote one or two paragraphs to addressing opposing viewpoints, depending on the length of the assignment.

Students do not need to demonstrate why the contrary ideas are incorrect. They should instead show how opinions that do not coincide with their thesis may be poorly informed or outdated.

5. Proper Conclusion

Give a summary that revisits the thesis in light of the evidence presented rather than merely restating it.

This is where some students may start to have trouble with the essay. This section of the essay will most strongly impact the reader’s thoughts. It needs to do its job and make sense.

Avoid introducing new material in the conclusion and focus on synthesizing what you’ve discussed in the essay’s main body.

Justify the topic’s relevance, recap its essential ideas, and restate your thesis. Depending on the paper’s length, you should discuss some follow-up research that makes sense in light of your findings.

Final Words

One must know how to structure a debate essay before writing it. It is vital to have proper transitions and essential points. Remember to be persuasive in your approach.

This means showing convincing arguments rather than arguing with the opposition. A well-structured debate essay needs to be able to shift the reader’s perspective and change it radically.

How to Structure a Debate Essay in 5 Easy Steps

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Essay Outline Tool Articles

How to write a synthesis essay outline.

One of the most interesting assignments you could have is writing a synthesis essay. For a college or university student,…

Essay Outline Tool

Learning the Structure of an Informational Essay

Academic writing assignments, primarily essays, are required of all college and university students. That’s because they think it will aid…

The Correct Way to Structure an Article

Writing non-fiction has a set format that can be followed, which makes it not all that different from writing fiction.…

Exploring the Structure of a Response Essay

You will typically be expected to write in a formal and impersonal voice when you are given the assignment of…

Writing a Persuasive Essay? Use This Structure!

Writing essays is a requirement of your academic program as a college student. Whether you love them or loathe them,…

Writing a Proposal Essay? Read This!

Are you writing a proposal essay? To write it correctly, we have to know what a proposal essay actually is.…

How to Write a Debate Essay: Simple Principles to Follow

Serious multiracial colleagues having discussion brainstorming project together in office.

Debating means almost the same as arguing. You have a standpoint on a certain issue and want everybody else to accept it. To have a better understanding of what debates are all about, we advise you to watch some videos of political debates. These are the best examples of how one should argue for a certain point.

However, oral debates between people are certainly different from debating on paper and writing a good debate essay. If this is your next written assignment and you face some difficulties with it, we are ready to provide necessary assistance.

So, if you want to know how to write a debate essay and win the “battle”, follow these simple principles.

⭐ Know the features of a good debate

👀 choose debate essay topics wisely, 🔎 investigate background of the problem, 🗣️ collect arguments and counterarguments.

A winning debate has several characteristics that you should know and use when writing own debate essay:

a certain position on an issue;
proofs and evidences;
refuting arguments;

Basically, a good debate essay topic is any current issue that is of great interest to public and causes… heated debates. Yet, it does not mean you should pick any burning issue for discussion. It should be something you feel strongly about and will be able to argue for in your debate essay.

It is very important to study the topic of your debate essay thoroughly. What are the causes of the problem? What makes it so important to people? Why does this issue call opposing views?

Needless to say, you have to study as many materials devoted to the problem as you can and collect your arguments. However, you should also take into account all the counterarguments so that to refute them later in your debate essay.

If you lack ideas for your debate essay, read our articles about an essay on Affirmative Action and essay on animal experimentation.

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.

debate speech,debating | debate Organizer Free | How to Write a Winning Debate Speech | literacyideas.com

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.

debate speech,debating | classroom debating | How to Write a Winning Debate Speech | literacyideas.com

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.

The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers

Top 5 Persuasive Writing Techniques for Students

5 Top Persuasive Writing Lesson Plans for Students and Teachers

23 Persuasive writing Topics for High School students

How to Write Perfect Persuasive Essays in 5 Simple Steps

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

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

Teach your students to write EXCELLENT PERSUASIVE ESSAYS and master INFLUENTIAL WRITING SKILLS using PROVEN TEACHING STRATEGIES with this 140-PAGE UNIT.

ALL RESOURCES AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS INCLUDED – NO PREP REQUIRED.

30+ 5-star Ratings ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Toll-free 24/7

How It Works
Prices and Discounts

Debate Essays and What to Know About Them

The nightmare of being a student is in the fact that you never know the type of assignment your teacher might ask you to do at any point in time. You might end up thoroughly failing in your class work unless you understand some of the most crucial concepts for handling some of these tasks. This paper will focus on debate essays and ways in which you can achieve high scores by following simple procedures and guidelines.

Introduction on How to Write a Debate Essay

These essays are narratives that are built on arguments. They divide people into two distinct groups – You are forced to either support or oppose a motion with no option for a middle ground. You are to present all the facts that you believe will help you win your argument. Such conflicts are mostly seen among politicians during parliamentary sessions. Arguments also occur among ordinary people in normal interactions.

Crucial Facts on How to Start a Debate Essay

You first need to know how to write a debate essay step by step if you are to get everything right. Understand what comes first and what needs to be placed in the middle and last section of your document. Here is something you should consider at the start of every paper:

Create a hook

You need to get the attention of your audience through the first few lines of your paper. Use facts that are mind-boggling and that are likely to make them trust you. Make this information sound new to them even if they have heard of it before. Provide statistics to support your claims. For instance, don’t just say that “road accidents are some of the major causes of death in the world.” Instead, show the number of people who are killed every year as a result of rogue driving. Show how some of these people are breadwinners in their families or even newlyweds. In other words, capture the attention and imagination of people by all possible means.

Show the origin

Every issue always has roots, some of which are never known to the public. Dig deeper into the archives and retrieve enough information that shows how the problem began. In the case of road accidents, you can research to find out how, why, and when the first road accident occurred. You can be more specific to reveal the names of those who lost their lives. Find out what impact these victims had in their nation and include it in your document. However, do not be too wordy.

Formulate a thesis statement

This is a summary of what the paper is all about. It shows the relationship between cause and effect by indicating why you support your argument. Avoid being too general since the sentence will lose meaning. Do not say, “Several factors lead to road accidents.” Instead, mention these factors. Say something like “Road accidents are caused by increased levels of corruption, drunk driving, poor roads, and faulty traffic lights.”

Choosing what to Omit

Resist the temptation of including every detail in your introduction. That is not how to write a good debate essay. Details are to be added in the body section and not in the introduction. Resist the temptation of wanting to share everything you know about a topic. Stay focused even as you try hard to make your audience agree with you.

Different Ways of Making a Thesis Statement

It is not a must that you use the same method as everyone else when creating your thesis statement. You have three distinct options for this section whenever you are writing a debate essay. Here are the three main ways to construct any thesis statement.

Provide all pointers

Your thesis statement can include the crucial points you intend to talk about. Take, for example, a topic like ‘Teenage Pregnancy.’ The points you might want to discuss probably include “neglect by family members, rot in the society, and drug abuse.” You can introduce these points in the following way:

Sample: “Increased pregnancy among teenage girls is as a result of neglect by parents, moral decay in the society, and unreported rape cases.”

You will need to discuss each point in details when you get to the body section. This might be the best option for you as you would easily spot all your crucial points and discuss them in details without forgetting any of them.

Answer a question

Use your topic to formulate a question. For instance, ask yourself why most people are unhappy with their lifestyles. You should be able to develop an answer that can be used in your thesis. Here is a typical response to such a question:

Sample: People are not happy with their lifestyles due to the high levels of unemployment that leaves them living below their means, and that denies them the ability to enjoy the luxuries of life.

Express your discontentment

You can show why you believe that some assumptions are wrong. Provide your reasons in the same sentence. Make this an argument that might strike a constructive conversation. Here is a good example:

Sample: “It is vague to assume that all old illiterate people can learn statistics since this is a technical discipline that requires young people with high IQ.”

We hope that all your questions on what is a debate essay were sufficiently answered. Make good use of the information provided here to master how to write your debate essay effectively.

Simple Tips for Writing a Debate Essay

The ideas provided in this article should be incorporated into the structure of a debate essay. Have a clear understanding of how to begin a debate essay. Here are more tricks and tips on how to make a debate essay.

Sound professional: You cannot convince people unless you make them believe that you know what you are talking about.
Be thorough: Exhaust all the points needed to create a convincing document.
Introduce your points: Every new paragraph should have a short sentence to let your audience know what to expect.
Strong conclusion: Amaze your audience with a memorable ending. It has to be in line with your thesis statement.

These tips will leave a mark in the heart of any examiner. This result leads to good scores.

Hire Writing Company

You can hire a professional writer to help you write your paper. This relieves you of the stress of having to do the job on your own. It is especially crucial when you have other commitments that are taking most of your attention. Such engagements include family meetings and adventures, revisions for forthcoming exams, or a trip with friends. A professional academic writer often has the qualifications needed to work on any project. Your paper, whether urgent or not, will be handled in the most professional way possible. You will receive a perfectly written paper with no grammar errors, and that is also free of plagiarism. Place your orders with us today and allow us to provide you with excellent writing services. We have bonuses just for you.

Debate Writing

Last updated on: Apr 8, 2024

Debate Writing Steps to Help You Prepare a Winning Debate

By: Nova A.

12 min read

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Mar 31, 2020

Whether you're an experienced debater or a new one, writing your debate speech before you deliver it is important.

Debate writing is a skill that can help you express your opinions and persuade others. When preparing for a debate, you need to know how to craft effective arguments, support them with evidence, and address counterarguments.

In this blog, we'll break down the essential steps of debate writing. You will also get some tips and techniques on writing a good debate. From building strong arguments to presenting them effectively, you'll gain the skills needed to excel in debates. Get ready to embark on a journey of growth and discover the secrets of.

Let's dive in and explore the world of debate writing together!

On this Page

What is Debate Writing?

Debate writing is an essential step in preparing for a debate.

A debate is a form of persuasive communication that involves presenting arguments and counterarguments on a specific topic. Debates typically follow a defined format, with participants presenting their arguments and counterarguments in turn.

Debate writing is a process of organizing your points, arguments, and sources in writing so you know exactly what you are going to say during your debate. Writing your debate helps you express opinions effectively and convince others of the validity of your viewpoint.

Features of Debate Writing

Understanding the nature and features of debate writing is crucial for students aiming to become effective debaters. Debate writing encompasses several key features, including:

Structured Format

Debate writing thrives on an organized structure, where arguments unfold in a logical sequence. A well-crafted format ensures clarity, making it easier for the audience to follow and comprehend your points.

Research and Evidence

Thorough research and strong evidence are keys to a compelling debate. You must dive deep into the topic, drawing upon credible sources to strengthen your arguments.

Persuasive Techniques

Beyond presenting facts, effective debaters employ persuasive techniques to sway opinions. These techniques include ethos, pathos, and logos . These persuasion techniques enhance the impact of your arguments by resonating with the audience on a deeper level.

Critical Thinking

As a debate writer, you have to analyze information, identify flaws in opposing arguments, and construct nuanced responses. The ability to think critically contributes to the depth and strength of your position in a debate.

Listening and Responding

Engaging with opponents' arguments requires not only attentiveness but also the ability to formulate timely and relevant counterarguments, creating a dynamic and intellectually stimulating exchange.

Types of Debate

A debate comes in various forms, each with its own rules, structure, and objectives. Let's explore some of the common types of debate:

Traditional Debate: This is the classic style of debate where two teams argue for or against a proposition. The traditional debate follows specific rules and formats, such as the British Parliamentary or American Parliamentary style.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate: This style focuses on one-on-one debates. The format involves a single affirmative speaker and a single negative speaker engaging in cross-examination.
Policy Debate: Policy debates center around specific policy proposals. Debaters analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed policy, considering its economic, social, and political implications.
Public Forum Debate: Public forum debates aim to stimulate discussions on current events to a wider audience. Debaters present arguments, provide evidence and engage in crossfire exchanges.
Mock Trial Debate: Mock trial debates simulate legal proceedings, where participants act as lawyers, witnesses, and judges. Debaters present their cases by examining witnesses, introducing evidence, and making persuasive arguments.

Six Steps for Writing a Debate

Writing a debate requires careful planning and organization to convey your arguments effectively. Here are six steps to help you through the process:

Step 1: Use a Strong Opening

The opening of your debate sets the tone and grabs the attention of your audience. It is essential to start with a compelling hook that captivates the listeners and immediately engages them in your argument.

Here are some tips along with their examples:

Start with a provocative question
Use a captivating statistic
Share a thought-provoking quote
Tell a compelling story or anecdote

Step 2: Clearly Define the Topic

Defining the topic of your debate helps establish the scope and context of your arguments for your audience. Here's how you can effectively define the topic:

Provide clear definitions: Begin by offering a concise definition of the topic you will be discussing. Define any key terms or concepts that may require clarification.

For example:

Outline the key arguments: Identify and outline the key arguments of your debate. This helps provide a comprehensive overview and gives structure to your arguments.
Clarify the scope: Specify the specific focus or scope of your debate. This helps avoid confusion and ensures a more focused discussion. For example:

By clearly defining the topic, you lay the groundwork for a well-structured and informed debate.

Step 3: Write and Organize Your Arguments

Debate writing follows a structured format to ensure clarity, organization, and effective communication of arguments. Once you have a clear topic, you can write down your arguments, evidence sources, and counterarguments in an organized way.

While variations exist based on the specific type of debate, here is a brief overview of a typical debate writing format:

Step 4: Use Appropriate Signposting

Signposting is an important technique in debate writing that involves guiding your audience through your arguments. By using signposting, you help your audience follow your line of reasoning and understand the structure of your debate.

Here are some ways to effectively use signposting:

Preview Main Points:

At the beginning of your speech, briefly outline the main points or arguments you will be presenting. This provides a clear roadmap for your audience and helps them anticipate the flow of your debate.

Transition Phrases

Use transition phrases to move smoothly from one point to another. These phrases act as signposts, signaling the shift from one argument to the next. For example:

By using signposting techniques, you enhance the clarity and structure of your debate.

Check out this video to learn more!

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job

Step 5: Assess Your Arguments

When writing your arguments for a debate, it's essential to be concise, focused, and persuasive. Here are some tips for effectively presenting your arguments:

State your main points clearly: Begin by clearly stating your main points or arguments. Make sure your audience understands the key ideas you will be discussing.
Provide supporting evidence: Support your arguments with relevant and credible evidence. This can include facts, statistics, expert opinions, or real-life examples. Strong evidence strengthens the validity of your arguments.
Explain the significance of your arguments: Clearly explain why your arguments are important and relevant to the topic. Help your audience understand the implications and impact of your ideas.
Address potential counterarguments: Anticipate potential counterarguments and address them preemptively. This shows that you have considered multiple perspectives and strengthens your position.

Remember, in a debate, you typically have limited time to present your arguments. Be concise, impactful, and persuasive to make the most of the time allotted to you.

H3- Step 6: Conclude your Debate

The conclusion of your debate is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your audience. It should effectively summarize your main arguments and reinforce the strength of your position.

Here's how to craft a compelling conclusion:

Summarize your main points
Restate your main argument
Highlight the strengths of your position
Address counterarguments
Maintain a confident tone

Debate Writing Examples

Check out these debate writing samples to see how debate writing works in practice. These examples will help you make sense of the points discussed above.

Debate Writing Class 7

Debate Writing Class 8

Debate Writing Class 9

Debate Writing Class 10

Debate Writing Class 12

Things To Avoid in Debate Writing

Debate writing requires specific skills and techniques to convey your arguments and engage your audience effectively.

Here are some essential do's and don'ts to keep in mind:

Don’t rely solely on emotions

While emotions can be powerful, it is essential to support your arguments with logical reasoning and evidence. Avoid basing your debate solely on personal feelings or emotional appeals.

Avoid logical fallacies

Do not engage in logical fallacies, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, or false analogies. Stick to sound reasoning and evidence-based arguments.

Ignoring time constraints

Respect the time limits given for your debate. Be mindful of your speech duration and allocate sufficient time for each argument. Practice pacing yourself to stay within the allotted time.

Don’t make sweeping generalizations

Avoid making broad generalizations without providing supporting evidence. Ensure your arguments are grounded in facts and specific examples.

Avoid being disrespectful

Maintain a respectful tone throughout the debate, even when addressing opposing viewpoints. Avoid personal attacks or derogatory language. Focus on the arguments rather than attacking individuals.

Interesting Debate Topic Ideas

Debate writing is a great way to learn more about different perspectives on important topics. Here are some engaging topics for your debate writing exercise:

Should school uniforms be mandatory in all educational institutions?
Is social media more harmful than beneficial for society?
Should standardized testing be abolished in schools?
Is animal testing necessary for scientific and medical advancements?
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Is the death penalty an effective form of punishment?
Should genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be banned?
Is homeschooling a better alternative to traditional schooling?
Should the use of plastic bags be completely banned?
Is climate change primarily caused by human activities?

Need more ideas? Head to our list of engaging debate topics for more!

Now that you understand the basics of debate writing, it's time to take things up a notch. Debate writing is a great way to hone your critical thinking and have argumentative skills.

If you are still stuck and don’t know where to begin, don’t worry. MyPerfectPaper.net has got you covered. Our essay writer can provide you with helpful tips and guidance on how to get started and what steps to take.

Our essay writing service can also provide you with different perks, like free unlimited revisions, a confidentiality guarantee, and more.

Just say “ write my paper ” and we will handle the rest. So don’t hesitate any longer and contact us today.

Marketing, Literature

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

200+ Engaging Debate Topics to Get Your Audience Riled Up!

How to Begin a Debate

Last Updated: March 28, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. 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 987,032 times.

Opening a debate the right way will make your audience more interested and help you win your argument. Before your debate , take the time to prepare a solid opening that will win people over.

Grabbing the Audience's Attention

Your story should capture the essence of your debate . It could explore, for example, the challenges you have faced in relation to the topic, how you overcame these challenges, and the lessons you learned.
For example, "As a person who suffers from seizures, medical marijuana was a saving grace. My family and I had to move across to the country in order for me to get treated, but it was worth the risk. My seizures decreased from five seizures a day to only one seizure per week."
Make sure that the story comes from your heart rather than your head. If you're just regurgitating a story from memory, it's not going to land with the audience.

You can ask, for example, “Would you like to see a loved one suffer for no reason at all?”

You can say, for example, “A billion tons of plastic are floating in the ocean right now. That is enough plastic to make an island the size of Hawaii.” Then, proceed to talk about the issue and explain to your audience why your resolution is the best one.

For example, imagine you are giving a speech on why you think higher education is unnecessary for succeeding in life. You could open with, “Mark Twain once said, ‘Don’t let school interfere with your education.’”
Make sure that quote comes from your heart and feels authentic. It must speak to you and your audience while also making a point.

Step 5 Use a prop or a creative visual aid.

For example, if you are arguing that climate change is real, show a before and after picture of a glacier that has been affected by excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Beginning the Debate

Identify the key terms in your argument and look up their definitions in a range of dictionaries. Choose the most appropriate definition for each word. You want to pick a definition that is neutral and conventional.
Your definitions can be literal, as well as contextualized. Contextualized definitions add examples of how the concept applies to the real world. For example, a contextualized definition of money would show that money is used to buy services, such as food and gas.

For example, “My team and I will show you the need, practicality, and benefits of medicinal marijuana. Together we will show that thousands of patients, including young children, who suffer from seizures, find relief in medicinal marijuana. Studies show that medicinal marijuana reduces instances of seizures by 80%. Furthermore, the side effects of medicinal marijuana are not as severe as the side effects that come with conventional forms of medication used to treat seizures, particularly for children. We will show that medicinal marijuana is a practical, safe, and cost-effective solution for patients and their families.”

In order to demonstrate that your team's policy will work, use policies that have already been enacted as the basis of your policy. For example, you can highlight that a ban on using cellphones while driving is similar to the ban on drinking while driving.
Try to focus on three important reasons for why the policy is needed or needs to change. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Presenting the Debate

Greet your audience by saying, “Good morning faculty and staff. The topic of today’s debate is student parking,” or “Good morning teachers and students. Thank you for taking the time to come to this debate. Today, the topic is student parking.”

State what your side is arguing by saying, “We believe enrolled students should not have to pay for a parking pass to park on campus,” or “We believe enrolled students should pay for a parking pass to park on campus.”
Explain the speakers' roles by saying, “As the first speaker, I will be defining key terms and outlining our main argument. Our second speaker will explain the supporting reasons for our argument, and our third speaker will summarize our argument.”

Remember to maintain eye contact with an audience at the end of a sentence.
Hold eye contact with an individual for only three to five seconds, then move on to someone else.
Practice holding eye contact with someone you know for a minute or two. Repeat the exercise 5 or 6 times—that will really help a lot.

Also, remember to take pauses. Pauses allow you to catch your breath and plan what you will say next. They also allow your audience to process what you have just said.

Debate Help

Expert Q&A

Give yourself a pep talk by looking at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself that you're awesome, that you're a great speaker, that you believe in yourself, and that you appreciate yourself. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3

↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/01/stories
↑ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-rhetoric/
↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/quantitative
↑ https://positivepsychology.com/positive-psychology-quotes/
↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/businesscommunication/chapter/11-4-visual-aids/
↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/summarizing
↑ https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide
↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201404/5-secret-powers-eye-contact
↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201911/do-you-talk-too-fast-how-to-slow-down

About This Article

The best way to start a debate is to open with a bold rhetorical question, a touching personal story that’s relevant to your argument, or a shocking statistic. Once you have your audience’s attention, define the key terms you’ll be using in your debate and summarize your case. For tips on presenting your argument, like how long to maintain eye contact with audience members, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Sep 13, 2020

Did this article help you?

Sep 22, 2019

Mar 22, 2018

Manisha Kumari

Jun 29, 2017

Happiness Tania

Feb 12, 2022

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

LeadYouth Online Classes For Kids in Public Speaking, Debate, Leadership and EQ.

Sep 10, 2023

The Art of Persuasion: How to Craft a Compelling Debate Argument

Debates are not just about presenting facts and figures. They're about convincing others to see things from your perspective. As someone who's been in the world of debate for a while, I've learned that the real magic lies in the art of persuasion. It's about not only structuring a solid argument but also capturing the audience's attention, engaging their emotions, and leaving them nodding in agreement by the time you're done speaking. Here are a few tips on how to create a persuasive argument.

1. Create Captivating Opening Statements

Picture this: You're in a debate, and your first words illustrate the argument you are presenting in an enthralling way. A captivating opening statement is your golden ticket. Use an attention-grabbing hook, a surprising fact, or even a relevant anecdote to set the stage. An effective opening not only introduces your stance but also establishes a connection with your listeners. Remember, first impressions matter, and in debates, they matter even more because it is how someone perceives you for the rest of your time as a presenter.

2. Know Your Audience

Ever heard the saying, "Know your audience"? Well, it's your secret weapon in debates. Tailor your argument to resonate with your listeners' values and concerns. Imagine you're speaking about climate change to a group of young activists. You'd frame your argument differently compared to addressing a room full of business executives. Understanding your audience helps you choose the right examples, references, and even tone to win them over.

3. Utilize Rhetorical Techniques

Imagine your words as a paintbrush, and language is your canvas. Rhetorical techniques are your colors. Metaphors, analogies, and vivid imagery add depth to your argument. Repetition drives home your points, and asking rhetorical questions engages your audience's thoughts. These techniques will make your speech much more memorable and impactful.

4. Aim for Emotionally Resonant Storytelling

Humans are wired to connect through stories. We remember stories, we relate to them, and we feel their emotions. Incorporating a personal anecdote or a real-life scenario adds a human touch to your argument. For example, if you're debating about healthcare, sharing a story of someone affected by the system can put a face to your words and make your argument hit home.

5. Present Convincing Evidence

Facts and evidence are the backbone of any persuasive argument. But don't just throw numbers around. Explain the significance of your evidence. What do these statistics mean for real people? How do expert opinions support your point? When you present compelling evidence, you're not just talking; you're building a solid foundation that your audience can't ignore.

6. Address Counterarguments

A sign of a strong debater is their ability to address counterarguments. Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and show that you've done your homework. By respectfully tackling counterarguments, you demonstrate that you've closely considered your stance. Plus, it shows you're open to a balanced discussion, which adds to your credibility.

7. Conclude with Impact

Your conclusion is your final chance to leave a lasting impression. Summarize your key points, reiterate your stance, and end with a bang. A thought-provoking closing statement or a call to action can linger in your audience's minds long after you've left the stage. Remember, you want your argument to stick with them, and a powerful conclusion ensures just that.

The art of persuasion is more than just a skill. It's a mindset. It's the ability to not only win debates but to influence opinions, inspire change, and foster understanding. By mastering the techniques of captivating openings, audience understanding, rhetorical finesse, emotional storytelling, evidence presentation, counterargument tackling, and impactful conclusions, you're not just becoming a better debater. You're becoming a persuasive communicator who can shape the way people think.

Comentários

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 strong argumentative essay examples, analyzed.

General Education

Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets. Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

What's Next?

Do you need to write an argumentative essay as well? Check out our guide on the best argumentative essay topics for ideas!

You'll probably also need to write research papers for school. We've got you covered with 113 potential topics for research papers.

Your college admissions essay may end up being one of the most important essays you write. Follow our step-by-step guide on writing a personal statement to have an essay that'll impress colleges.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

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

Improve With Our Famous Guides

For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

How To Write A Debate: 9 Steps

Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
Post published: May 28, 2022
Post category: Scholarly Articles

How To Write A Debate: A debate is a serious conversation on a topic done at a public gathering or legislative assembly when opposing viewpoints are given and the discussion is usually ended with a vote. A debate is a formalized discussion.

Two opposed sides alternate speaking in support and opposition to a specific point of dispute, which is frequently based on a topic. Unlike arguments with family or friends, each participant is given a set amount of time to speak, and interjections are strictly monitored. “ Affirmative ” speakers are those who agree with the subject, while “ opposition ” speakers are those who disagree.

Almost everyone has had to write an argument at some time in their lives, whether for an English lesson, as part of a group, or simply for fun. However, just because the majority of people have done it previously does not mean it is simple. There are a plethora of things to think about: should you start by appealing to your audience’s emotions or go right to the point with cold hard facts? In your discussion, how many arguments should you include? Is it necessary to include a conclusion?

This article demonstrates how to easily organize and compose a debate to help you limit and reduce ambiguity.

Recommended: How to Start a Debate By Introducing yourself

Table of Contents

Debate Writing Essentials

A debate must have a proposition, a topic, or a problem, and speakers must talk for or against it. As a result, each point should be carefully picked, taking into account both the benefits and cons of the topic at hand.

To make the ideas clear in one’s mind, an outline of the essential issues should be created in the order in which one would argue. Because a speaker’s time is frequently limited, the points should be concise and instructive. Every issue/subject has its own vocabulary, which must be carefully selected in order to prevent unwanted pauses in the argument due to a lack of words to communicate views on the spot.

The speaker addresses the chair makes an argument, ‘ appeals ‘ for empathetic comprehension and support, attacks the opponent’s position, and asserts the argument.

Also see: How to speak in Public without fear or anxiety

What Are The Various Types Of Debate?

1. Cross-Examination Debate: This is a contemporary form of college debate in which two people compete against one other. These debates are meant to be values-based and to concentrate on the most important aspects of a contentious subject. While precise approaches differ, Cross-Examination Debate favors extensive use of evidence and an emphasis on the topic rather than delivery.

2. Lincoln-Douglas Debate: It is a one-on-one argument in which logic, ethical ideals, and philosophy are heavily emphasized. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate is a sort of high school debate in the United States. It is also known as LD Debate or just LD, and it is used in tournaments such as the National Forensic League.

Five speeches and two rounds of cross-examination make up an L-D debate session. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, which took place between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858, are commemorated by the initials LD. Their arguments revolved around slavery, its morality, ideals, and logic.

Also see: Differences Between Interpersonal and intrapersonal communication

3. Academic Debate: Academic debate is an excellent way to strengthen your academic skills while also learning about new topics. Many different speeches, such as Lincoln Douglas’, might be utilized as a template.

Debate competition teaches students how to defend their point of view in front of others. Also, work on your writing and thinking skills.

4. Parliamentary Debate: In most regions of the world, these are the most prevalent types of debates. The practice differs from country to country. Although it is called a Parliamentary debate, it is not a debate held in a government legislature. These are called after the discussions that take place in the British parliament.

5. Spontaneous Debate: These debates, also known as SPAR, are frequently held in college and university classrooms. In these debates, two debaters pick a topic at random. Before engaging in a brief discussion on the topic, the debaters spend a few minutes preparing what they will say. These disputes are more concerned with presentation and style than with topic because they do not need much study.

Also see: Advantages and Disadvantages of being a leader

6. NDT Debate: NDT stands for National Debate Tournament. Tournament debate is one of the oldest and most popular types of debate at the collegiate level. The emphasis in this type of debate is on providing vast volumes of data as rapidly and as logically as possible.

Recommended: Causes, Effects and Solutions to Low Self-esteem

9 Steps to Write An Excellent Debate

1. A Strong Start: A great opening statement is the foundation of any excellent dissension. When dealing with something emotionally charged, such as debate themes, starting with an emotionally charged introduction is the best way to go.

For example, if you were advocating for your nation to accept more migrants, an opening phrase maybe, “Have you ever imagined how it might feel to be forced to leave your home? To be so afraid of violence or other forms of persecution that you and your family must flee your home and migrate to a new country?”

It’s equally as effective to start your dissension with a compelling statistic. If your topic isn’t overly emotive, using a shocking or alarming statistic as your first line might nevertheless convey emotion. You should try to get your audience and judge to sit up taller in their seats.

2. Describing The Topic: Following your beginning, you must make the topic you’re discussing very obvious to your audience. Declare your issue as well as your team’s viewpoint on it. Make sure your topic’s keywords are defined. This doesn’t have to be an exact dictionary definition; alternatively, it might be your understanding of the word in the context of the discussion or scenario.

While this may appear tedious, it is necessary to ensure that you and your opponent are on the same page. Debating someone who has a different interpretation of the issue than you is extremely difficult. If you’re not the first speaker in the discussion, you should use this time to either agree with or disagree with your opponent’s description.

Recommended: Steps to draft an Excellent Affidavit

3. Titling or Signposting: Signposting may appear to be inconvenient and unneeded. It can even appear to impede the flow of your otherwise smooth and lyrical speech if you’re a word fanatic. However, it is very essential in the framework of a good discussion.

You may believe you’ve written the greatest and most straightforward debate in the world, but the audience isn’t you. They aren’t as knowledgeable about the subject as you are, and they aren’t nearly as committed to the discussion as you are. During the introduction, they may zone out for a few seconds before becoming fully disoriented. This is why signposting is so essential; it’s a quick and easy approach to remind your audience what you’re talking about and where you’re at in your speech.

Add a few phrases at the conclusion of your introduction to notify the listener how many points you’ll be making and in what sequence you’ll be delivering them.

You might state at the outset of each argument to remind the audience of what you’re talking about. While this may appear simple and as if you anticipate the audience to fall asleep on you, it is actually quite important and makes your discussion simpler to follow.

Recommended: Most difficult examination in the world 2022

4. Rebuttal: Sometimes the best attack is a solid defense, as the saying goes. If you’ve ever watched a professional debate, you’ll know that the most exciting portion is generally when one side takes one of the opposing side’s arguments and rips it apart.

While entertaining to watch, it is also the hardest aspect of any discussion to master. Rebutting arguments requires you to think on your feet. You have just thirty seconds to deliver a compelling counter-argument to one that your opponent has undoubtedly spent hours studying and polishing. Fortunately, there are several tactics you may do while rebutting to make the task seem less intimidating.

5. Make Pre-research: If you’ve decided on a discussion topic before the debate, time is your most valuable commodity. Use it. Put yourself in your opponent’s position after you’ve created your own arguments and try to predict what arguments they’ll employ.

Also see: Reasons Why Most Businesses Fail

6. Identify The Point: If your opponent is arguing for a change, there is one essential topic you may focus on while rebutting them. If your opponent is calling for a complex shift in government policy or social philosophy but has failed to articulate the benefits of the proposed change, here is your chance to strike.

Bringing up economic issues is extremely beneficial since it can be applied to almost any argument topic. Any discussion on social justice, a topical issue, a government policy, or something utterly out of the ordinary will have an economic component.

7. Make Your Own Claims: A simple but powerful technique to create a defense against your own case is to twist your own reasoning to refute an opponent’s claim. Of course, going too far and reciting your entire planned argument is a terrible error. However, you may break down the body of your speech into different parts to counter your opponent.

Recommended: How to be a good conversationalist

8. The Body: Writing a body paragraph for an essay is essentially identical to writing an argument for a debate. Each argument should begin with signposting, followed by a one-sentence explanation of your case.

After that, you should expand on your point a little, provide some facts and statistics to back up your claims, and then neatly link back to the debate’s topic so the audience understands that you’re not just delivering a passionate rant, but rather a carefully calculated point that ties in with a general thesis statement.

In most debates, having three arguments is the best strategy to keep your speech running long enough. If you have a clearly weaker argument, attempt to wedge it between two stronger ones.

9. Collecting Proof: If your issue necessitates the use of statistics and specialists at every step, you must ensure that you are doing everything appropriately.

When you use the appropriate evidence in your dispute, you become more credible, but when you use the wrong sort of information from the wrong sources, you leave yourself up to criticism from the adversary.

The first step in locating appropriate evidence to quote is to examine the source. Second, ensure sure the information or figure is current. Your proof is the foundation of your argument; if it isn’t solid enough, everything will fall apart.

Recommended: Countries with the Lowest crime rate 2022

It brings together the arguments you’ve made in the body of your essay and delivers a message that should leave the reader feeling informed. Writing an argument ending is one of the most significant, as well as one of the most fundamental, aspects of your speech.

Now it’s just a matter of expressing yourself. If you’re the last person to speak in a group discussion, make sure your conclusion addresses the most severe issues expressed by your peers.

Writing a debate might be difficult or tedious, but it can also be gratifying since it expands your understanding, fosters critical thinking, and sharpens your persuasive skills. However, in order to be effective, you must know how to write for a discussion. The preceding instructions will assist you in comprehending the debate speech writing process. A good debate involves a combination of subject knowledge, reasoning ability, and the ability to articulate the proper attitude.

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.

How To Start A Debate On Any Topic

Debate is a type of persuasive speaking that involves two sides, who each speak on different sides of a topic. A good debater knows how to start a debate by greeting the audience in a compelling way and then presenting their thesis, which they will restate at the end of their talk.

Engaging in healthy and constructive debates is an essential skill in today’s complex and interconnected world. Whether discussing societal issues, exploring differing viewpoints, or honing critical thinking abilities, debates provide a platform for intellectual growth and understanding.

This article delves into practical strategies and techniques for how to start a debate and fostering an environment conducive to insightful conversations and respectful dialogue.

From defining clear objectives to mastering the art of persuasive opening statements, let’s uncover the keys to kickstarting engaging debates that promote intellectual exploration and foster mutual respect.

Table of Contents

Why is Good Preparation The Best Way To Start A Debate?

Good preparation is the best way to start a debate for several compelling reasons.

Firstly, thorough preparation allows you to familiarize yourself with the topic at hand, enabling you to gather relevant information, statistics, and supporting evidence. This not only boosts your confidence but also enhances your credibility as a debater.

Secondly, preparation enables you to anticipate counterarguments and potential objections , giving you a strategic advantage in presenting persuasive rebuttals. Understanding different perspectives and viewpoints means you can craft well-rounded arguments that address opposing views equally.

Additionally, preparation instills a sense of structure and organization. You will be able to present your points coherently and sequentially, enhancing the clarity and impact of your debate.

Finally, being well-prepared ensures that you have a firm grasp of your own position , enabling you to articulate your ideas confidently and passionately, thereby captivating and engaging your audience. Overall, good preparation provides a solid foundation for a successful debate, empowering you to present compelling arguments, anticipate objections, and effectively communicate your viewpoint.

How to start a debate-Preparation is the key

What Is A Good Way To Start A Debate?

A good way to start a debate is by employing several engaging techniques that capture the audience’s attention and set the tone for a compelling discussion.

One effective approach is to begin with a captivating story relating to the topic at hand. By sharing a relatable narrative, you can connect with the audience on an emotional level and establish a personal connection.

Another effective strategy is to ask a thought-provoking rhetorical question . This prompts the audience to reflect on the topic and encourages active engagement from the start. Rhetorical questions stimulate critical thinking and create an atmosphere of curiosity, setting the stage for a spirited debate.

Using impactful statistics can also be a powerful opener. Presenting a surprising statistic related to the subject grabs attention and emphasizes the topic’s significance. This approach establishes the relevance and urgency of the debate.

Additionally, incorporating a powerful quote from a notable figure can add credibility and intrigue to your opening statement. A well-chosen quote can encapsulate the essence of your argument or introduce a unique perspective, generating interest and setting the tone for the discussion.

Employing a prop or creative visual aid can be highly effective if appropriate. Visual elements strongly impact audience engagement and can help illustrate complex ideas or reinforce key points, making your opening more memorable and persuasive.

For more detailed guidance, refer to the WikiHow article , which offers further insights and practical tips.

What Is A Greeting To Start The Debate?

A suitable greeting at the beginning of a debate sets the tone and establishes a positive atmosphere for the entire discourse. It creates a sense of respect, professionalism, and engagement among the participants and audience alike.

What Is A Good Opening Sentence For A Debate?

“In the realm of debate, where ideas collide, and perspectives converge, it is imperative to examine the multifaceted nuances surrounding [insert topic], which demands our unwavering attention and critical analysis.”

How to start a speech - a compelling introduction

What Should You Include In Your Introduction?

You should include several key elements that set the stage for your debate in your introduction :

Begin with a captivating statement, anecdote, question, statistic, or quote that captures the audience’s attention and piques their interest in the topic.
Provide a brief overview or background information about the topic to establish its relevance and significance. Set the stage by highlighting key historical, social, or cultural factors relevant to the discussion.
Clearly state the topic or issue that will be debated, ensuring it is concise and specific. This helps to focus the debate and ensure all participants are on the same page.
Articulate the purpose of the debate. What are the main goals or objectives you aim to achieve through the discussion? This helps to guide the debate and provide a sense of direction.
Present your main argument or thesis statement, the central claim or viewpoint you will support throughout the debate. Make sure it is clear, concise, and well-articulated.
Provide a brief roadmap or overview of the main points or arguments supporting your thesis to give the audience an idea of what to expect and provides a structure for the debate.

What Are Some Examples Of Debate Greetings?

Some other examples to kick off your debate are:

“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed judges, and fellow debaters, I extend a warm welcome to each of you as we embark on a thought-provoking journey of intellectual discourse.”
“Good morning/afternoon/evening, distinguished panel of judges, honorable guests, and fellow participants. It is an honor to stand before you today and engage in a stimulating debate on [insert topic].”
“Greetings, respected audience, esteemed adjudicators, and fellow debaters. Thank you for joining us as we delve into the complexities of [insert topic], seeking to unravel its intricacies and explore diverse perspectives.”
“Hello, everyone, and welcome to this exciting debate where we gather to explore the depths of [insert topic]. It is my pleasure to be here today alongside esteemed colleagues to engage in a spirited exchange of ideas.”

Understanding How To Start A Debate In Class

When starting a debate in a classroom setting, consider the following steps:

Begin by clearly stating the topic of the debate through a brief explanation or a thought-provoking question focusing on the subject. Make sure the issue is relevant to the curriculum or the lesson being discussed.
Set clear guidelines and expectations . Establish the rules of engagement for the debate, such as time limits for speakers, respectful language and behavior, and any specific guidelines for presenting arguments or rebuttals. Emphasize the importance of active listening, respect for differing points of view, and constructive dialogue.
Organize students into debate teams or assign specific roles , such as affirmative and negative speakers. This creates a structured and balanced debate environment. Ensure each team has sufficient time for preparation.
Give students time to conduct research and gather relevant information to support their arguments. Encourage them to use credible sources and think critically when evaluating evidence.
Begin the debate by having each team or individual present their opening statements. This allows them to introduce both sides of the argument and set the groundwork for the discussion. Allocate equal time for each team to present their case.
Encourage active participation and respectful exchanges between the teams. Manage the debate by moderating the speaking order, ensuring equal opportunity for all participants, and keeping the discussion focused and on track.
After the opening statements, provide opportunities for teams to challenge each other’s arguments through rebuttals and counterarguments. This promotes critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to respond effectively to opposing viewpoints.
Conclude the debate by summarizing the main points raised by each side and highlighting any areas of consensus or unresolved issues. Encourage students to reflect on the debate and the insights gained from the discussion.

How Do You Start A Debate If You Are In A Hurry?

If you find yourself in a hurry to start a debate, here’s a quick and efficient way to initiate the discussion:

Provide a brief statement or question that clearly states the topic of the debate. Keep it straightforward and direct to immediately engage the participants.
Quickly divide the participants into teams or assign specific roles, ensuring a balanced representation of different viewpoints.
Establish time limits for opening statements, rebuttals, and overall debate duration. Keep the time constraints concise and manageable, ensuring the debate progresses efficiently within the available timeframe.
Prompt each team or individual to present a brief opening statement outlining their main argument or position. Encourage them to be concise and focused, allowing for efficient communication of ideas.
Allocate a brief period for teams to offer immediate rebuttals or counterarguments to the opposing side’s opening statements. Emphasize the importance of providing succinct and impactful responses.
Encourage participants to engage in concise exchanges while ensuring the debate remains respectful and on-topic. Facilitate brief opportunities for teams to respond to each other’s arguments, maintaining a fast-paced flow.
Dedicate a moment to briefly summarize the main points raised by each side, acknowledging any areas of agreement or key disagreements. Provide a quick wrap-up to conclude the debate.

How Do You Start And End A Debate?

To start and end a debate speech effectively, follow these general guidelines:

Beginning A Debate Speech

Begin with a strong and attention-grabbing opening statement, such as a relevant quote, rhetorical question, or compelling statistic, to engage the audience and establish the context of the debate.
Address the audience, judges, and fellow debaters respectfully, acknowledging their presence and the importance of the topic being discussed.
Clearly state your team’s position or stance on the topic to provide a clear framework for your arguments and help the audience understand your perspective.
Provide a concise overview of the main arguments you will present supporting your position. This preview gives the audience a roadmap of what to expect during your speech.

Ending A Debate Speech

Briefly recap the key arguments you presented during your speech. Restate them concisely and compellingly, reinforcing their relevance and importance.
Acknowledge and address the main points raised by the opposing team. Offer concise rebuttals or counterarguments to strengthen your position and demonstrate critical thinking in the face of opposing arguments.
End your speech with a strong closing statement that emphasizes the significance of your position and leaves a lasting impact on the audience. You can use a memorable quote, a call to action, or a thought-provoking statement.

Remember, your debate speech’s specific content and structure will depend on the format, topic, and assigned role (e.g., first speaker, second speaker, etc.). Tailor your approach to align with the guidelines and expectations of the specific debate setting.

What Are Some Good Debate Topics?

Here are some good debate topics that cover a range of areas related to debating skills, public speaking, and various aspects of debates.

These topics offer opportunities to explore different facets of debating, public speaking, and debate competitions. They can spark engaging discussions and allow participants to develop their speaking skills while considering different perspectives and arguments:

Should public speaking be included as a mandatory course in the school curriculum?
Is formal debate an effective way to develop critical thinking skills?
Should debate competitions focus more on collaboration and teamwork rather than individual performance?
Is body language more influential than verbal communication in a debate?
Should beginners be encouraged to participate in competitive debates or start with informal practice sessions?
Is parliamentary debate a more effective format than traditional formal debate?
Should high schools prioritize debate programs as an essential extracurricular activity?
Is eye contact an essential aspect of persuasive public speaking?
Should hand gestures be regulated or restricted during formal debates?
Should affirmative teams be given additional responsibilities in a debate to encourage innovative approaches?
Is there a preferred debate format that should be universally adopted for all competitive debates?
Should debate introductions be concise and to the point or include more detailed contextual information?
Are third speakers in debates undervalued or underutilized?
Should there be specific guidelines for timekeepers in debates to ensure fairness and accuracy?
Is it beneficial to have a variety of debate formats to cater to different styles and preferences?

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.

20+ Thought Provoking Debate Examples: Including Tips

Published on: Feb 13, 2022

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Debate Examples for Students

A detailed example is necessary to understand the proper format and structure for your debate. Likewise, written debate examples assist students in writing their own debates!

A perfect debate is an art that requires patience and dedication. These examples will help you master the skill.

Debate Examples for Primary School

Have a look at the examples for primary school to understand how debate questions are written. It allows you to see that even complex topics can be broken down in an easy-to-follow manner.

Also, it will help you better grasp debate question writing and comprehension skills!

Debate Examples Ks2

Debate Examples Sentence

Debate Examples for Middle School

Check out these debate examples for middle school to get a better idea of the format.

Debate Examples for Class 8

Political Debate Examples

Debate Examples for High School

The following are good examples of debate for high school students. They can help you understand better and maybe even start a fiery political discussion with your friends!

Debate Examples for Class 11

Debate Examples for Class 12

Value Debate Example

Value debate is an argument that examines the values that drive decision-making. It usually pits debaters against each other to justify why their position should take precedence over others.

Take a look at the following example to know how to do it.

Value Debate Examples

Informal Debate Example

The goal of an informal debate is not to back up claims with evidence but instead assert or highlight something. For example:

A claim like â I did the dishes last night â does not need any sort of logical reasoning.

This could be an argument to convince your siblings that they should do the dishes next time.

Informal debates are more enjoyable than formal ones because they don't require the burden of proof. Instead, informal discussions aim to assert or point out something with little evidence.

It encourages people who arenât convinced by what you say until then; maybe your tone makes them change their minds.

Individuals with different opinions use them to start the conversation. These debates may end up in confrontation or disagreement depending on how well-argued your position is compared with others.

Informal Debate Examples

Nature Debate Example

The nature debate is a philosophical argument about the origins and development of human behavior. It says that the physical features of your face are determined biologically.

It examines how environmental factors influence who we are. Among the factors that can be influenced are:

How we are brought up
Surrounding culture
Childhood memories
Social relations

The following are examples of a nature debate to help you understand the concept.

Nature Debate Examples

Nurture Debate Examples pdf

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

The nature vs. nurture debate is a long-standing and complex discussion. It explores the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in shaping human traits, behaviors, and development.

This debate has captivated researchers, psychologists, and philosophers for centuries. Refer to this example provided below for inspiration on how to write an outstanding nature vs. nurture debate.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate Examples

Rebuttal in Debate

A rebuttal is an attempt to refute, argue against, or deny while writing a debate. It mainly does so by introducing other evidence and reasoning to weaken opposing arguments.

To refute an argument, you need a clear idea of your side. A good starting point is to brainstorm ideas and come up with points that can change opposing side beliefs.

With the help of a given rebuttal example, you can get a clear idea.

Rebuttal In Debate Examples

Debate Examples Script

Given below are some more interesting debate examples.

Criterion debate examples

Balloon debate example

How to Start a Debate

Simply introduce yourself and your topic. Moreover, a captivating intro will make the listener pay attention and stay engaged for as long as possible.

The following characteristics must be present in an interesting debate introduction.

Your stance on the subject, whether pro or con
Tell an engaging story about the topic.
Make use of a rhetorical question or a strong quote.
Recognize the judges, audience members, and your counterpart.

This will surely create a sense of curiosity in the audience by making them want to know more.

Do you want to sound convincing? Check out this amazing opening statement debate example!

How to Start a Debate - Examples

How to End a Debate

The conclusion of a debate must contain the following elements in order not only to wrap up all arguments but also provide context for future discussions.

Reiterate the most critical points.
Close your concerns naturally.
Give your judges something to think about after your debate.
Make your final remarks about your case.
Add a quotation to conclude the final argument.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

For more information, check out this video below.

Winning Strategies: Tips to Take Your Debating Skills to the Next Level

Mastering the art of debate requires more than just knowledge of the topic at hand. To truly take your debating skills to the next level, consider incorporating these winning strategies:

Research, research, research

Thoroughly educate yourself on the topic you'll be debating. Gather reliable sources, study different perspectives, and familiarize yourself with key arguments and counterarguments.

Construct A Strong Case

Develop a clear and logical structure for your arguments. Start with a compelling introduction, followed by well-reasoned points supported by evidence and examples. Anticipate potential rebuttals and prepare counterarguments.

Listen Actively

Engage in active listening during the debate. Pay attention to your opponent's arguments and be prepared to respond effectively. Take notes to organize your thoughts and identify areas where you can challenge their points.

Use Persuasive Language

Choose your words carefully to convey your ideas convincingly. Utilize rhetorical devices, such as analogies or powerful statistics, to strengthen your arguments and make them more memorable.

Maintain Composure

Stay calm and composed throughout the debate, even when faced with opposing views or aggressive questioning. Maintain a respectful tone and avoid personal attacks. Focus on the merits of the arguments rather than the individuals presenting them.

Rebut with Precision

When countering your opponent's arguments, address their main points directly. Clearly articulate why their reasoning is flawed or unsupported. Use evidence and logical reasoning to dismantle their claims.

Remember, debate is not only about winning but also about learning and gaining a deeper understanding of complex issues.

In conclusion, debate can be an incredibly enriching and fulfilling experience. But with these debate examples and winning strategies, you will be equipped to engage in meaningful discussions and make your voice heard.

If you're looking to take your academic journey to the next level, be sure to check out our AI essay generator .

CollegeEssay.org is the best essay writing service available for students. Our team of experts is committed to helping you achieve your academic and professional goals, offering expert guidance on essay writing, college applications, and more.

Take the first step towards academic excellence and hire our writing service now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a debate example.

Here are seven steps to writing a debate:

Intriguing introduction
Pre-speech note to draw the listener’s attention
A formal address to the audience
The topic's development
Negative consequences
Conclusion
A formal thank you to the audience

How do you start a debate speech?

Below are some steps that will help you start a debate speech.

Start with a greeting
Tell an amazing story
Write facts
Share your opinion
State a problem

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Legal & Policies

Privacy Policy
Cookies Policy
Terms of Use
Refunds & Cancellations
Our Writers
Success Stories
Our Guarantees
Affiliate Program
Referral Program
AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

Debate Writing

Debate Examples

Free Debate Examples for All Academic Levels

What is Debate?

Before diving into examples let’s recall what debate is.

The debate is a contest between two speakers to show their abilities in an argument. Speakers who agree with the topic are known as “affirmatives.” While those who disagree are referred to as “negatives.” Similarly, it is also essential to follow a proper format in debate writing.

On the other hand, debating builds greater confidence among people. Indeed, examples are the best way to learn about the appropriate types of debate . Moreover, they help you get the right direction by avoiding potential pitfalls.

Debate Examples for Students

Examples are invaluable for gaining a thorough understanding of the proper format and structure. Here are some debate examples for students in school and college to get you inspired!

Debate Examples for Primary School

Have a look at the examples for primary school to understand the writing process. It allows you to understand debate question examples.

Debate Examples for Ks2

Debate Example Sentences

Examples for Debate

Debate Examples for Middle School

Check out these examples for middle school to get a better idea of the format.

Debate Examples Middle School

Debate Examples Class 8

Political Debate Examples

Debate Examples for High School

Here are some good examples of debate for high school students. Having a look at them will help you get a better idea of the structure.

Debate Examples High School

Debate Examples Class 11

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Value Debate Example

Value debate is a type of debate that examines the values which drive decision-making. It usually challenges the debaters to justify why their value is more important than others.

Refer to the example below to understand the complete nature of the value debate.

Value Debate Examples

Informal Debate Example

Informal debates lack a burden of proof as they contain little or no evidence to support the claims. Instead, the main aim is to assert or point out something

For Example, ‘I did the dishes last night.’

This may encourage other siblings to do the dishes tonight. However, it is not an argument that can convince or persuade others.

Such debates are used to start a discussion among individuals with different opinions. Thus, they most often end up in a confrontation or disagreement as there are fewer chances of a consensus or a reasonable conclusion.

The following is an example of an informal debate.

Informal Debate Examples

Nature Debate Example

The nature debate explains that behavior is a product of biological or genetic factors. It also argues that physical features like eye color, diseases, and skin pigmentation are biologically determined.

Below is an example of a nature debate to get a comprehensive understanding of the concept.

Nurture Debate Example

The nurture debate discusses how environmental variables impact who we are. The factors that can be influenced include:

Childhood experiences
How we are raised
Social relationships
Surrounding culture

The following is an example of a nurture debate.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate Example

The nature vs. nurture debate argues that genetic or environmental factors have a greater effect on behavior. However, it also identifies that inherited traits or life experiences play a significant role in shaping the personality.

Most philosophers share different opinions on this concept. Check out our debate topics blog for a selection of impressive topic ideas.

Read the example below to get an idea of how to write an amazing nature vs. nurture debate.

Rebuttal in Debate

A rebuttal is an attempt to disapprove, argue, or contradict while writing a debate. It is mainly done to weaken an opposing argument by introducing other evidence or reasoning. Here, the primary purpose is to negate or prove another argument as false.

Get a clear idea with the help of the given rebuttal example below.

Rebuttal In Debate Examples

Debate Example Script

Want to learn about debate techniques? Check out our ‘ Debating Techniques ’ blog to learn in detail!

How to Greet in a Debate - Brief Example

Greeting in a debate is much more than a simple introduction to you and your topic. It gives the audience an idea of what your debate is going to be about. Moreover, a compelling greeting will influence listeners to pay maximum attention.

An interesting greeting in a debate must have the following aspects.

Your stand for or against the topic
Tell a captivating story relevant to the topic
Use a rhetorical question or a powerful quote
Acknowledge the judges, the members of the audience, and your counterpart

Here is an example of how to greet in a debate speech, check it out:

Example for How to Greet in a Debate

Let’s see how to start a debate in general:

How to End a Debate - Short Example

Just like the introduction, the conclusion of the debate is equally important. Similarly, a good conclusion paragraph of a debate must include the following elements.

Reiterate the most important points
Close your arguments naturally
Provide your judges something to remember about your debate
Make final statements about your case
Use a quotation to wrap up the final argument

Have a look at the example to explore the sample conclusions of a debate.

Example for How to End a Debate

Other Debate Examples

Here are some other popular debate examples, take a look:

Affirmative And Negative Debate Example

Criterion Debate Example

Opening Statement Debate Example

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Debate Topics For Students

Here are some most trending debate topics for you:

Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
Is remote learning a viable alternative to traditional in-person education?
Should school uniforms be mandatory in all educational institutions?
Is the use of AI in healthcare ethical and safe?
Are standardized tests an accurate measure of a student's abilities?
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Is climate change an existential threat to humanity?
Should professional athletes be role models for young people?
Is the space exploration budget worth the investment?
Should there be stricter regulations on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture?

Tips for Creating Effective Debate

To ensure your debates pack a punch, follow these tips:

Research Thoroughly: Before crafting your arguments, delve deep into your topic. Solid research equips you with valuable facts, statistics, and evidence, reinforcing the credibility of your arguments.
Define Clear Objectives: Determine what you aim to achieve in the debate. Are you persuading, informing, or entertaining? Your objectives shape the tone and content of your debate.
Craft Strong Arguments: Your arguments are the backbone of your debate. Make them clear, concise, and logically sound. Use the power of persuasion with well-structured points and compelling evidence.
Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience allows you to tailor your debate to their interests and concerns. This connection enhances engagement and persuasiveness.
Practice Effective Communication: Articulate your arguments with confidence and clarity. Pay attention to tone, body language, and vocal delivery. Engaging communication makes your points more compelling.
Anticipate Counterarguments: A great debater foresees opposing viewpoints and prepares to counter them. Acknowledging counterarguments demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Organize Your Content: Structure your debate logically, with a clear introduction, well-defined arguments, and a compelling conclusion. This organization aids both your delivery and your audience's comprehension.
Engage in Rebuttal: Respond to opponents' arguments with grace and precision. Effective rebuttals strengthen your position and demonstrate your debating prowess.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your debate multiple times. Practice hones your delivery, helps you remember key points, and reduces nervousness.
Seek Feedback: Constructive feedback from peers or mentors can be invaluable for improvement. Use it to refine your debating skills.

By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared to create and deliver a persuasive debate. If you are looking for more tips, check out our blog on Debate Tips .

To Sum it Up! We have provided a handful of examples to help you understand the structure and format of debate writing. Now, with these examples as your guide, you are well-equipped on your way to writing a great debate.

However, debate writing is a challenging task for most students. If you find it time-consuming and challenging, you can always seek professional help online.

We have expert debate writers at MyPerfectWords.com ready to help you with your writing tasks. We provide the best online writing service for crafting the perfect debate for you.

So do not hesitate to get in touch with our speech writing service today and place your order!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you debate for beginners.

Here are ten steps that every beginner should follow:

Know the debate before it begins
Conduct open and thorough research
Think relatively
Understand the debate through experiences
Relate the content with evidence
Consider the judge's perspective
Make your case
Do not always disagree with everything
After refuting the opponent's case, rebuild your case
Final thoughts

How can someone improve their debate skills?

Practice is key. Regularly participate in debates, seek feedback, and work on refining your research, argumentation, and public speaking skills. Learning from experienced debaters can also be valuable

What is the role of the affirmative and negative sides in a debate?

The affirmative side supports the resolution or proposition, while the negative side opposes it. This duality creates a clash of ideas, leading to a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

IMAGES

How To Start A Debate Writing
How To Write An Excellent Debate Essay 2020
Six Easy Steps to Write a Debate
2 Argumentative Essay Examples Help You To Start Writing You Essay
How to Write an Argumentative Essay Step By Step
020 Essay Example Opening Statements For Essays ~ Thatsnotus

VIDEO

Open debate is a sign of a healthy society
The Importance of Open Debate: Addressing Controversial Topics
How to Start a Debate
Prize Distribution CM Debate & Essay Writing Competition Winners Pkg By Azhar Hussain.flv
Debater Explainer: How do I get better at debating?
How to Write a Debate Essay

COMMENTS

How to Write a Good Debate Essay
Here is how to write a debate essay step by step and get your point through in a convincing manner: Choose the topic wisely. Make sure it is a controversial topic that can have a debate both ways. You can pick any topic from child education to medicinal marijuana. The topic itself needs to have a compelling pull to keep the audience involved.
6 Easy Steps to Write a Debate Speech
Step 2: Defining the Topic. After your opening, you need to make the subject that you're talking about crystal-clear to your listeners. To do this, state your topic and your team's position on the topic. For example, "Today we're here to discuss the topic X.
How to Structure a Debate Essay in 5 Easy Steps
5. Proper Conclusion. Give a summary that revisits the thesis in light of the evidence presented rather than merely restating it. This is where some students may start to have trouble with the essay. This section of the essay will most strongly impact the reader's thoughts. It needs to do its job and make sense.
How to Write a Debate Essay: Simple Principles to Follow
paper for 12.01 10.21/page Learn More. So, if you want to know how to write a debate essay and win the "battle", follow these simple principles. Table of Contents. ⭐ Know the features of a good debate. 👀 Choose debate essay topics wisely. 🔎 Investigate background of the problem. 🗣️ Collect arguments and counterarguments.
Debate Writing
Debate Conclusion. The conclusion is the last chance to demonstrate significant ideas. It summarizes the main body by adding emotion and drama to the words and includes a strong closing sentence. 4. Writing the Debate. Start writing the final draft of your debate. Mention the crucial elements of persuasion, which are ethos, pathos, and logos.
An Ultimate Guide to Mastering Debate Writing: Tips & Tricks
Craft an Attention-Grabbing Opening; Start with a compelling introduction that captures the attention of the audience. Consider using a surprising statistic, a thought-provoking question, a captivating anecdote, or a relevant quote. Clearly state the topic and provide a brief context to help the audience understand the significance of the debate.
How to Write a Winning Debate Speech
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.
How To Debate: Mastering the Art of Persuasive Discourse
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 ...
How to Write a Good Argumentative Essay: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
When you're writing a persuasive essay, you need more than just an opinion to make your voice heard. Even the strongest stance won't be compelling if it's not structured properly and reinforced with solid reasoning and evidence. Learn what elements every argumentative essay should include and how to structure it depending on your audience in this easy step-by-step guide.
Best Tips on How to Write Any Debate Essay
Resist the temptation of including every detail in your introduction. That is not how to write a good debate essay. Details are to be added in the body section and not in the introduction. Resist the temptation of wanting to share everything you know about a topic. Stay focused even as you try hard to make your audience agree with you.
How to Write a Debate Speech
1. Understand how debates work. You will be given a debate topic - this is called a "resolution." Your team must take a stance either affirmative or negative to the resolution. Sometimes you will be given the stance, and sometimes you will be asked to take a position. You may be asked to stand affirmative or negative.
Debate Writing Essentials: Steps, Tips, and Examples
Step 1: Use a Strong Opening. The opening of your debate sets the tone and grabs the attention of your audience. It is essential to start with a compelling hook that captivates the listeners and immediately engages them in your argument. ... Our essay writing service can also provide you with different perks, like free unlimited revisions, a ...
How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
How to Prepare and Present a Debate Speech + Tips & Examples
Use Vocal Variety and Tone. Vary your vocal tone and pace to add interest and emphasis to your speech. Use pauses and changes in pace to emphasize important points, and vary your volume to make your arguments more impactful. Use the Debate Speech Checklist. Here is a checklist that can help you evaluate your debate.
4 Ways to Begin a Debate
Remember to maintain eye contact with an audience at the end of a sentence. Hold eye contact with an individual for only three to five seconds, then move on to someone else. Practice holding eye contact with someone you know for a minute or two. Repeat the exercise 5 or 6 times—that will really help a lot. 4.
The Art of Persuasion: How to Craft a Compelling Debate Argument
Here are a few tips on how to create a persuasive argument. 1. Create Captivating Opening Statements. Picture this: You're in a debate, and your first words illustrate the argument you are presenting in an enthralling way. A captivating opening statement is your golden ticket.
3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed
Argumentative Essay Example 1. As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.
How To Write A Debate: 9 Steps
9 Steps to Write An Excellent Debate. 1. A Strong Start: A great opening statement is the foundation of any excellent dissension. When dealing with something emotionally charged, such as debate themes, starting with an emotionally charged introduction is the best way to go. How to write a debate outline.
How to write a debate in seven easy steps
It is a follow up to the previous video 'How to run a debate'. This short video provides seven steps to assist when writing a debate. It is a follow up to the previous video 'How to run a debate'.
How To Start A Debate On Any Subject
Begin by clearly stating the topic of the debate through a brief explanation or a thought-provoking question focusing on the subject. Make sure the issue is relevant to the curriculum or the lesson being discussed. Set clear guidelines and expectations. Establish the rules of engagement for the debate, such as time limits for speakers ...
20+ Inspiring Debate Examples for All Academic Levels
The conclusion of a debate must contain the following elements in order not only to wrap up all arguments but also provide context for future discussions. Reiterate the most critical points. Close your concerns naturally. Give your judges something to think about after your debate. Make your final remarks about your case.
18+ Easy Debate Examples to Help You Get Started
Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience allows you to tailor your debate to their interests and concerns. This connection enhances engagement and persuasiveness. Practice Effective Communication: Articulate your arguments with confidence and clarity. Pay attention to tone, body language, and vocal delivery.
NPR responds after editor says it has 'lost America's trust' : NPR
NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to ...

How to Write a Good Debate Essay

Writing your debate essay

Key Words for a Debate Essay

Tips For Writing A Debate Essay

You may also like

How to Structure a Debate Essay in 5 Easy Steps

What Is a Debate Essay?

5 Steps to Structure a Debate Essay

1. Specific Thesis Statement

2. Proper Transitioning

4. Provide Proof to Back Your Thesis

3. Provide Evidence-Based Paragraphs

5. Proper Conclusion

Final Words

Abir Ghenaiet

Explore All Essay Outline Tool Articles

Learning the Structure of an Informational Essay

The Correct Way to Structure an Article

Exploring the Structure of a Response Essay

Writing a Persuasive Essay? Use This Structure!

Writing a Proposal Essay? Read This!

How to Write a Debate Essay: Simple Principles to Follow

⭐ Know the features of a good debate

How to Write a Winning Debate Speech

What is a Debate?

Complete Teaching Unit on Class Debating

How To Run A Classroom Debate

Download our Debate Organizer

How To Write A Debate

Writing Your Introduction

Grab The Attention Of Your Audience With Strong Hooks

Introduce Your Topic With Efficiency and Effectiveness

Provide Your Thesis Statement

Provide A Preview Of Your Arguments

debate introduction examples for students

Writing T he Body of the Speech

Brainstorming Arguments

Concluding a Debate Speech

The Devils Advocate

20 Great Debating Topics for Students

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO DEBATING

The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers

Top 5 Persuasive Writing Techniques for Students

5 Top Persuasive Writing Lesson Plans for Students and Teachers

23 Persuasive writing Topics for High School students

How to Write Perfect Persuasive Essays in 5 Simple Steps

Debating Teaching Strategies

A COMPLETE UNIT FOR TEACHING OPINION WRITING

Debate Essays and What to Know About Them

Introduction on How to Write a Debate Essay

Crucial Facts on How to Start a Debate Essay

Different Ways of Making a Thesis Statement

Simple Tips for Writing a Debate Essay

Hire Writing Company

Debate Writing Steps to Help You Prepare a Winning Debate

What is Debate Writing?

Features of Debate Writing

Types of Debate

Six Steps for Writing a Debate

Step 1: Use a Strong Opening

Step 2: Clearly Define the Topic

Step 3: Write and Organize Your Arguments

Step 4: Use Appropriate Signposting

Step 5: Assess Your Arguments

H3- Step 6: Conclude your Debate

Debate Writing Examples

Things To Avoid in Debate Writing

Interesting Debate Topic Ideas

Was This Blog Helpful?

How to Begin a Debate

Grabbing the Audience's Attention

Beginning the Debate

Presenting the Debate

Debate Help

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Featured Articles