What is Debate?
Debate is essentially interaction between speakers or teams of speakers as they argue over an issue. In a formal debate, two sides take opposing positions: one supporting the resolution (affirmative) and one opposing it (negative). Participants work in teams to present arguments, counter-arguments, and supporting evidence to persuade adjudicators or audiences. Beyond the competition, debate helps students strengthen research, problem-solving and communication skills, think critically under pressure, as well as build confidence. These skills translate into real-life benefits, preparing them to become persuasive speakers, problem-solvers, and future leaders in school, career, and society.
Rules of Debate
In a debate tournament (WSDC format), students take on different roles: they can start as debaters and advance to roles like adjudicators. A typical debate session will look like this:
- First Proposition Speaker: Opens the debate, defines the motion, presents the team’s case, and outlines arguments.
- First Opposition Speaker: Responds directly to the first proposition, may redefine the motion, and presents the team’s counter-arguments.
- Second Proposition Speaker: Rebutts the first opposition’s points & introduce new arguments.
- Second Opposition Speaker: Rebutts the second proposition and presents further arguments.
- Third Proposition Speaker: Reinforces the team’s case, rebuts remaining opposition points, and summarizes key arguments.
- Third Opposition Speaker: Rebutts the third proposition, reinforces the opposition’s case, and concludes persuasively.
- Reply Speaker - Proposition & Opposition: Summarizes key arguments, highlights important exchanges, and reinforces why their side wins.
About the Course
The Debate Leadership and Strategy program is designed to strengthen students’ ability to construct well-supported arguments, introduce formal debate formats, and develop more structured and strategic debate performance. Through guided instruction and increasingly independent team-based practice, students learn to use research effectively, engage in deeper argumentation, and apply procedural elements such as POIs, while gradually taking more ownership of their preparation and performance. Whether new or continuing, students will develop the ability to construct organized and evidence-based cases.
Course Structure
Adjudication Clinics: Introduces participants to the fundamentals of adjudication and advance in their debate journey.
Matterloading & Motion Analysis: Analyze the type of debate motions and learn how to tackle them.
Impromptu Debate: Simulate an experience of entering into a debate without any notion of what the motion will be
Final Debate Showcase: Put their debate skills into practice in a final showcase using the Asian & British Parliamentary debate format.