Debate is awesome ; Here’s why

Debate. What a great idea. I mean, as my debate coach says ; “50 kids in a room who all like to talk. What could possibly go wrong?”

So yes, debate can get a tad bit chaotic. But it’s actually a really amazing experience, and one that I think everyone should at least try at one point.

And thus, I am here today, to convince you that the resolution “This house believes that debate is awesome” must stand. Let’s take a look at why;

Firstly, doing debate strongly helps your argumentative skills. This is demonstrated in several ways. For example, debate teaches you how to take an opinion, and support it. It teaches you how to research, and organize those supporting reasons and points, and make your arguments stronger and more convincing. Not only is this a great skill for writing essays, and other school projects, but also for convincing your parents!

Debate also helps to train better listening, quick thinking, and quick response, which can be demonstrated by presenting or responding to POIs (points of information, provided by the opposing team during a speech to try to point out flaws in the arguments) clashing in your speech (where you try to disprove or overrule the other sides arguments during your speech), and impromptu tournaments (which basically run like this : here’s a topic, here’s your side, you have fifteen minutes before you start debating, GO)

All of the aspects I just described teach you how to think quickly, and under pressure. And these on-the-spot, quick thinking, quick response skills come in handy, especially for those “crap, what do you mean I’m going next, I have no idea what I’m saying, oh my gosh I have to make something up” moments. (don’t pretend that’s never happened to you). Debate teaches you how to respond to these kinds of situations, which is just one reason that it is awesome!

Secondly, debate helps speech and presentation skills immensely. Oh boy, I still remember my very first practice debate. I had absolutely no idea what was going on, my ideas were all scattered and disorganized, and instead of ending my speech with the nice, formal “and it is for all these reasons that my partner and I have presented to you, that we, side proposition know the resolution must stand” thing, I panicked when my debate coach hit the table to signify POIs ending, and I literally said “That’s all I’ve got… Thank you?” and awkwardly sat down. Not even kidding, that’s how I ended my first debate speech. I still cringe just thinking about it, I was that terrible.

That was five months ago. Since then, my speech skills have improved greatly. My partner and I were 9th overall open team at our last tournament, (top open team from our school) and we’re hoping to head to regionals (if my wonderful debate coaches would graciously select us to go)

Apart from speaking skills, debate also teaches you how to present yourself, and make good impressions, especially at tournaments. For example, the last tournament my partner and I were at, before the first round, we observed our opposing team shaking hands and greeting the judges right before the debate. Although we were never taught to do that before, my partner and I instantly picked up on it. They were trying to make a good impression, and become likable to the judges. It was a subtle thing, but actually very important. It’s important to make that first connection, with judges, and also just in general, with adjudicators, interviewers, new people, etc.  And it’s things like these : wearing formal attire, greeting the judges, congratulating the opposing team after your debate, thanking the judges, etc. that are important presentation skills to learn, and being able to pick up when you see it being done, is also a really important skill to have.

Lastly, debate is just really fun. Like any other extra-curricular, you get to meet alot of really cool people, from all different grades, and meet the awesome teachers who are your debate coaches. It also creates some pretty funny memories and anecdotes, like when we debated Santa being a national security threat, or the time I debated (and failed) that “this house believes Batman is a better superhero than Spiderman”

Even just going to debate practices is awesome. Playing speech games, doing debate exercises, they’re all really fun, and call me a nerd, but debate is actually my favourite part of school (well, apart from band). It’s gotten to a point where I get sad if there isn’t school on a Monday, because that means there’s no debate practice. My parents are convinced I’m insane, but I’m telling you, it’s that awesome!

So, in review, debate helps with argumentative skills, such as supporting arguments and quick thinking, improves speech and presentation skills, and is super fun. I mean, why wouldn’t you join debate? It’s amazing!

And it is for all these reasons that I have presented to you today, that I know that the resolution “This house believes that debate is awesome” must stand. Thank you.

(featured image source)