How to Be Good at Debate Club

High school debaters can receive college scholarships to be part of university-level debate teams.

Debate teams require members to deliver formal, impromptu speeches in front of an audience and judges. Speeches are then argued by an opposing debate member. The teams are typically formed within schools, universities, youth clubs and community centers. Debaters can enhance their communications skills, public-speaking ability and confidence from participating on a debate team. Debate participants also learn how to receive constructive criticism and use it to improve their skills.

Instructions

Public Speaking

1. Exhibit strong public-speaking skills.

2. Enunciate your words and speak at a comprehensible speed that is not too slow or too fast.

3. Enhance your speech with nonverbal communication which includes hand gestures and eye contact as well as the tone and pitch of your voice and posture.

Organization and Clarity

1. Study the format of the debate you are participating in to fully understand how you are given your topic, how much time you have to debate and if you will be asked questions.

2. Organize your thoughts and speak as clearly as possible to ensure you cover the most important information in the given time.

3. Use an organizational method to fully debate your topic. The Middle School Public Debate Program recommends the "A-R-E" format — assertion, reasoning and evidence — to respond to impromptu debate topics. Practice this format by pulling debate topics out of a hat and deliver the A-R-E format in a one-minute time frame.

Confidence

1. Exude confidence to gain support for your speech.

2. Research the format, rules and stage set up to be used in the debate. Conduct background checks on the judges if they are announced prior to the debate. The more information you have about the debate will help you prepare and feel more confident during the debate.

3. Record a practice debate and review the footage to critique yourself. Implement any changes you believe are necessary to make you a stronger debater.

Practice

1. Practice debating in club meetings to hone your skills.

2. Ask senior debate members, parents or teachers to volunteer to judge the practice debates.

3. Listen and implement constructive feedback delivered from the volunteer judges and co-debaters.

Tips & Warnings

• Typically, debaters become better public speakers after participating on a debate team because of the practice and feedback they receive from judges and co-debaters.

• If you show that you are not confident in your argument, the judges will not believe that you stand behind your argument and the opposing debate member will seize the opportunity to discredit the argument.

References

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology News: Students on Debate Team Learn to Explain and Persuade Skillfully; Elizabeth Karagianis; April 2001
• International Debate Education Association: About Debate: Debate Clubs
• Middle School Public Debate Program: Building a Team