How to Write a Debate Speech

Debate is a great confidence builder for young people (and older) to be involved in. If you can hold your own on a team, you can be confident in most settings. A Debate Speech is different from any other type of speech because you are not just giving information. In a Debate Speech you are defending an idea. You know that an opponent is also preparing a speech that is going to be designed to make you speech look bad!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Research

1. Choose your area of Debate
   If you are writing this Debate Speech for a team effort there will be several categories of debate. Impromptu, original oratory, political debates, International or US Extemp, dramatic interpretation, humor and several more. If you are writing this speech for a competition you need to know what each event requires. If you are debating for a class and not a completion, you will need to know what the professor or teacher requires. Every Debate Speech has guidelines and cannot be written off the top of your head.

2. Choose your topic
   Once you know your area of Debate, choose your topic. If this is for a class or even for certain events in a competition, the topic may be chosen for you. In that case you need to read as much information as you can on the topic before hand. In a debate you may be asked to debate a side of the topic that you personally don't agree with. You need to know what both sides of the issue are. In a personal choice debate, you still need to know both sides of the debate are about so you can be prepared to defend your position. The more you know about what your opponent is going to say, the better.

3. BE PREPARED
   Once you know your area, study the subject from every angle. In a Debate Speech you will be writing about one aspect of the subject. Even though you know there are other angles to this subject STAY ON TRACK. Write out your purpose on top of the page so you can get back to your subject instead rambling off on a tangent.
   Take your information and outline your Main Points. Mark them with Roman Numerals (I, II, III) These Main Points should be exactly what you are trying to get your opponent to believe about your position.
   Under your Main Points use Capital Letters (A,B,C) to write sub points. The sub points should explain why your Main Points are right.
   Under your sub points flesh out your argument with examples or illustrations and mark them with Lower case letters.

4. If you are presenting your speech as a speech as a speech, breaking down your topic into sub points can trigger your memory during the debate. Practice your speech and during the debate listen to your opponent. If you are turning this speech in as a written work, make sure your points are concise and easy to understand. You won't be rebutting an opponent like in an oral debate. Your written speech has to be very thorough.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are presenting your speech, dress like you have something important to say.
• Remember you are not given information but persuading others to believe what you are right.

[cheers4fabab]

on 11/11/2009 Great Tips they help alot!

[juliebmack]

on 12/20/2008 Good tips.. God to do research to support your opinion.

[Devero]

on 12/14/2008 Nice concise and detalied article.

[Quickstar]

on 12/14/2008 Good tips and advice. 5*