how to end a debate speech third speaker

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How to Write a Speech if You're Third Speaker

Last Updated: September 3, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. 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 300,474 times.

There are three key roles on a debate team: first speaker, second speaker and third speaker. While the first and second speakers concentrate on building a substantive case, the third speaker has a unique job in that he or she must use their time to attack their opponent's case. This guide will help you create an outline for your argument if you are the third speaker on your debate team.

Before the Debate

• Make a list of the main arguments of first and second speakers on your team. Use the notes to rebut arguments of the opposing side.
• Throughout the debate, note down key clashes and the main arguments of the opposing side. [1] X Research source
• State the clashes and explain/analyze why your side has won in each clash.

Third Speaker Proposition

Third Speaker Opposition

• It is important to note that if you are a third speaker on an opposing team, you are not creating a constructive argument. Presenting a new argument at this time would not allow the proposing team to rebut. The arguments you are defending are arguments that have already been made by your first and second speakers.

Community Q&A

• Know your argument. [7] X Research source Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Start research on your position early so that you are adequately prepare to write a proper speech. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
• Take notes and adjust your speech as you listen to each speaker. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rIANDXXu-k
• ↑ https://www.theclassroom.com/write-good-closing-argument-4659.html
• ↑ https://www.dav.com.au/resources/itd_speaker_roles.php
• ↑ https://virtualspeech.com/blog/guide-to-debating

About This Article

If you’re the third speaker on your debate team, you’ll need to write a speech that attacks the opponent’s case. Before the debate, make a list of key points from the first and second speaker so you have them ready when it’s time for your closing summary. You can add to these notes during the actual debate so you can incorporate information about your challenger’s arguments. To make your proposition, restate your team’s position and rebut the opposition’s arguments. Then, defend your affirmative arguments with your own, unique supporting examples. Finally, end your speech with your closing statement. To learn how to give your opposition, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Debate 101: 3rd Speaker

Third speakers are probably the most responsive speakers in the entire debate.

• Post author By bdazzle
• Post date June 24, 2021
• 2 Comments on Debate 101: 3rd Speaker

Third speakers are probably the most responsive speakers in the entire debate. According to the rules of parliamentary debating, third speakers are  not allowed  to have  new matter  in their speech—that is, new arguments that change the direction of your side’s case. Hence, the third speaker’s job mainly revolves around responding to the other side, as well as  weighing up  what your team has said.

Third speakers are also called Whips, either Government Whip or Opposition Whip. (I’m not actually sure why they’re called that, but think of it as the final substantive speech to ‘whip’ or make a final attack on your opponent).

A typical speech would involve at least two Clashes.

Clash is a term for clashing assertions from both teams. Think about it as one ‘theme’ that the debate has revolved around (most debates will have more than one clash). This ‘theme’ can revolve around a specific actor, a specific benefit or a specific aspect of the debate (principle and practical).

For example: THW abolish the death penalty

• Team GOV’s assertion: Why the death penalty is morally abhorrent
• Team GOV’s assertion: Why the death penalty doesn’t solve crime (and instead wastes resources)
• Team OPP’s assertion: Why the death penalty is principally legitimate
• Team OPP’s assertion: Why the death penalty is an effective deterrent to solve crime

With the two assertions from each team, we can then formulate two clashes:

• Is the death penalty justified (principle)?
• Does the death penalty solve crime?

A decent amount of time should be dedicated to each clash. As with other aspects of debating, there’s no fixed way to do a clash, but here’s a simple structure if you’re just starting off.

• Respond to your opponent.  Why are their arguments not true? Were there gaps in logic?
• Review your case . What did your first two speakers bring? What were your opponents’ responses and why were they insufficient?
• Weigh   your material . Why were your benefits more important? Were they larger in magnitude?

Repeat the process! Find more about responses and weighing.

What do I do during casebuild?

• Help out your teammates! You have a bit of time until your speech, so don’t be afraid to be a bit more flexible  during  the debate.
• Try to think of things that your opponent might say. This can help you create pre-made rebuttals, which make your job during the debate much easier.

That concludes the guide for third speakers! Sounds fun, right? If you’re interested in delving deeper to a third speaker’s role, you can find more here. Happy debating!

2 replies on “Debate 101: 3rd Speaker”

hi Dazzle, i think it’s pretty clear method coming from you, but i just want to know more about the assertion tamplate for making more than one clashes, since i don’t bring too much clashes so far during my practice as a whip, and how your respponses for often using tamplates during your casebuild or during the debate? let me know, thanks in advance!

Hello! Thank you for your question. In terms of how to make assertions / what to clash about, I suggest paying attention and noting down consistently what the key issues in the debates are. It would help if you could identify what both sides are trying to prove. For example, each side might bring rebuttals as to why the motion is good for a certain group of people (e.g. minority groups, consumers, etc.), so you can make a clash dedicated entirely for this group. 2-3 clashes per speech is usually ideal.

I’m not too sure what you mean in the second part of your question, but I don’t usually have a set template for rebuttals. Usually it will just be a variation of saying “this is not true because ..”. It matters less what the “type” or “template” of the rebuttal is, and your reasoning behind the rebuttal probably matters more. Sometimes in case building, if my first speaker’s case is already set and clear, I will think of possible things the opponent will say and note down potential rebuttals. Hope that was helpful, and feel free to ask any other questions!

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How To End a Debate: Learn to Conclude and Make a Closing Statement

• Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
• Post published: December 25, 2021
• Post category: Scholarly Articles

How To End a Debate (Closing Statement): A debate speech is a well-written argument that seeks to refute an opponent’s claim while elaborating on your own. Debating may help you improve your critical thinking abilities, teamwork abilities, public speaking abilities, and persuasive abilities. Arguing with someone and winning may also be enjoyable. Some debates enable you to question your opponents while they are speaking.

You must wait for your turn to speak in other forms. Depending on the debate’s format, each debate is separated into several speeches. Simply review the debate rules ahead of time and practice debating in that format. When finishing your debate speech, you have the opportunity to reiterate your most important points, conclude your arguments, give the judges something to think about, and ultimately deliver a logical conclusion.

Recommended: How to Start a Debate Introduction

Table of Contents

Components Of Debate

a. Introductory Statements : Opening remarks are crucial to a successful discussion because they allow both sides – those in favor of a position and those opposed to it – to capture the attention of the audience. The positive side, also referred to as the side that supports the topic or circumstance, is always the first to make a comment.

Opening statements in structured talks have a limited time for both the positive and negative sides to express their cases. The opening words establish the tone for the dialogue and should include the viewpoint, claim, or notion you wish to defend as well as a brief summary of your supporting evidence.

Following the opening speeches, each party delivers its arguments in further depth, using statistical data, examples, and expert opinions to back up its claims. Once again, the positive side makes their case first.

2. Rebuttals: After both sides have clearly identified and explained their points, each side has the chance to indicate why they feel the other side’s arguments are weak or incorrect – this is known as the “ rebuttal .” The opposing party is the first to respond.

You may begin your response by saying, “ My opponent’s statements are incorrect for various reasons .” “ My study demonstrates that my opponent’s opinions lack credibility ,” for example.

Following each side’s rebuttal, and depending on the moderator or judge’s format for the debate, each side may be given another opportunity to offer a rebuttal – properly known as a “ second rebuttal .” During the rebuttal, neither side is permitted to offer fresh evidence to bolster its argument.

Also see: How to speak in public without fear

3. Sessions for Questions and Answers: Some debates include a question-and-answer session in which each side queries the other party. According to the International Debate Education Association, the objective of cross-examination is to explain your opponents’ arguments, push them to commit to a definite viewpoint on unclear matters, bring out any fallacies or flaws in their arguments, and examine deficiencies in their evidence.

Cross-examination usually occurs after each party has presented its arguments but before the rebuttal stage. Inquire with your teacher or the debate host about when and whether a question-and-answer session will take place.

“ May you perhaps restate and explain your initial argument? ” you could begin your cross-examination. “ Could you perhaps clarify where you obtained the statistical data to support your findings? ”

A Q&A session’s purpose is to guarantee that both parties fully comprehend the opposition’s arguments so that they can formulate and explain their best defense.

Also see: Famous Scientists and their Discoveries in the field

4. Statements of Closure: Closing speeches allow each side to summarize their significant arguments and highlight their most relevant issues. They also allow you to draw attention to your opponent’s flaws in front of the judges.

They have the benefit of making their closing arguments first. The goal is to persuade your audience that you have solid evidence to back up your statements and that your opponent’s ideas are inadequate. To make a lasting impact, conclude with an intriguing example of an eye-catching analogy. Include any negative consequences of your argument not being taken seriously or accepted.

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Interesting Ways to End a Debate

1. Use of quotation : If you have a quotation that wraps up your final argument or provides closure to your case, use it. Check your notes to ensure that you have addressed all of your opponent’s arguments and that you have concluded your case.

If you discover an unaddressed argument by your opponent, address it before concluding your speech.

2. Explain the most important points: An overview for your judges describes the most important points in your case. This can be accomplished by restating each of your main points or by making a general statement about your case.

For example, if you are arguing for basic human rights over national interests, you may want to make a quick general statement about the importance of human rights and society’s responsibility to prioritize them.

While your speech addressed this general statement with more specific information, the general statement shows your judges that you understand your issue and are concerned about your overall case.

Also see: How to become a better singer fast

3. Sing Song Ending: Request that the audience repeats a phrase from your speech that you used multiple times. Assume your slogan is “ Together, we can win. ” You keep repeating that sentence.

Then, right before you finish, you remark, “I know that all of you are brilliant, and all of you are determined.” I know none of us can accomplish it alone, but (pause) together (pause) we can (pause until the audience responds.)

4. Use specific vocal inflections: Use certain vocal inflections to indicate that you are nearing the end of your speech. While giving a summary of your case and explaining the holes in your opponent’s argument, move your notes away from you and gaze straight at the judges.

Speak slower than you did throughout your real speech, exploiting the difference in speed to make your final comments stay in the minds of your assessors. As you make your closing remarks, practice your final inflection, dropping your voice and slowing your words.

Recommended: How to become a successful lawyer: 10 Qualities you need

5. Third Party Close: The Third-Party close elevates the usage of a quote. Make use of a quotation in the context of your message.

Use the idea of that quotation to frame your conclusion so that it functions as a launching pad to elevate your message high enough for the audience to completely comprehend it.

6. Inform your judges on how to vote : Inform your judges on how to vote. Make a simple statement like, “ After reviewing the information about this topic, you must vote to affirm the topic. ” Continue by elaborating on the specific flaw in your opponent’s argument.

“ Our opponents today failed to contend with our most important point, about the value of human rights and their essential place in a virtuous society, ” for example. Be specific about which points your opponents did not address and emphasize the significance of these issues.

Also see: Causes, Effects and Solutions to low self-esteem

7. Connect the primary points to the core message: It is critical to plan out the primary concepts you will discuss at the start of your presentation. An audience that is unaware of the stages of the journey you are going to take them on will be less relaxed than one that is aware of what is to come.

At the end of your presentation, go through everything you’ve discussed, but don’t just list the many concepts you developed; illustrate how they are linked and how they support your primary thesis.

8. Thank the audience: After you’ve completed presenting the substance, the easiest approach to close a speech is to say, “ thank you .” This has the advantage of being understood by everybody.

It’s an excellent technique for anyone to indicate to the crowd that it’s time to applaud and then go.

Also see: Tips on how to improve your emotional intelligence

Your closing words should make it clear that your debate presentation is coming to an end. The audience should be able to read it and respond quickly. As previously stated, saying “ thank you ” is a good way to conclude. If there is no acclaim, stand tall and wait. Don’t wiggle, and don’t even bother to mumble, ‘ And that just about covers it .’ Thank you very much.

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.

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• Mar 22, 2021

How To Deliver a Debate Final Focus

The Final Focus speech is quite similar to the Summary speech in that they are both short speeches which aim to boil down the round and provide clear reasons that the judge should vote for your side. Thus, many of the Tips provided in Five Big Tips For The Summary Speech will be applicable here as well.

Instead of repeating those points, this article will go into the Five Main Differences Between Summary and Final Focus before offering Three Final Focus Tips.

Five Main Differences Between Summary and Final Focus

Difference #1 : purpose.

The purpose of the summary speech is to set your partner up to give a killer final focus. This means figuring out which points to go for, extending the right pieces of evidence, and effectively responding to your opponent’s main offense. The purpose of final focus, however, is to “write the judge’s ballot for them.” Final focus is the last speech in the round and is thus most likely to stick in the judge’s mind as they are writing their ballot.

Consequently, the final focus is often the most important speech in the round for a lay judge, while the summary is often the most important speech in the round for a flow judge.

Difference #2 : Length

Whereas you get 3 minutes to give a Summary, you only get 2 minutes to deliver your Final Focus. This means the final focus speaker must have impeccable word economy. The summary speaker does have more to cover, but gets that extra minute for explanation. The final focus speaker will not have the opportunity to hit all the points covered in summary, and will have to strategically prioritize.

Difference #3 : Amount of Defense

The summary speech requires more defense than the final focus speech. The summary speaker may not drop important evidence in the opposing case or relevant turns delivered in rebuttal, as the final focus is too late to first address something so major.

The final focus speaker will really want to focus on driving home their main narrative, instead of wasting time on the opponent’s offense.

Difference #4 : Amount of Weighing

In the summary speech, it is important to introduce the judge to a couple of weighing mechanisms, or at least provide them a working framework by which to evaluate which arguments matter most. However, the final focus speaker is the one that needs to weigh heavily, making crystal clear why the judge should vote their way.

However, the job of the final focus speaker is not to just rattle off weighing mechanisms. Instead, the final focus should be inspirational, should connect to the judge emotionally, and urge the judge to subconsciously want you to win. If the judge wants you to win, they will find a way to make that happen regardless of what was actually said.

Difference #5 : Necessity of Strong Rhetoric

A strong summary maximizes coverage and clarity; a strong final focus maximizes strong rhetoric and eloquence.

Three Final Focus Tips

Tip #1 : allow yourself to be passionate.

Throughout the case, rebuttal, and summary speeches, there are many technicalities you have to hit. The case should have claim, logic, impact; the rebuttal needs to be numbered responses; the summary needs to extend the right points and cards.

Technicalities apply to the final focus as well but can be forgone in the place of passion in certain circumstances, like if you have a lay judge and the round has been very confusing to this point. Regardless, this is your last chance to make an impression with the judge and you want to go out with a bang.

Tip #2 : This is Not The Time To Get Creative

Did you just think of the killer point in the middle of Grand Cross that you just know will destroy your opponent’s argument? Great! Write it down and think through it after the round; this not the time to do a 180. Judges want to see consistency between summary and final focus, and not how arguments build off of each other from speech to speech. The final focus is simply too late to make new arguments, both because you don’t have the time to explain them and because it’s not fair to your opponent who has little to no time to respond.

This isn’t to say you should repeat your partner’s Summary word for word – it is important to point out the specific nuances that make your argument pop that your partner may not have had enough time to explain. But when it comes to new arguments altogether? Make them early or don’t make them at all.

(Note: there is one situation in which you can get creative, and that is the situation in which you know you are losing and you need something dramatic to win the round. However, just know that this usually doesn’t work and you would be better served highlighting the nuances you spent weeks preparing as opposed to coming in guns ablazing with new arguments in the last speech.)

Remember: the team that won on the flow doesn’t always win the round. If you can smile, sound confident, and speak with conviction, you have a good shot at winning even if you are worried you lost on the flow.

Tip #3 : Hammer Home Your Narrative

The final focus is the perfect speech to focus on your narrative. Do not be afraid to repeat points made in your or your partner’s previous speeches; in fact you likely will need to do this and the judge will thank you. Re-explain them fully and clearly, from start to finish. While you have been preparing this argument for weeks if not months, the judge only just heard it 45 minutes ago. They will need a refresher, and if you have practiced re-explaining your arguments efficiently in front of the mirror or your teammates, this is the time you will thank yourself.

While some summaries will use a Defense/Offense approach, just trying to cover enough of the flow to ensure no arguments are dropped, the final focus must tell a story. Ideally the summary will too but it is absolutely necessary in the final focus.

Pretend the judge has forgotten everything. If your speech would make sense to someone who didn’t listen to any of the other content of the round, you are on the right track. If it is filled with “blippy extensions” and jumps from topic to topic without providing closure, you will want to rethink how you give Final Focuses.

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Thinking and speaking a better world.

There are several myths surrounding third speeches. Most of them go along the lines of "third speakers just reiterating what's already been said" and them "not needing to prep". Oftentimes these kind of views of third speeches can be the very thing constraining the debater from developing and in the meantime, they also often cause the debates to be stagnant and low-quality, leading to lower probability of your team winning.

Since there are several things to consider about every speech (and since every single speech will need a different emphasis and different specifics) I will aim to give you a brief, chronological and a fairly general overview of what I think are some of the things you ought to look out for as a third speaker.

One major thing to consider - and I can't stress this enough, is that you should always aim to make the most relevant arguments in the 3rd speech. The last constructive speech of your side is a perfect opportunity to shave off all the red herrings, "wash points" and obviously lost arguments and convince the judge that 

you're winning some of the clashes;

the clashes you're winning are the most important.

Third speeches are not a shopping list of rebuttal to everything the opposing side has said, neither are they a restatement of all the arguments your 1st and 2nd speaker already made.

Closing Constructives

Third speeches.

PROJECT VIDEO: David Moskovici from Romania speaks about  Third Speeches (With Attitude) at     WSDA 2013

Preparation Time

As a 3rd speaker you are not in the prep room to look up facts for your first two speakers, neither are you there to rest, have a smoke, cup of coffee or anything of the sort. You are a part of the team, regardless of the fact that you won't be making constructive arguments. This being said, there are at least 2 very specific things that you should be doing during the prep time.

A)   BE AN ACTIVE PART OF 

THE CASE-BUILDING PROCESS

It's not just about the 1st and 2nd speaker being happy with the arguments that they'll be making. An important thing to keep in 

B) TRY TO THINK HOW THE DEBATE WILL EVOLVE  AND WHERE IT WILL BE WON 

This is NOT to say that you should spend your 1hour (or 6 months) coming up with opponent's arguments and then providing generic rebuttal. A better thing to do is thinking what the strong points of your whole case are. It is conceivable that the opposing side will come up with a few very strong arguments that don't have a straightforward rebuttal. Think about strategic decisions that you can do in that case - namely, how to rebut them and how to show that despite opposing side being good you are better. This is much easier to do when you try to understand where the clash will lie in advance, since you can prepare your arguments to feel stronger afterwards.  There is also no shame in predicting a major clash and developing a bulk of analysis prior to the debate. A lot of motions have a clear social context and it is often clear where the debate will be won. One of your 3 points or a part of all 3 points can thus be prepared in advance. Just remember to still be flexible if the debate goes into a direction you didn't expect it to.

Define Key Terms

I will not spend too much time on this section as I believe that everyone will find their own technique of note taking. There are a few things to note, though.

1.) Listen to what the specifics of the arguments being made are . That goes for both sides, don't just assert that the opposing side has made a version of a certain argument you happen to know. Listen to how they have said it. It might have some "prebuttal" integrated in it that you want to deal with. On the other hand, don't just assert that your teammates have done a good job at explaining what you've agreed on. Maybe they made a bit of a different argument or have left out important pieces of analysis. These are absolutely crucial things you need to pick up on.

2.) Try to briefly summarize every point being made onto a piece of paper . As the debate develops, try to see how these points interplay and how they connect. Oftentimes 

Your Speech 

A) STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE

You usually want to pick anywhere from 2 to 4 broad themes that you will analyze in your speech. It is usually quite helpful to firstly take a minute or so to clarify and refute things that do not necessarily fall under the main headings. This might be obvious, but never skip an important point, just because it doesn't fall under your main headings. 

Jure Hederih

Za in proti.

mind is that the 3rd speaker will be the one defending those arguments. So, honestly, you should be fairly worried about their quality and nuances. Prep time is your chance to discuss them with your team mates and make sure they aren't obviously flawed and that you will not be in an awkward position when defending them. Furthermore, it's probably good to predict where the weak points of that argument are. Your teammates will probably spend 3minutes max. on one argument, making it far from flawless. If you identify the possible opponent's attacks, then it's much easier for you to defend your own arguments. What often worked for me was actually writing out all the arguments that 1st and 2nd speaker were going to make independently of them. That way you almost have a "backup" form of the same argument that is likely to answer a lot of opponent's attacks. Think of it as a customized, rebuttal-proof form of the argument that doesn't focus that much on making a specific point but rather showing that the point being made is true.

you'll be able to connect different points into a greater whole that can constitute a bulk of you analysis in the 3rd speech.

3.)  Find a good balance between writing and listening . Do not try to jot down everything you hear. Try to listen and think intensively during the speeches and write only as much as really necessary. You'll usually find that you use less than some 30% of your notes anyway. It's more important to understand the ideas you have than it is to elaborate them on paper.

In terms of specific themes you want to pick, there isn't really much to say. You want to pick things that will win you the debate and make them relevant and strong. At the same time you need to recognize what the opponent's strongest material is and either refute it or identify why it's less relevant than the comparative that you're bringing. 

It is often useful to construct your points in an "even if" structure to provide multiple levels of reasons as to why you are right. 3rd speeches are a perfect moment to do that as you can show that even after acknowledging everything opposing side has said, your points still stand. Never ignore the material that the opposing side has brought. 

Oftentimes the opposing side's case will have a hierarchical structure (e.g. principles > practical concerns > particular premises > examples > example details). Keep in mind that focusing on the more fundamental areas of their case is more beneficial to you side, i.e. refuting an example doesn't take down a lot of their case whereas, e.g. showing why your principle is the one we should uphold in a particular case is much stronger (and oftentimes also drags the examples to your side).

A few miscellaneous points might be emphasized at this instance. 

It's good to take at least one POI. Maybe even more so in the 3rd speech as you're the last one speaking who can constructively and directly answer the opposing side.

Try to coordinate the points with your reply speaker. Often reply speeches are very similar to 3rd speeches which is a waste of a reply speech.

Try to gather good ideas from your teammates and acknowledge their concerns, but ultimately go with your gut when making the call as to what should be brought into the debate.

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Struggling to compose an impactful debate speech that captivates your audience and secures a win? 

You're not alone. Crafting a persuasive and well-structured debate speech is a challenge faced by numerous students. The process of articulating your thoughts, organizing arguments can be challenging.

However, fear not! This blog post is your comprehensive guide, presenting a step-by-step approach to empower you in constructing a debate speech. We’ve included examples and tips to make sure your speech captures attention and ensures a compelling and victorious performance.

So, keep reading.

• 1. What Is A Debate Speech?
• 2. How To Prepare For Debate Speech?
• 3. Debate Speech Examples for Students
• 4. Tips for an Effective Debate Speech
• 5. Debate Speech Topics

What Is A Debate Speech?

A debate speech is a formal presentation where you argue for or against a specific topic. 

It involves structured arguments presented in different sections, aiming to persuade the audience with facts and convincing points. It's a way of discussing and trying to show why your side is the right one on a particular subject.

Key Elements of A Debate Speech

A debate typically includes several essential elements to effectively communicate your position and persuade the audience. These elements form the building blocks of a strong debate speech:

• Opening Statements: These kick off the debate, presenting the main arguments for your side or against the motion. It sets the tone for the discussion.
• Rebuttals: In this stage, you respond to the arguments made by the opposing side, highlighting weaknesses or presenting counterpoints.
• Summary: Towards the end of the debate, a summary is provided to reinforce your main arguments and explain why your perspective is stronger. This section aims to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
• Use of Evidence: Supporting your arguments with evidence, facts, and examples strengthens your position and makes your speech more convincing.
• Logical Reasoning: Presenting arguments in a clear, logical sequence enhances the coherence and persuasiveness of your speech.
• Rhetorical Appeal: Adding appeals like ethos, pathos and logos to your speech can engage the audience, making your points more relatable and impactful.

How To Prepare For Debate Speech?

Creating a compelling debate speech requires a methodical approach that ensures a clear, convincing, and organized presentation. Let's delve into the detailed steps for an effective preparation:

Choosing a Position

Start by selecting a clear stance or position regarding the debate topic. Decide whether you are arguing for or against the motion. Understanding and committing to your position forms the foundation of your speech.

Conducting Thorough Research

Gathering information for your debate speech is really important. Look at different sources like books, reliable websites, and experts' ideas. 

Find facts, numbers, and real stories that support what you want to say. It's key to use strong and trusted information that backs up your side of the argument. 

When you collect different types of information, it makes your speech stronger and more convincing. This way, you'll be well-prepared to explain your ideas during the debate.

Structure The Key Points

After research and collecting points, organize your main arguments in a clear and logical manner to effectively convey your position in the debate. Set sufficient time to each key point to ensure they're adequately developed and presented. 

You can do this by following a debate format. Here is a standard debate speech format for a 20-15 minutes long debate:

How to Start a Debate Speech

Crafting a compelling opening for your speech involves capturing the audience's attention while introducing key points of discussion. 

You can achieve this by using attention-grabbing techniques such as sharing an eye-opening fact, a powerful quote, or a personal anecdote related to the topic. 

Additionally, it's beneficial to briefly outline the key areas of discussion that you'll cover in your speech. By providing a sneak peek of the main points, you offer the audience a roadmap of what's to come. 

This not only piques the audience's interest but also helps them anticipate and follow the structure of your speech.

Structure Your Arguments

Structuring arguments in the debate speech means organizing your ideas in a way that makes sense to others. 

A well-structured argument often uses the P-E-E format, which stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation (P-E-E):

• Point or Reason: Begin by stating your main argument or reason. This is the central idea you want to convey in support of your position.
• Evidence: Provide evidence, facts, or examples that support your point. This evidence should be reliable and back up what you're saying.
• Explanation: Explain how your evidence supports your point. Make it clear to your audience why this evidence is important and how it links to your argument.

This structure helps make your arguments more persuasive and clear. It enables you to present your points effectively, support them with evidence, and explain why that evidence matters in the context of your argument.

Address Counterarguments (Rebuttals)

Addressing counterarguments involves anticipating the opposing viewpoints and crafting responses, known as rebuttals , within your speech. A rebuttal is a persuasive counter-argument that challenges or opposes the points raised by the other side.

By thinking ahead and having strong responses, you showcase a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. 

This approach makes your argument stronger and shows your skill in defending your position, boosting your speech's credibility.

How to End a Debate Speech

Concluding your debate speech effectively is as important as starting it strong. Here are two impactful ways to conclude your speech:

• Summarize Key Points with a Call to Action Example: "In conclusion, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the idea that [your stance on the topic]. As we leave here today, let's not merely acknowledge the importance of [debate topic] but commit to [call to action], ensuring a brighter future for all."
• End with a Powerful Quote or Statement Example: "As [relevant figure] once wisely said, '[insert impactful quote].' Let these words guide us in our understanding of [debate topic]. Together, we can [highlight the desired outcome or change]."

Review And Practice

The last step is to review and practice a lot. Read through your speech to make sure it all makes sense and fits the time limit. 

Practice how you talk, how fast or slow, and how you use your body while speaking. Also, be ready to answer questions or handle different arguments. 

Do a few final practice rounds to feel more confident and comfortable. This way, you'll be well-prepared and ready to deliver a strong debate speech.

Debate Speech Examples for Students

For students, understanding how to structure and present a debate speech is crucial. Here are some debate speech samples to help you grasp the basics of debating:

First Speaker Debate Speech Example

2nd Speaker Debate Speech Example

3rd Speaker Debate Speech Example

Short Example Of Debate Speech

Debate Speech Structure

Examples can serve as a great starting point. Check out more expertly crafted debate examples for inspiration!

Tips for an Effective Debate Speech

Crafting a persuasive and impactful debate speech requires careful consideration and strategic planning. Here are key tips to enhance the effectiveness of your presentation:

• Tailor language to match the audience's demographics and interests.
• Strengthen arguments with credible sources and diverse perspectives.
• Organize with a clear introduction, well-developed body, and strong conclusion for a logical flow.
• Capture attention with a compelling quote, question, or anecdote.
• Support arguments with relevant statistics, examples, and real-world scenarios.
• Anticipate opposing viewpoints and incorporate strong rebuttals.
• Clearly articulate and repeat key ideas to reinforce your stance.
• Maintain a dynamic and engaging delivery by varying tone and pace.
• Pay attention to body language, eye contact, and gestures.
• Allocate time wisely for each speech segment to ensure a well-paced presentation.
• Be prepared to adapt to unexpected changes during the debate.
• Practice multiple times to enhance clarity, emphasis, and pacing, boosting confidence.

Need to polish your debate? Have a look at this in-depth blog on debate techniques and get effective tips!

Debate Speech Topics

Here are some unique topic ideas for you to write a debate on.

• Credit cards are more harmful than debit cards.
• We are becoming too dependent on technology.
• Marriage is an outdated concept.
• Homework is necessary with regard to the learning process.
• Being a college graduate in the United States is necessary for a successful career.
• It is a good idea to have laptops in classrooms.
• Facebook is a better social platform than Twitter.
• Cell phones can be used as educational tools.
• Junk food must be banned in high schools and colleges.
• The Prime Minister of any state enjoys more power than the president.

Can’t pick a topic? Check out this extensive blog with multiple debate topics and get unique ideas!

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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

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. 

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.

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.

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 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.

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The Science of Geography Should Be Taught in Schools

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Being assigned as the third speaker in a public speaking event or debate can be both an honor and a challenge. As the third speaker, you have the unique opportunity to sum up your team’s arguments and add further weight to them while providing a satisfying conclusion to your audience. However, this responsibility also demands exceptional organization, creativity, and persuasion skills. Here are three ways to help you write an effective speech if you’re the third speaker:

1. Structure your speech strategically

To ensure your speech is engaging and impactful, it’s essential to follow a clear structure. Typically, the third speaker should start by summarizing the main points made by their team while refuting any counterarguments presented by the opposition. You can break down your speech into three major sections:

a) Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and set the stage for your arguments. Use a hook to capture your audience’s attention – this can be an interesting fact, anecdote, or thought-provoking question.

b) Body: This is where you’ll summarize your team’s main points and rebuttals. Divide your body into sub-sections based on each argument, beginning with the strongest one. Be concise but compelling in asserting how your team has demonstrated its claim more effectively than the opposition.

c) Conclusion: Bring all your points together and provide a strong closing statement that emphasizes why your team’s stance is the most persuasive one.

2. Make use of persuasive techniques

Utilizing persuasive techniques can significantly enhance the impact of your speech. Apply these strategies to emphasize your points:

a) Emotive language: Use powerful words that trigger emotions like happiness, anger, optimism, or concern. This will help build rapport with your audience and develop their emotional connection with your argument.

b) Rhetorical questions: Pose questions that do not require answers but encourage reflection on your points. By prompting your audience to think more deeply about the topic, you increase the likelihood of them accepting your viewpoint.

c) Tripling: Present your arguments or examples in groups of three, as the human brain tends to remember information better when it’s organized this way.

d) Evidence and statistics: Use credible sources to back up your claims and demonstrate that your team’s arguments are based on facts.

3. Engage with your opposition

As the third speaker, it’s essential to address the opposition’s arguments and counter them effectively. This aspect makes your speech more dynamic and establishes a strong case for your team. Some tips to engage with the opposition include:

a) Acknowledge their arguments: Show respect to your opponents by recognizing their points before debunking them.

b) Use logic and analysis: Refute your opposition’s claims by pointing out flaws in their logic, providing counterexamples, or challenging their source credibility.

c) Stay respectful: Keep a polite tone while countering opposing views. Avoid personal attacks or mocking language, as this can alienate your audience.

In summary, when writing a speech as the third speaker, focus on structuring it strategically, using persuasive techniques, and engaging with the opposition. By doing so, you’ll be well-equipped to deliver a powerful and memorable speech that captivates your audience and reinforces your team’s arguments.

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How to End a Debate: Top 7 Best Expert Examples

Debates are a common and valuable form of communication, providing a platform for people to express and defend their opinions.

However, debates can become contentious, leading to increased tension and frustration. dictionary

Knowing how to end a debate is a crucial skill that can help to maintain healthy relationships and prevent conflicts from escalating.

In this blog post, we will explore practical tips for ending a debate in a respectful and productive manner.

Whether you are debating with a friend, or coworker, or in a group setting, these tips can help you to navigate difficult conversations with ease and confidence. (if you missed our previous post on Top Best 50 Debate Topics for Secondary Schools in Nigeria , do well to read it.)

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Table of Contents

Explanation of what a debate is

A debate is a formal or informal discussion where individuals or groups present arguments and counter-arguments on a specific topic or issue.

The purpose of a debate is to persuade others to accept or reject a particular point of view, and it often involves presenting evidence, logical reasoning, and critical thinking.

Debates can occur in various settings, such as classrooms, political campaigns, business meetings, or social gatherings.

They can also cover a wide range of topics, from politics and social issues to scientific research and philosophical concepts.

Debates can be a powerful tool for expanding knowledge and promoting understanding, but they can also become heated and emotional if not conducted in a respectful and constructive manner.

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Importance of knowing how to end a debate

Knowing how to end a debate is essential for several reasons. Firstly, debates can often become contentious, leading to negative emotions and strained relationships. By ending a debate on a positive note, you can maintain a respectful and amicable relationship with the person you were debating with, even if you don’t agree with their position.

Secondly, ending a debate can help to prevent conflicts from escalating into more significant problems.

If a debate continues without resolution, it can lead to frustration, resentment, and even anger.

By effectively concluding a debate, you can prevent these negative emotions from escalating into more significant conflicts that may be difficult to resolve.

Finally, knowing how to end a debate can help you to hone your communication and critical thinking skills.

By practicing effective debate techniques, you can learn to articulate your position more effectively, listen actively to opposing viewpoints, and find common ground with others.

These skills are essential not just in debates but in all areas of life, including personal relationships, work environments, and social interactions.

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A brief overview of tips for ending a debate

Here is a brief overview of some practical tips for ending a debate in a respectful and productive manner:

• Set clear rules and expectations: Establish clear guidelines for the debate and ensure that everyone understands what is expected of them.
• Listen actively: Listen carefully to the other person’s arguments and try to understand their perspective without interrupting or dismissing their points.
• Identify common ground: Look for areas where you and the other person may agree, and use these points of agreement as a foundation for finding a resolution.
• Stay focused on the topic: Avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant or emotionally charged issues. Stay focused on the primary topic of the debate.
• Use facts and evidence: Support your arguments with credible sources and facts, and encourage the other person to do the same.
• Be willing to compromise: Recognize that compromise is often necessary for reaching a resolution and finding common ground.
• End on a positive note: Conclude the debate with a positive statement or expression of appreciation, even if you do not agree with the other person’s position.

By following these tips, you can effectively end a debate in a way that respects both your own and the other person’s viewpoints, reduces tension and conflict, and fosters productive and respectful communication.

See Top Best 50 Debate Topics for Secondary Schools in Nigeria

• Set clear rules and expectations

One of the most important steps in ending a debate is to set clear rules and expectations from the outset.

This can help to ensure that the discussion remains respectful, productive, and focused on the topic at hand. Here are some tips for setting clear rules and expectations for a debate:

• Establish the purpose of the debate: Make sure that everyone understands the goal of the debate and what you hope to achieve.
• Determine the format: Decide on the format of the debate, such as a structured or informal discussion, and ensure that everyone understands the format.
• Set time limits: Agree on the length of the debate and set time limits for each speaker to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to present their arguments.
• Agree on the ground rules: Establish ground rules for the debate, such as taking turns to speak, avoiding personal attacks, and maintaining a respectful tone.
• Choose a moderator: Consider having a neutral third-party moderator to keep the discussion on track and ensure that everyone follows the established rules.

By setting clear rules and expectations, you can help to create a productive and respectful debate environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views.

This can help to reduce tension and ensure that the debate remains focused on the topic at hand.

Importance of setting rules and expectations

Setting clear rules and expectations is essential for several reasons when it comes to debates. Here are a few reasons why:

• Establishing a common understanding : By setting rules and expectations, everyone involved in the debate can have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. This can help to ensure that the discussion remains on track, productive, and respectful.
• Creating a fair and balanced debate: Setting time limits, ground rules, and choosing a moderator can ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to express their views and that no one dominates the conversation or monopolizes the discussion.
• Maintaining a respectful and productive environment: Clear rules and expectations can help to create a respectful and productive environment for debate, where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views and listening to others’ perspectives. This can help to reduce tension and prevent the discussion from becoming personal or hostile.
• Encouraging effective communication: By setting clear expectations, the debate can encourage effective communication, critical thinking, and active listening. This can help to promote understanding, foster mutual respect, and lead to a more productive discussion.

Overall, setting clear rules and expectations is essential for creating a productive, respectful, and fair debate environment.

By establishing guidelines and expectations, you can help to ensure that the discussion remains focused on the topic at hand, promotes effective communication, and leads to a positive outcome.

Examples of guidelines to set

Here are some examples of guidelines that you can set to ensure a productive and respectful debate:

• Respectful language: Ensure that all participants use respectful language and avoid personal attacks. Encourage them to focus on the issues and ideas rather than attacking individuals.
• Listening actively: Encourage all participants to listen actively and carefully to each other’s arguments. Ask them to avoid interrupting each other and to acknowledge the points made by others.
• Time limits: Set time limits for each speaker to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to express their views. This can also help to keep the debate on track and prevent it from dragging on for too long.
• Sticking to the topic: Encourage all participants to stick to the topic at hand and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant issues or tangents.
• Use of evidence: Encourage all participants to use credible sources and evidence to support their arguments.
• Avoiding assumptions: Encourage all participants to avoid making assumptions about others’ viewpoints and instead seek to understand their perspectives.
• Agreeing on the outcome: Agree on the desired outcome of the debate beforehand, such as reaching a compromise or finding common ground.

By setting guidelines like these, you can create a productive and respectful debate environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views and listening to others.

These guidelines can help to reduce tension, ensure that the discussion remains focused on the topic at hand, and lead to a positive outcome.

See How To Conduct Debate Competition

How setting rules and expectations can reduce tension

Setting rules and expectations can reduce tension in a debate in several ways:

• Promoting clarity: By setting clear guidelines, all participants will have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. This can help to reduce misunderstandings and prevent any unnecessary tension that may arise due to a lack of clarity.
• Encouraging mutual respect : When the ground rules are established, they promote an atmosphere of mutual respect. This means that each participant is aware of the other’s boundaries and limitations, and they will act accordingly. It can help to prevent personal attacks and create a more amicable environment for discussion.
• Focusing on the issues: Setting expectations for the debate helps to ensure that everyone focuses on the issues being discussed. This reduces the likelihood of personal attacks, and it prevents the debate from becoming derailed by irrelevant topics.
• Reducing ambiguity: By setting expectations, there will be less ambiguity about what the participants are supposed to do, say, or contribute. This clarity can help to reduce tension by giving everyone a sense of purpose and direction.

Overall, setting rules and expectations for a debate can reduce tension by promoting clarity, mutual respect, and focus.

These guidelines can help to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views, and where the discussion remains productive and respectful.

• Listen actively

Active listening is an essential aspect of ending a debate. Here’s how active listening can help you bring a debate to a productive close:

• Demonstrate respect: When you actively listen to someone, you show that you respect their opinion, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it. This can help to reduce tension and promote a more respectful debate.
• Gain understanding : Active listening helps you gain a better understanding of the other person’s point of view. This can help you to identify common ground and areas of agreement, which can help to bring the debate to a close.
• Reframe the debate: When you actively listen, you can also reframe the debate to focus on the underlying issues or concerns. This can help to bring the debate to a more productive conclusion and identify solutions that address the underlying problems.
• Encourage others: When you actively listen, you can encourage others to do the same. This can help to promote a more respectful and productive debate where everyone feels heard and valued.

Overall, active listening is an essential tool for ending a debate. It can help to reduce tension, promote understanding, and identify common ground. By actively listening, you can help to bring the debate to a close and find a productive way forward.

Explanation of active listening

Active listening is a technique that involves fully concentrating on what someone is saying and showing that you understand their point of view.

It’s more than just hearing what someone is saying – it’s about being fully present at the moment and giving the speaker your undivided attention.

Here are some ways to actively listen during a debate:

• Focus on the speaker: Give the speaker your full attention. Avoid distractions like your phone, computer, or other people in the room.
• Don’t interrupt: Allow the speaker to finish their point before responding. Interrupting can derail the conversation and make the speaker feel unheard or disrespected.
• Show interest: Show the speaker that you are interested in what they have to say. Make eye contact, nod, and ask follow-up questions to show that you understand their perspective.
• Paraphrase: Summarize what the speaker has said in your own words to ensure that you have understood their point correctly. This also shows the speaker that you are actively engaged in the conversation.
• Reflect on your own response: Take a moment to reflect on your own response before speaking. This can help you to respond in a more thoughtful and respectful manner.

Active listening can help to promote a more respectful and productive debate environment. By fully engaging in the conversation and showing that you understand the other person’s perspective, you can reduce tension and find common ground.

Benefits of active listening

Active listening has several benefits that can help in various situations, including debates. Here are some of the benefits of active listening:

• Builds rapport and trust: Active listening can help to build rapport and trust between individuals by showing that you value their opinions and are interested in their perspectives.
• Improves communication: Active listening can help to improve communication by reducing misunderstandings and promoting a clearer understanding of the issues at hand.
• Increases understanding: Active listening can help to increase understanding by allowing you to gain insight into the other person’s point of view and identify areas of agreement.
• Reduces conflict: Active listening can help to reduce conflict by promoting mutual respect and understanding. It can also help to de-escalate tense situations and find common ground.
• Promotes empathy: Active listening can help to promote empathy by allowing you to see things from the other person’s perspective. This can help to build stronger relationships and resolve conflicts more effectively.

Overall, active listening is a valuable skill that can help to improve communication, build relationships, and reduce conflict.

It is an essential tool for anyone who wants to end a debate in a productive and respectful manner.

Tips for practicing active listening during a debate

Here are some tips for practicing active listening during a debate:

• Stay focused: Focus your attention solely on the speaker and what they are saying. Avoid distractions like your phone, computer, or other people in the room.
• Avoid interrupting: Let the speaker finish their point before you respond. Interrupting can derail the conversation and make the speaker feel disrespected.
• Show interest: Show the speaker that you are interested in what they have to say by making eye contact, nodding, and asking follow-up questions.
• Clarify: If you don’t understand something the speaker has said, ask for clarification. This can help to prevent misunderstandings and promote a clearer understanding of the issues.
• Stay neutral: Avoid making judgments or reacting emotionally to what the speaker is saying. Instead, try to stay neutral and objective.

By practicing active listening, you can improve communication, build trust, and reduce conflict during a debate. It’s a valuable skill that can help you to bring a debate to a productive close and find common ground.

• Identify common ground

Identifying common ground is an important step in ending a debate because it helps to find areas of agreement between the parties involved.

Here are some tips for identifying common ground during a debate:

• Listen for common interests: Listen for common interests, values, or goals that you share with the other party. This can help you to find common ground and build a shared understanding of the issues.
• Focus on underlying needs: Focus on the underlying needs or motivations that are driving the debate. By understanding these needs, you can find common ground and identify solutions that meet the needs of both parties.
• Look for compromise: Look for areas where you can compromise to find a solution that works for both parties. This can involve finding a middle ground or making concessions on certain issues.
• Identify shared values: Identify shared values that both parties hold. This can help you to find common ground and build a shared understanding of the issues.
• Find a common language: Try to find a common language that both parties can use to describe the issues. This can help to reduce misunderstandings and promote a clearer understanding of the issues.

By identifying common ground, you can find areas of agreement and work towards a solution that meets the needs of both parties. This can help to end the debate in a productive and respectful manner.

Explanation of why identifying common ground is important

Identifying common ground is important during a debate because it helps to build mutual understanding and find areas of agreement between the parties involved. Here are some reasons why identifying common ground is important:

• Builds trust: By finding areas of agreement, you can build trust and establish a foundation for future collaboration. This can help to reduce tension and promote a more productive debate.
• Encourages collaboration: Identifying common ground can encourage collaboration and a shared sense of purpose. This can help to promote a more positive and productive debate.
• Reduces conflict: By finding areas of agreement, you can reduce conflict and promote a more constructive conversation. This can help to prevent the debate from becoming heated or unproductive.
• Increases understanding: Identifying common ground can help to increase understanding and build a shared understanding of the issues at hand. This can help to promote a more productive debate and lead to more effective solutions.
• Encourages creative problem-solving: By finding common ground, you can encourage creative problem-solving and identify solutions that meet the needs of both parties. This can help to end the debate in a productive and mutually beneficial manner.

Overall, identifying common ground is an important step in ending a debate because it helps to build mutual understanding, reduce conflict, and promote a more positive and productive conversation.

Examples of areas where common ground may exist

Here are some examples of areas where common ground may exist during a debate:

• Shared values: Even if parties disagree on specific issues, they may share underlying values such as fairness, justice, or equality. Identifying these shared values can help to find common ground and build a shared understanding of the issues.
• Common goals: Parties may have different ideas about how to achieve a common goal, but they may agree on the importance of the goal itself. Identifying these common goals can help to find common ground and promote a more productive debate.
• Facts: Parties may disagree on the interpretation of facts, but they may agree on the facts themselves. Identifying areas of agreement around facts can help to build a shared understanding of the issues and promote a more constructive debate.
• Priorities: Parties may have different priorities or preferences, but they may agree on the importance of certain issues or concerns. Identifying these shared priorities can help to find common ground and build a shared understanding of the issues.
• Desired outcomes: Parties may have different ideas about how to achieve a desired outcome, but they may agree on the outcome itself. Identifying these shared desired outcomes can help to find common ground and promote a more productive debate.

By identifying areas of common ground, parties can work towards a more constructive and productive debate.

It can help to build mutual understanding, promote collaboration, and lead to more effective solutions.

Strategies for identifying common ground

Here are some strategies for identifying common ground during a debate:

• Focus on interests: Try to understand the underlying interests or needs of each party. This can help to identify areas of common ground and find solutions that meet the needs of both parties.
• Look for shared values: Identify shared values or principles that both parties hold. This can help to build mutual understanding and identify areas of agreement.
• Ask questions: Ask open-ended questions to better understand the other party’s perspective. This can help to clarify their interests, values, and priorities and identify areas of common ground.
• Use active listening: Practice active listening to fully understand the other party’s perspective. This can help to identify areas of agreement and build mutual understanding.
• Consider multiple options: Be open to considering multiple options or solutions. This can help to find a compromise that meets the needs of both parties.
• Stay focused on the goal: Keep the focus on the common goal or desired outcome. This can help to find common ground and promote a more constructive conversation.

By using these strategies, you can identify areas of common ground and work towards a more productive and mutually beneficial debate.

• Stay focused on the topic

Staying focused on the topic is an important aspect of ending a debate. It helps to ensure that the conversation remains productive and on track toward a resolution.

Here are some reasons why staying focused on the topic is important:

• Increases clarity: Staying focused on the topic helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and has a clear understanding of the issues at hand.
• Prevents distractions: Focusing on the topic helps to prevent distractions and side conversations that can derail the debate.
• Promotes a more productive debate: By staying focused on the topic, parties can have a more productive and constructive debate that leads to a resolution.
• Saves time: Staying on the topic can help to save time by preventing the debate from going off on tangents that do not lead to a resolution.
• Demonstrates respect: Focusing on the topic demonstrates respect for the other party’s time and perspective. It shows that you are willing to engage in constructive and respectful debate.

Overall, staying focused on the topic is an important aspect of ending a debate. It helps to ensure that the conversation remains productive and leads to a resolution that meets the needs of both parties.

Importance of staying focused

Staying focused during a debate is critical for several reasons. Here are some of the most important reasons:

• H elps to reach a resolution: When people stay focused, they are more likely to get to the root of the problem and find a solution that works for everyone.
• Avoids misunderstandings: When the debate stays on topic, it helps to avoid misunderstandings or confusion. This is because everyone is clear on what is being discussed and what needs to be resolved.
• Saves time and resources: When people stay focused during a debate, they can save a significant amount of time and resources. This is because they are not wasting time discussing unrelated or irrelevant topics.
• Demonstrates respect: When people stay focused, they are showing respect for the other participants in the debate. This is because they are taking the time to listen and engage in constructive conversation.
• Promotes learning: When people stay focused, they have a better opportunity to learn from one another. This is because they can fully explore the topic at hand and gain insights that they might not have otherwise discovered.

Overall, staying focused during a debate is essential for reaching a resolution that meets everyone’s needs.

It helps to avoid misunderstandings, saves time and resources, and promotes respect and learning among participants.

Common distractions during a debate

Distractions during a debate can come in many forms. Here are some of the most common distractions that can derail a debate:

• Personal attacks: When people resort to personal attacks, it can be distracting and counterproductive. It can also create an atmosphere of hostility and defensiveness.
• Tangents: Going off on tangents or discussing unrelated topics can be a major distraction. It can also make it harder to stay focused on the main issues at hand.
• Interruptions: Constant interruptions can disrupt the flow of the conversation and prevent people from fully expressing their ideas.
• Emotions: Strong emotions, such as anger or frustration, can make it difficult to stay focused and can create an adversarial atmosphere.
• Technical difficulties: Technical difficulties, such as poor sound quality or connection issues, can disrupt the conversation and make it harder to communicate effectively.
• Lack of preparation: When people come to a debate unprepared, they can struggle to stay focused and contribute meaningfully to the conversation.

By being aware of these common distractions, participants in a debate can take steps to avoid them and keep the conversation on track.

This can help to ensure that the debate remains productive and leads to a resolution that meets everyone’s needs.

Tips for staying on topic

Staying on topic during a debate is essential for reaching a resolution that works for everyone. Here are some tips for staying on topic:

• Set clear goals and objectives: Before the debate begins, it is important to set clear goals and objectives. This will help everyone to stay focused on the main issues at hand.
• Define the scope of the discussion: Be clear about what is in and out of the scope of the debate. This will help to avoid tangents and keep the conversation on track.
• Avoid personal attacks: Personal attacks can be a major distraction and can derail the debate. Focus on the issues, not the people involved.
• Use evidence and facts: Using evidence and facts can help to keep the conversation grounded and prevent it from veering off into speculation or opinion.
• Listen actively: Listening actively can help to keep the conversation focused and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
• Be respectful: Being respectful and courteous to all participants in the debate can help to maintain a positive and constructive atmosphere.
• Use a facilitator: A facilitator can help to keep the conversation on track and ensure that everyone has a chance to participate.

By following these tips, participants in a debate can stay focused on the main issues and work towards a resolution that meets everyone’s needs.

• Use facts and evidence

Using facts and evidence is essential for a productive and effective debate. Here are some reasons why:

• Supports your arguments: Using facts and evidence to support your arguments can strengthen your position and help you persuade others.
• Establishes credibility: By using reliable and verifiable sources of information, you can establish your credibility and demonstrate that your arguments are based on sound reasoning and research.
• Helps to avoid logical fallacies: Logical fallacies are common mistakes in reasoning that can weaken arguments. By using facts and evidence, you can avoid fallacies and present a more persuasive case.
• Facilitates informed decision-making: When everyone in the debate uses facts and evidence, the discussion can be more productive and lead to informed decision-making that takes into account all relevant information.
• Encourages a respectful and constructive atmosphere: When people use facts and evidence to support their arguments, it can create a more respectful and constructive atmosphere. This is because people are less likely to resort to personal attacks or emotional appeals when they have solid evidence to back up their claims.

Overall, using facts and evidence is an important part of any productive and effective debate.

By doing so, participants can strengthen their arguments, establish their credibility, avoid logical fallacies, facilitate informed decision-making, and encourage a respectful and constructive atmosphere.

Importance of using facts and evidence

Using facts and evidence in a debate is crucial for several reasons:

• Establishes credibility: Presenting reliable and verifiable information from credible sources can help establish your credibility as a knowledgeable and well-informed participant in the debate.
• Strengthens your argument: Using facts and evidence to support your position can help to strengthen your argument and make it more persuasive to others.
• Fosters critical thinking: By presenting and analyzing facts and evidence, participants in the debate are encouraged to engage in critical thinking, which can lead to more insightful and informed conclusions.
• Avoids fallacious reasoning: Reliance on fallacious reasoning or faulty logic can weaken an argument and damage the credibility of the person presenting it. Using facts and evidence helps to avoid these pitfalls and build a stronger case.
• Promotes productive discussion: When everyone in the debate is using facts and evidence to support their arguments, the discussion is more likely to be productive and constructive, as opposed to devolving into personal attacks or emotional appeals.

In summary, using facts and evidence in a debate helps to establish credibility, strengthen arguments, foster critical thinking, avoid fallacious reasoning, and promote productive discussion.

Examples of credible sources

Credible sources of information are those that are trustworthy, accurate, and based on factual evidence. Here are some examples of credible sources that you can use in a debate:

• Academic journals : Peer-reviewed academic journals are an excellent source of credible information on a wide range of topics. They are written by experts in their fields and undergo a rigorous review by other experts before publication.
• Government publications: Government agencies often produce reports, statistics, and other data on a variety of topics, such as public health, economics, and the environment. These sources can be valuable for providing accurate and reliable information.
• Expert opinion: Expert opinion can be a valuable source of information in a debate, especially when it is based on factual evidence and supported by research. Experts can include academics, researchers, scientists, and other professionals with specialized knowledge and expertise.
• Books: Books can be a great source of information for debates, especially if they are written by credible authors with expertise in the relevant field. Look for books published by reputable publishers and written by experts in the field.
• News outlets: Reputable news outlets, such as major newspapers and television networks, can be a valuable source of information for a debate. Look for news sources that are known for their journalistic integrity and accuracy.

When using sources in a debate, it is important to evaluate their credibility and reliability.

Look for sources that are based on factual evidence, written by experts in the field, and have been reviewed by others in the field.

By using credible sources, you can strengthen your argument and build your credibility as a participant in the debate.

How to incorporate facts and evidence into a debate

Here are some tips for incorporating facts and evidence into a debate:

• Gather relevant information: Before the debate, do some research on the topic and gather relevant facts and evidence. Make sure the information you use is accurate, reliable, and credible sources.
• Organize your information: Organize your facts and evidence in a clear and concise manner. Use bullet points or a numbered list to make it easy to follow.
• Use examples: Use specific examples to support your argument. This will help to make your points more tangible and relatable to the audience.
• Be prepared to defend your sources: Be prepared to defend the credibility of your sources if challenged. Make sure you are able to explain why your sources are reliable and trustworthy.
• Use visuals: Consider using visuals, such as graphs or charts, to help illustrate your points. This can be a powerful way to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Use language that is easy to understand: Avoid using technical jargon or complex language that may be difficult for the audience to understand. Use language that is clear and concise, and make sure your argument is easy to follow.

Remember, the goal of using facts and evidence in a debate is to strengthen your argument and make it more persuasive to the audience.

By using relevant and credible information, you can build your credibility as a knowledgeable participant in the debate and increase the likelihood that others will be persuaded by your arguments.

• Be willing to compromise

When it comes to ending a debate, being willing to compromise can be an important strategy. Here are some reasons why:

• Finding common ground: By being willing to compromise, you may be able to find areas of agreement with the other person. This can help to reduce tension and create a more positive atmosphere for the discussion.
• Resolving conflict: Compromise can be a powerful tool for resolving conflict. By finding a middle ground that both parties can agree on, you can work towards a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
• Building relationships: By being willing to compromise, you can demonstrate that you are open to working with others and finding solutions that work for everyone. This can help to build trust and strengthen relationships over time.

Here are some tips for being willing to compromise during a debate:

• Be open to new ideas: Be willing to listen to the other person’s perspective and consider their ideas.
• Focus on common goals: Identify common goals that both parties share, and work towards finding a solution that achieves those goals.
• Be flexible: Be willing to adjust your position if necessary in order to find a solution that works for everyone.
• Communicate effectively: Communicate clearly and respectfully with the other person, and be open to feedback and suggestions.

Remember, compromise is not about giving up your position or sacrificing your beliefs. Rather, it is about finding a solution that works for everyone involved.

By being willing to compromise, you can help to create a more positive and productive environment for debate and discussion.

Importance of compromise

Compromise is important in many aspects of life, including debates. Here are some reasons why compromise is important:

• Finding a solution : Sometimes, a debate can become so polarized that it becomes difficult to find a solution that works for everyone. The compromise allows both parties to find a middle ground and work towards a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
• Building relationships: In a debate, it can be easy to become entrenched in your own position and dismissive of others. By being willing to compromise, you can demonstrate that you are open to working with others and finding solutions that work for everyone. This can help to build trust and strengthen relationships over time.
• Encouraging collaboration: Compromise encourages collaboration and teamwork. By working together towards a common goal, both parties can share their knowledge and expertise, and come up with a solution that is stronger and more effective than anything they could have achieved alone.
• Encouraging creativity: Compromise encourages creativity and innovation. By being willing to consider new ideas and approaches, both parties can come up with unique and effective solutions to complex problems.

Benefits of compromise

Compromise has many benefits in various situations, including debates. Here are some of the benefits of compromise:

• Finding a solution: Compromise allows both parties to find a middle ground and work towards a solution that is acceptable to everyone. This can help to resolve the issue at hand and move forward.
• Encouraging collaboration: Compromise encourages collaboration and teamwork. By working together towards a common goal, both parties can share their knowledge and expertise and come up with a solution that is stronger and more effective than anything they could have achieved alone.
• Reducing tension: In a debate, tension can quickly escalate and make it difficult to find a solution. By being willing to compromise, you can help to reduce tension and create a more positive atmosphere for the discussion.

Tips for finding common ground and compromising

Here are some tips for finding common ground and compromising during a debate:

• Listen actively: Listen to the other person’s arguments and try to understand their perspective. Be open-minded and avoid interrupting or dismissing their points.
• Identify shared values: Look for shared values or goals that both parties can agree on. Focus on these shared values as a starting point for finding a compromise.
• Brainstorm solutions: Brainstorm solutions that address both parties’ concerns. Be creative and think outside the box. Try to come up with multiple solutions that could work for everyone.
• Be willing to give and take: Compromise requires both parties to give a little and take a little. Be open to making concessions and finding a solution that works for everyone.
• Find a middle ground: Look for a middle ground that both parties can agree on. This may require both parties to adjust their position slightly, but it can lead to a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
• Keep the discussion respectful: Remember to keep the discussion respectful and avoid personal attacks. Stick to the issues at hand and avoid making it personal.
• Consider the long-term: Think about the long-term implications of the compromise. Will it work for everyone involved in the long run? Will it address the underlying issues that led to the debate?

End on a positive note

Ending a debate on a positive note is important because it can help to promote a sense of closure and leave a lasting impression on the participants. Here are some tips for ending a debate on a positive note:

• Recap the main points: Take a few minutes to recap the main points of the debate. This can help to reinforce key arguments and remind everyone of the issues that were discussed.
• Express appreciation: Take the time to express appreciation for the other person’s participation in the debate. Thank them for their time and for sharing their perspective.
• Find common ground: Look for areas of common ground that were identified during the debate. Highlight these areas and acknowledge the progress that was made.
• Offer a solution: If possible, offer a solution or compromise that everyone can agree on. This can help to end the debate on a positive note and provide a sense of closure.
• Stay respectful: Remember to stay respectful and avoid personal attacks or negativity. Even if you don’t agree with the other person’s perspective, you can still end the debate on a positive note by acknowledging their participation and staying polite.

By following these tips, you can help to end a debate on a positive note and leave a lasting impression on the participants.

This can help to promote a sense of goodwill and encourage future discussion and collaboration.

Examples of positive ways to end a debate

Here are some examples of positive ways to end a debate:

• “Thank you for your perspective on this issue. I appreciate your time and effort in this debate, and I think we were able to make progress by finding some common ground.”
• “I think we’ve had a really productive discussion today. Even though we may not agree on everything, I appreciate the opportunity to learn from your perspective and have a respectful conversation.”
• “Let’s focus on the things that we can agree on and work together to find a solution. I believe that if we continue to have these types of discussions, we can make a positive impact.”
• “I want to thank everyone for their contributions to this debate. It’s important that we have these types of conversations to better understand different perspectives and find solutions.”
• “Although we may have different viewpoints, I think it’s important that we respect each other’s opinions and continue to have productive discussions. Let’s keep an open mind and work towards finding common ground in the future.”

See Jamb Result Checker

How to express appreciation and optimism for future collaboration

Here are some ways to express appreciation and optimism for future collaboration after a debate:

• Thank the other person for their time and for sharing their perspective. Express appreciation for the opportunity to have a meaningful discussion.
• Highlight areas of agreement or progress that were made during the debate. This can help to reinforce positive aspects of the conversation and provide a foundation for future collaboration.
• Emphasize the importance of continuing the conversation and finding common ground. This can help to promote a sense of optimism and encourage future collaboration.
• Offer to stay in touch and continue the conversation at a later time. This can help to keep the lines of communication open and provide an opportunity for further collaboration.
• End on a positive note by expressing confidence in the potential for future collaboration. This can help to promote a sense of goodwill and encourage future engagement.

By expressing appreciation and optimism for future collaboration, you can help to promote a positive and productive dialogue. This can help to build relationships and create opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving.

In conclusion, ending a debate can be a challenging task, but by following these tips, you can help to ensure that the conversation ends on a positive and productive note.

Setting clear rules and expectations, practicing active listening, identifying common ground, staying focused on the topic, using facts and evidence, being willing to compromise, and expressing appreciation and optimism for future collaboration can all help to promote respectful and productive dialogue.

By working together to find common ground and build relationships, we can create opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving that can lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Remember, the goal of a debate is not to win or lose, but to have a meaningful conversation and find solutions to complex problems.

See WAEC Timetable

Summary of tips for ending a debate

To summarize, here are the tips for ending a debate:

• End on a positive note by expressing appreciation and optimism for future collaboration

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that the conversation ends on a positive and productive note.

Whether you are debating with a colleague, friend, or family member, practicing these skills can help to promote a respectful and productive dialogue.

Encouragement to practice effective debate skills

I would like to encourage you to practice these effective debate skills in your daily life. By becoming skilled in ending debates, you can help to promote positive and productive conversations that can lead to meaningful outcomes.

Whether you are engaging in a debate with colleagues, friends, or family members, these tips can help you to navigate difficult conversations in a respectful and productive manner.

Remember, the key to an effective debate is not to win or lose but to have a meaningful conversation and find solutions to complex problems.

By practicing these skills, you can help to create a better future for yourself and those around you.

Final thoughts and call to action.

In conclusion, effective debate skills are important for promoting positive and productive conversations.

By setting clear rules and expectations, practicing active listening, identifying common ground, staying focused on the topic, using facts and evidence, being willing to compromise, and ending on a positive note, we can help to ensure that difficult conversations end in a constructive and respectful manner.

I encourage you to practice these skills in your daily life and to share them with others. By doing so, we can create a culture of constructive dialogue and problem-solving that can lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Let us work together to promote effective communication and build stronger relationships so that we can create a better future for ourselves and those around us.

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Last Updated on 8 months by YB

Debate Roles: The Responsibilities of Each Debater

Debates often take place between two opposing teams, the affirmative team (supports the motion) and the negative team (disagrees with the motion). A team usually comprises three people, each of whom has unique roles and responsibilities, depending on their sequence of speech. Knowing the specific contributions of each speaker will help you become a more flexible and adaptable debater, so you can always excel regardless of which position you take.

Role of the First Affirmative Speaker in a Debate

The first affirmative speaker is the very first speaker who opens a round of debate. Therefore, they have the advantage of being able to set the tone. The first affirmative speaker’s main role is to lay out their team’s case. After introducing the motion, the first affirmative speaker is responsible for stating their team’s definition of the terms within the motion. They should also provide an outline of their team’s arguments by briefly covering what they and each of the following speakers on their team will be talking about. Finally, they should state and elaborate on their own argument, making sure to support it with evidence before closing their speech.

Role of the First Negative Speaker in a Debate

The first negative speaker follows the first affirmative speaker. Their task is similar to that of their predecessor, in that they need to outline their team’s stance. However, they have the extra task of rebutting the first affirmative speaker’s points. In fact, they could start their speech by stating whether they agree or disagree with the affirmative team’s definition of the motion. If they disagree with the definition, they ought to provide and justify an alternative definition. After defining the motion and outlining the negative team’s case, they should develop an argument of their own and defend it with relevant facts and figures before concluding their speech.

Role of the Second Affirmative Speaker in a Debate

The second affirmative speaker is mainly responsible for rebutting the first negative speaker’s points and stating their own points. Because the second affirmative speaker does not need to define the motion or outline their team’s case, they get the benefit of having more time to spend on building their case. Naturally, this is where the bulk of the affirmative team’s case should be. Ideally, the second affirmative speaker can cover two to three points, ultimately closing their speech with concluding remarks that summarize their points.

Role of the Second Negative Speaker in a Debate

The second negative speaker possesses a similar role to their positive counterpart. They rebut the second affirmative speaker’s points and state their own points, too. Similarly, the majority of the negative team’s case should be explained by the second negative speaker, as they do not need to introduce or summarize the team’s points.

Role of the Third Affirmative Speaker in a Debate

The third affirmative speaker is responsible for rebutting the second negative speaker’s points and wrapping up the affirmative team’s case. Because most of the negative team’s points should have been explained by the second speaker, the third affirmative speaker is placed in a unique position to undermine the negative team’s case. Furthermore, the third affirmative speaker’s presentation should leave a lasting positive impression on the debate adjudicator as they are the last opportunity for the affirmative team to make a case. Summarizing their team’s points refreshes the knowledge in the adjudicator’s minds. Therefore, the third affirmative speaker should be especially organized to end the debate on a strong note.

Role of the Third Negative Speaker in a Debate

The third negative speaker ends the round of debate, allowing them to have the literal last word. Therefore, they shall not squander this opportunity. Instead, the third negative speaker should rebut the third affirmative speaker’s points and succinctly summarize the arguments that their peers have put forth. A strong third negative speaker can truly change the outcome of the debate, even without any new points.

After reading about the roles and responsibilities of each speaker, which position do you most resonate with? Regardless of which speaker you’d like to be, The Global Citizen Education Group’s debate programs are here to help you become an eloquent debater. Begin your debating and find your voice today with experienced coaches you can trust!

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Instant Debate Speech Maker Online

Debates are an excellent opportunity to develop many personal skills, become a more open-minded person, and learn new information. Through this activity, students improve critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork skills, increase their self-esteem, and learn to disagree with others.

Preparing for a debate can take a lot of time, which is why our team has created this tool and guide for you. With our debate speech maker, you no longer have to sit for hours and think about how to formulate your argument correctly! Also, on this page you will learn many useful facts about debates and get tips for preparing for them.

• 📢 Introduction to the Tool

🗣️ What Is a Debate?

👍 debate maker benefits, ✏️ how to write a debate speech, 🔗 references, 📢 debate script maker: an introduction.

If you’ve decided to participate in a debate, you probably know that this activity requires a lot of preparation. Sometimes, you may receive the topic of your debate in advance so that you have time to prepare thoroughly for it. But also, you may be given the subject on the day of the debate, and then you’ll have much less time to prepare. In either case, our debate maker will be an indispensable assistant!

When comparing AI vs human writers, artificial intelligence excels in the speed of content creation, although it loses in creativity. Unlike when using other AI chat bots, you don't have to bother with creating successful prompts. Using this tool is simple - to instantly make a speech, you’ll need to take these four steps:

• Type in the topic of the debate.
• State your position and audience.
• Indicate whether you are replying to an opponent.
• Click “Generate” and get your result!

A debate is a structured and formalized argumentative exchange between two or more opposing sides . While this practice is usually associated with the election season , it can also be often found in schools or colleges. Participants, categorized as either the “pro” or “con” side, systematically present and defend their perspectives on a given topic. They use evidence to back up their claims and. Each side takes turns articulating arguments and responding to their opponent's points.

The primary objective of a debate is persuasion - convincing the opposition and the audience. Although debates often lack a declared winner, they may conclude with a vote or judgment from adjudicators in formal settings. Informal debates can persist until one side concedes.

Debate Terminology Examples for Students

Here, you can become familiar with the basic terms. It’ll be beneficial for you to learn them to make it easier to grasp the debate structure further.

• Adjudicator - An impartial observer who evaluates the debate. Such moderators provide feedback on the quality of arguments and overall performance. Also, they can contribute to determining the winner in formal debates.
• An affirmative - A team or speaker supporting the motion in a debate. Affirmatives present arguments in favor of the proposition. They aim to convince the audience or adjudicators of the motion's validity.
• Motion - The central topic, idea, or statement being debated. The motion frames the discussion and determines the stances of the affirmative and opposition sides. Debaters construct arguments either in support or against this subject.
• Chairperson - The person responsible for moderating and overseeing the debate. Their goal is to maintain order and ensure adherence to the rules. The chairperson may introduce speakers and the motion.
• Card - A card is a paragraph or several paragraphs taken from an authoritative journalistic or scholarly source that proves the validity of a particular argument. It should be a verbatim quotation without additions or paraphrasing. It is important to explain the quote and how it relates to the argument.
• Floor - The general audience or participants who are not actively engaged in the debate but may have the opportunity to pose questions. They can make contributions during designated segments. The floor adds an interactive element to the discussion.
• Opposition/a Negative - A team or speaker taking an opposing stance on the core topic. The opposition presents arguments countering the proposition. Such arguments should demonstrate flaws in the affirmative's position and persuade the audience that the motion is unsupported.
• The first speaker - The initial speaker of a team. They introduce and establish the main arguments supporting or opposing the motion. Their speech should set the tone for the team's position and outline the critical points to be developed by subsequent speakers.
• The second speaker - The second speaker introduces additional evidence and reinforces the team's position. They aim to strengthen their affirmative/opposing case and respond to the arguments from the other team.
• The third speaker - The last speaker should summarize the team's key points. They may also respond to opposition’s reasons raised during the debate. The goal is to leave a lasting impression on the adjudicators before the discussion concludes.
• Reply speeches - Reply speeches are the concluding words from both the affirmative and opposition sides. These speeches are often shorter, not more than three minutes. Such speeches are the last chance to influence the overall impression, so they should strongly support your ideas.

What Does the Maker of the Argument Do in a Debate?

In a debate, the first speaker, whether on the affirmative or opposition side, should:

• Formulate a clear and concise stance on the motion.
• Organize arguments logically, presenting a structured case.
• Support points with relevant facts and examples.
• Convince adjudicators and the audience of the credibility of their position.

The Structure of a Debate

Whether an academic debate or a parliamentary one, the structure and ground rules essentially remain the same.

In this section, we'll briefly explain how your proceedings are going to look like:

• Gathering the sides . At this stage, you should determine the teams and their participants. They are divided into affirmative and negative sides. As a rule, the debates should include three speakers , who will take turns and, at each stage, strengthen their position. All participants should meet 15 minutes before the start to prepare materials .
• Starting the debate . Participants should determine the debate’s time limit, as speeches cannot last nonstop. Usually, each speaker is given a maximum of 3 minutes for their presentation. At the beginning, the speakers should introduce themselves. The duration of the answer is regulated by the timekeeper , who should give a bell 30 seconds before the end of the speaker's time to start summarizing.
• Debating the topic . The core of the debate involves a structured exchange between the sides. The first speaker for the affirmative introduces the motion, presenting key arguments. The opposition's first speaker responds, presenting counterarguments. This pattern continues with subsequent speakers building upon and responding to the points raised. The debate format could also include cross-examination or questioning segments.
• Finishing the debate . Both sides deliver final counter-speeches summarizing key arguments. The adjudicators then assess the overall performance of each side. The persuasiveness of the arguments presented assists in the audience’s decision-making. Participants may engage in discussions and receive feedback . After the debate, each team is given the opportunity to thank everyone in attendance.

As you've probably already realized, getting ready for such a significant event will take a lot of time. You'll need to gather your thoughts, stay level-headed, and be assertive in your stance. This preparation process can be quite overwhelming. That's why our debate script maker is the perfect solution!

This debate writer has many advantages:

Our tool is a great way to save time and get that initial burst of inspiration for your debate. However, that is just the beginning. You will still need to edit and finalize this speech. Additionally, you may find it helpful to learn how to write one yourself.

The following steps will show you how to improve your speech and prepare you for your future debates:

• Compelling beginning . The opening of your speech is of the utmost significance. Your task is to captivate the audience and create the overall atmosphere of the speech. We suggest using a hook at the very beginning. It can be a question or a fact intended to capture the attention of your opposition and the audience. You could also use a quote from a famous person, an interesting statistic, a rhetorical question, or even a relevant personal anecdote.
• Presenting your arguments . This is the time to talk about your position on the topic. Be sure to formulate a concise thesis statement . After that, you should provide the arguments that support it. Explain each point clearly to avoid misunderstanding among the audience.
• Explaining the position . Follow a structure where each of your arguments is followed by evidence and then justification. Proof builds credibility and engages the listeners. Ensure that you have data only from relevant and reliable sources.
• Summarizing . In the concluding part of your persuasive speech, you should reiterate your thesis and essential arguments. Emphasize the value of your position. It’s your last opportunity to impress the judge and the listeners. Round it off by offering a provocative question, a recommendation, or talking about your predictions for the future of the subject.
• Confidence and consistency . After writing your speech, you should refine its structure so that you have smooth transitions from one idea to the next. Use connecting words to tie your arguments together. Afterward, practice your speech and make sure it's clear . Your gestures, facial expressions, and intonation are ways to communicate with listeners. Be convincing but not pushy, and use a moderate pace.

We wish you good luck in your debates! And if you need to create a different kind of speech, try our informative speech generator .

Updated: Jan 26th, 2024

• What is a debate? – Vanesa Velkova, European Commission
• How debating works – Law Society of Scotland
• Debating: A Brief Introduction for Beginners – Debating SA Incorporated
• Debate Timing & Structure - Debating Matters
• How do you structure your debate speech to capture the attention and interest of your audience? - LinkedIn
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Our debate speech maker tool is the perfect solution for those who wish to deliver the perfect response to their opponents. Easily generate a speech on any topic and wow the audience with your eloquence. Additionally, learn all about debates, their structure, and find useful tips.

Welcome to the DAV Website The DAV is a non-profit association which exists to promote debate. It is the peak debating body in Victoria and runs large competitions for adults and for schools across Victoria. It provides training and resources for debaters, teachers and adjudicators.

• Schools Competition resource guide
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Example Speeches – First, Second and Third Speakers

Primary School First Speaker Exemplar

An exemplar speech of a first speaker at the Primary School level. With thanks to the students at Pulteney Grammar School for their time in producing this video.

Primary School Second Speaker Exemplar

An exemplar speech of a second speaker at the Primary School level. With thanks to the students at Pulteney Grammar School for their time in producing this video.

Primary School Third Speaker Exemplar

An exemplar speech of a third speaker at the Primary School level. With thanks to the students at Pulteney Grammar School for their time in producing this video.

Biden Campaign Shuts Down Possibility of Third Debate With Trump: ‘The Debate About Debates Is Over!’

T he Biden campaign has rejected the idea of participating in any additional debates with Donald Trump beyond the two they’ve both already agreed to, according to NBC News.

On Wednesday, both Joe Biden and Trump agreed to participate in two debates, one hosted by CNN and the other by ABC News.

By Friday, Trump was pushing the Biden camp to agree to a third debate hosted by NBC News and Telemundo. Trump also accepted a debate on behalf of his still-unnamed vice presidential running mate.

“On behalf of the future vice president of the United States, who I have not yet chosen, we hereby accept the Fox vice presidential debate,” Trump texted to Fox’s Bret Baier who announced Fox’s plan live on the air .

Vice President Kamala Harris has already accepted a debate offer from CBS News, but the Trump campaign has thus far eschewed that event in favor of the Fox proposal.

A Biden campaign official responded to the NBC News/Telemundo invitation, saying, “The debate about debates is over. No more games.”

In a statement Friday night, the Trump camp denounced Biden for turning down the third debate and dismissing “Hispanic voters.”

“The Telemundo/NBC debate would be widely watched by Hispanic voters, but Biden’s handlers are petrified to allow him to defend his disastrous record,” a campaign spokeswoman said . “Crooked Joe Biden is too ‘cobarde’ to address the Hispanic community and answer for his failures on the debate stage!”

“Cobarde” is Spanish for “coward.”

The agreed-to debates will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta on June 27, and by ABC News on Sept. 10, with the location still to be determined. Both campaigns agreed to the debates after skirting the traditional process of setting up debates through the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Read the NBC News article here .

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Opinion | We’re set for the presidential debates. Now what?

The first debate is set for June 27, much earlier than usual. It will appear on CNN. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate.

A day after it was announced that CNN and ABC News would host presidential debates, ABC announced who the moderators for its debate will be:

“ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir and “ABC News Live Prime” anchor Linsey Davis will moderate the ABC News debate set for Sept. 10.

Details of the format still need to be worked out, but the selection of Muir and Davis makes sense. They’re two of the more distinguished journalists at ABC News.

Meanwhile, attention now turns to the first debate, which is scheduled for CNN on June 27. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate that debate.

As I mentioned in Thursday’s newsletter , the June 27 debate is way earlier than we are accustomed to seeing a presidential debate. For one thing, neither President Joe Biden nor Donald Trump will even officially be their party’s nominee at that date, although there’s nothing to suggest they won’t be.

The early date likely benefits Biden. As Politico’s Eli Okun wrote this week , “The accelerated time frame could offer an opportunity for Biden, who’s losing in the polls and eager to put Trump front and center in voters’ minds ASAP.”

Biden also likely will benefit from there being no audience for the CNN debate (and likely not for the second debate either), and therefore no way for Trump to play to and play off of the crowd — something he has done well in the past.

However, Chris Wallace, who has moderated two presidential debates, said on CNN, “I think it’ll make it a cleaner, purer experience. But in terms of the candidates, I don’t think it makes much difference because you are so focused on what you’re saying and what the other guy is about to say and what the moderator is going to ask, that you’re not sitting there playing to the crowd like it’s a rally.”

The debates, reportedly, were the result of back-channel negotiations between the Biden and Trump camps. Some are wondering if Trump was a little too quick to agree to the parameters laid out by Biden’s team.

Okun wrote, “Did Trump get out over his skis? He’s been prodding Biden to debate him for months, but we wonder if his lightning-speed agreement to Biden’s terms will exasperate some Trump allies. It might not help that, just as in 2020, Trump is setting expectations for Biden’s performance below the floor (and below reality): If Biden can ‘put two sentences together,’ he’ll have overperformed Trump’s threshold.”

The “put two sentences together” line was something Trump said Biden couldn’t do in a post on his Truth Social after the debates were announced.

Then again, The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake writes , “The debates certainly risk confirming people’s concerns about Biden’s age if he can’t volley with an opponent who loves to interrupt and goad. But it’s a test that Biden, in particular, needed to take and pass.”

Could this all be for naught? Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki, now a host of her own show on MSNBC, isn’t 100% convinced the debates will actually take place. She said on the podcast “Pod Save America” that, “I’m still a skeptic.”

Psaki thinks it could fall apart if Trump ultimately decides he doesn’t like the terms set forth by Biden.

That would be bad, according to CNN political analyst Julian Zelizer, who writes , “As ugly as the contest is likely to be, it is better for the nation that we have debates. For the moment, at least, it will give crucial information about the candidates to the voters, who won’t only have to rely on the world of surrogates, influencers and social media commentators to make sense of what’s going on.”

Another debate

There also will be a vice presidential debate in this election cycle. Well, I should say there could be a debate. The Biden campaign agreed to VP Kamala Harris debating whoever will end up being Trump’s pick for a running mate. CBS News extended the invitation and the Biden camp said yes. Although: one snag. The Trump people have not agreed just yet. No date has been set, but Harris reportedly agreed to an in-studio debate on either July 23 or Aug. 13.

Trump has said that he is likely to announce his VP pick at the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 15.

Poynter faculty, Tampa Bay Times reporter talk being denied access to sources

For this item, I turn it over to Annie Aguiar, Poynter’s audience engagement producer.

In Poynter’s LinkedIn Live event, “ Shut out: Strategies for good journalism when sources dismiss the press ,” Poynter faculty spoke with a Tampa Bay Times reporter about how journalists should approach their work when met with a stonewall from central sources.

Fernanda Camarena, faculty at the Poynter Institute and co-author of a recent Poynter report on this topic , and Kelly McBride, Poynter vice president and chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, were joined by Tampa Bay Times state and local accountability reporter Justin Garcia for the talk.

“This is a classic problem in newsrooms. If you think about any political race, your mission as a journalist is to explain the candidates and the issues to voters in a way that voters can participate in the election and make informed decisions,” McBride said. “Candidates don’t really want to drive voters to fair journalism all the time. They would rather control the message and get their information specifically to the constituencies that they think are most likely to vote for them.”

One safeguard against the media becoming irrelevant as public figures increasingly deny access, Garcia said, is to be so well-sourced in your community that your reporting is undeniable.

“That makes it to where you can’t be seen as irrelevant by people in these positions of power,” he said. “Because if they’re ignoring you, they have this idea that you’re going to find the story one way or another.”

You can watch a replay of the full LinkedIn Live discussion here and you can read the full report, “Shut Out,” here.

And now for media news, tidbits and interesting links for your weekend review …

• The latest NPR public editor column from my Poynter colleague Kelly McBride: “A photo depicted dead children in Gaza.”
• Nieman Lab’s Joshua Benton with “After The Messenger’s collapse, Jimmy Finkelstein seems to be itching for a do-over.”
• From Pew Research Center, Emily Tomasik with “More Americans want the journalists they get news from to share their politics than any other personal trait.”
• It’s looking more and more as if NBC is going to once again get some of the TV rights to carry the NBA. The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis writes, “NBC’s NBA Nostalgia Play.”
• For Slate, Luke Winkie writes about how band Creed has gone from a band that people loved to hate to a band that’s … cool? His story: “With Arms Wide Open.”
• Mediaite’s Diana Falzone with “‘It Will Ruin His Life’: Broke Giuliani On Brink of Losing Newsmax Show Over Election Lies.”
• So a two-part link here. First, in case you missed it, The New Yorker’s Rachel Aviv with “A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It?” And then check out this piece from Sarah Scire of Nieman Lab: “‘Impossible to approach the reporting the way I normally would’: How Rachel Aviv wrote that New Yorker story on Lucy Letby.”
• Oh, one more related to the above: The Washington Post’s Laura Wagner with “Why Brits can’t read a New Yorker exposé about a British murder case.”
• The New York Times’ Santul Nerkar with “How Media Outlets Are Covering Michael Cohen’s Testimony.”

More resources for journalists

• Reporting on the Rise of AI: A RAND-Poynter Masterclass
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• Manage big responsibilities without direct reports? Try Lead With Influence .
• Understand U.S. Immigration From the Border to the Heartland — Start any time.

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] .

The Poynter Report is our daily media newsletter. To have it delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, sign up here .

CNN mourns the loss of commentator Alice Stewart

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The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System

A times investigation found climate change may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, my colleague, Christopher Flavelle, on a “Times” investigation into one of the least known and most consequential effects of climate change — insurance — and why it may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country.

It’s Wednesday, May 15.

So, Chris, you and I talked a while ago about how climate change was really wreaking havoc in the insurance market in Florida. You’ve just done an investigation that takes a look into the insurance markets more broadly and more deeply. Tell us about it.

Yeah, so I cover climate change, in particular the way climate shocks affect different parts of American life. And insurance has become a really big part of that coverage. And Florida is a great example. As hurricanes have gotten worse and more frequent, insurers are paying out more and more money to rebuild people’s homes. And that’s driving up insurance costs and ultimately driving up the cost of owning a home in Florida.

So we’re already seeing that climate impact on the housing market in Florida. My colleagues and I started to think, well, could it be that that kind of disruption is also happening in other states, not just in the obvious coastal states but maybe even through the middle of the US? So we set out to find out just how much it is happening, how much that Florida turmoil has, in fact, become really a contagion that is spreading across the country.

So how did you go about reporting this? I mean, where did you start?

All we knew at the start of this was that there was reason to think this might be a problem. If you just look at how the federal government tracks disasters around the country, there’s been a big increase almost every year in the number and severity of all kinds of disasters around the country. So we thought, OK, it’s worth trying to find out, what does that mean for insurers?

The problem is getting data on the insurance industry is actually really hard. There’s no federal regulation. There’s no government agency you can go to that holds this data. If you talk to the insurers directly, they tend to be a little reluctant to share information about what they’re going through. So we weren’t sure where to go until, finally, we realized the best people to ask are the people whose job it is to gauge the financial health of insurance companies.

Those are rating agencies. In particular, there’s one rating company called AM Best, whose whole purpose is to tell investors how healthy an insurance company is.

Whoa. So this is way down in the nuts and bolts of the US insurance industry.

Right. This is a part of the broader economy that most people would never experience. But we asked them to do something special for us. We said, hey, can you help us find the one number that would tell us reporters just how healthy or unhealthy this insurance market is state by state over time? And it turns out, there is just such a number. It’s called a combined ratio.

OK, plain English?

Plain English, it is the ratio of revenue to costs, how much money these guys take in for homeowner’s insurance and how much they pay out in costs and losses. You want your revenue to be higher than your costs. If not, you’re in trouble.

So what did you find out?

Well, we got that number for every state, going back more than a decade. And what it showed us was our suspicions were right. This market turmoil that we were seeing in Florida and California has indeed been spreading across the country. And in fact, it turns out that in 18 states, last year, the homeowner’s insurance market lost money. And that’s a big jump from 5 or 10 years ago and spells real trouble for insurance and for homeowners and for almost every part of the economy.

So the contagion was real.

Right. This is our first window showing us just how far that contagion had spread. And one of the really striking things about this data was it showed the contagion had spread to places that I wouldn’t have thought of as especially prone to climate shocks — for example, a lot of the Midwest, a lot of the Southeast. In fact, if you think of a map of the country, there was no state between Pennsylvania and the Dakotas that didn’t lose money on homeowner’s insurance last year.

So just huge parts of the middle of the US have become unprofitable for homeowner’s insurance. This market is starting to buckle under the cost of climate change.

And this is all happening really fast. When we did the Florida episode two years ago, it was a completely new phenomenon and really only in Florida. And now it’s everywhere.

Yeah. And that’s exactly what’s so striking here. The rate at which this is becoming, again, a contagion and spreading across the country is just demolishing the expectations of anyone I’ve spoken to. No one thought that this problem would affect so much of the US so quickly.

So in these states, these new places that the contagion has spread to, what exactly is happening that’s causing the insurance companies to fold up shop?

Yeah. Something really particular is happening in a lot of these states. And it’s worth noting how it’s surprised everyone. And what that is, is formally unimportant weather events, like hailstorms or windstorms, those didn’t used to be the kind of thing that would scare insurance companies. Obviously, a big problem if it destroys your home or damages your home. But for insurers, it wasn’t going to wipe them out financially.

Right. It wasn’t just a complete and utter wipeout that the company would then have to pony up a lot of money for.

Exactly. And insurers call them secondary perils, sort of a belittling term, something other than a big deal, like a hurricane.

These minor league weather events.

Right. But those are becoming so frequent and so much more intense that they can cause existential threats for insurance companies. And insurers are now fleeing states not because of hurricanes but because those former things that were small are now big. Hailstorms, wildfires in some places, previous annoyances are becoming real threats to insurers.

Chris, what’s the big picture on what insurers are actually facing? What’s happening out there numbers-wise?

This is a huge threat. In terms of the number of states where this industry is losing money, it’s more than doubled from 10 years ago to basically a third of the country. The amount they’re losing is enormous. In some states, insurers are paying out $1.25 or even $1.50 for every dollar they bring in, in revenue, which is totally unsustainable.

And the result is insurers are making changes. They are pulling back from these markets. They’re hiking premiums. And often, they’re just dropping customers. And that’s where this becomes real, not just for people who surf balance sheets and trade in the stock market. This is becoming real for homeowners around the country, who all of a sudden increasingly can’t get insurance.

So, Chris, what’s the actual implication? I mean, what happens when people in a state can’t get insurance for their homes?

Getting insurance for a home is crucial if you want to sell or buy a home. Most people can’t buy a home without a mortgage. And banks won’t issue a mortgage without home insurance. So if you’ve got a home that insurance company doesn’t want to cover, you got a real problem. You need to find insurance, or that home becomes very close to unsellable.

And as you get fewer buyers, the price goes down. So this doesn’t just hurt people who are paying for these insurance premiums. It hurts people who want to sell their homes. It even could hurt, at some point, whole local economies. If home values fall, governments take in less tax revenue. That means less money for schools and police. It also means people who get hit by disasters and have to rebuild their homes all of a sudden can’t, because their insurance isn’t available anymore. It’s hard to overstate just how big a deal this is.

And is that actually happening, Chris? I mean, are housing markets being dragged down because of this problem with the insurance markets right now?

Anecdotally, we’ve got reports that in places like Florida and Louisiana and maybe in parts of California, the difficulty of getting insurance, the crazy high cost of insurance is starting to depress demand because not everyone can afford to pay these really high costs, even if they have insurance. But what we wanted to focus on with this story was also, OK, we know where this goes eventually. But where is it beginning? What are the places that are just starting to feel these shocks from the insurance market?

And so I called around and asked insurance agents, who are the front lines of this. They’re the ones who are struggling to find insurance for homeowners. And I said, hey, is there one place that I should go if I want to understand what it looks like to homeowners when all of a sudden insurance becomes really expensive or you can’t even find it? And those insurance agents told me, if you want to see what this looks like in real life, go to a little town called Marshalltown in the middle of Iowa.

We’ll be right back.

So, Chris, you went to Marshalltown, Iowa. What did you find?

Even before I got to Marshalltown, I had some idea I was in the right spot. When I landed in Des Moines and went to rent a car, the nice woman at the desk who rented me a car, she said, what are you doing here? I said, I’m here to write a story about people in Iowa who can’t get insurance because of storms. She said, oh, yeah, I know all about that. That’s a big problem here.

Even the rental car lady.

Even the rental car lady knew something was going on. And so I got into my rental car and drove about an hour northeast of Des Moines, through some rolling hills, to this lovely little town of Marshalltown. Marshalltown is a really cute, little Midwestern town with old homes and a beautiful courthouse in the town square. And when I drove through, I couldn’t help noticing all the roofs looked new.

What does that tell you?

Turns out Marshalltown, despite being a pastoral image of Midwestern easy living, was hit by two really bad disasters in recent years — first, a devastating tornado in 2018 and then, in 2020, what’s called a derecho, a straight-line wind event that’s also just enormously damaging. And the result was lots of homes in this small town got severely damaged in a short period of time. And so when you drive down, you see all these new roofs that give you the sense that something’s going on.

So climate had come to Marshalltown?

Exactly. A place that had previously seemed maybe safe from climate change, if there is such a thing, all of a sudden was not. So I found an insurance agent in Marshalltown —

We talked to other agents but haven’t talked to many homeowners.

— named Bobby Shomo. And he invited me to his office early one morning and said, come meet some people. And so I parked on a quiet street outside of his office, across the street from the courthouse, which also had a new roof, and went into his conference room and met a procession of clients who all had versions of the same horror story.

It was more — well more of double.

A huge reduction in coverage with a huge price increase.

Some people had faced big premium hikes.

I’m just a little, small business owner. So every little bit I do feel.

They had so much trouble with their insurance company.

I was with IMT Insurance forever. And then when I moved in 2020, Bobby said they won’t insure a pool.

Some people had gotten dropped.

Where we used to see carriers canceling someone for frequency of three or four or five claims, it’s one or two now.

Some people couldn’t get the coverage they needed. But it was versions of the same tale, which is all of a sudden, having homeowner’s insurance in Marshalltown was really difficult. But I wanted to see if it was bigger than just Marshalltown. So the next day, I got back in my car and drove east to Cedar Rapids, where I met another person having a version of the same problem, a guy named Dave Langston.

Tell me about Dave.

Dave lives in a handsome, modest, little townhouse on a quiet cul-de-sac on a hill at the edge of Cedar Rapids. He’s the president of his homeowners association. There’s 17 homes on this little street. And this is just as far as you could get from a danger zone. It looks as safe as could be. But in January, they got a letter from the company that insures him and his neighbors, saying his policy was being canceled, even though it wasn’t as though they’d just been hit by some giant storm.

So then what was the reason they gave?

They didn’t give a reason. And I think people might not realize, insurers don’t have to give a reason. Insurance policies are year to year. And if your insurance company decides that you’re too much of a risk or your neighborhood is too much of a risk or your state is too much of a risk, they can just leave. They can send you a letter saying, forget it. We’re canceling your insurance. There’s almost no protection people have.

And in this case, the reason was that this insurance company was losing too much money in Iowa and didn’t want to keep on writing homeowner’s insurance in the state. That was the situation that Dave shared with tens of thousands of people across the state that were all getting similar letters.

What made Dave’s situation a little more challenging was that he couldn’t get new insurance. He tried for months through agent after agent after agent. And every company told him the same thing. We won’t cover you. Even though these homes are perfectly safe in a safe part of the state, nobody would say yes. And it took them until basically two days before their insurance policy was going to run out until they finally found new coverage that was far more expensive and far more bare-bones than what they’d had.

But at least it was something.

It was something. But the problem was it wasn’t that good. Under this new policy, if Dave’s street got hit by another big windstorm, the damage from that storm and fixing that damage would wipe out all the savings set aside by these homeowners. The deductible would be crushingly high — $120,000 — to replace those roofs if the worst happened because the insurance money just wouldn’t cover anywhere close to the cost of rebuilding.

He said to me, we didn’t do anything wrong. This is just what insurance looks like today. And today, it’s us in Cedar Rapids. Everyone, though, is going to face a situation like this eventually. And Dave is right. I talked to insurance agents around the country. And they confirmed for me that this kind of a shift towards a new type of insurance, insurance that’s more expensive and doesn’t cover as much and makes it harder to rebuild after a big disaster, it’s becoming more and more common around the country.

So, Chris, if Dave and the people you spoke to in Iowa were really evidence that your hunch was right, that the problem is spreading and rapidly, what are the possible fixes here?

The fix that people seem most hopeful about is this idea that, what if you could reduce the risk and cause there to be less damage in the first place? So what some states are doing is they’re trying to encourage homeowners to spend more money on hardening their home or adding a new roof or, if it’s a wildfire zone, cut back the vegetation, things that can reduce your risk of having really serious losses. And to help pay for that, they’re telling insurers, you’ve got to offer a discount to people who do that.

And everyone who works in this field says, in theory, that’s the right approach. The problem is, number one, hardening a home costs a fantastic amount of money. So doing this at scale is hugely expensive. Number two, it takes a long time to actually get enough homes hardened in this way that you can make a real dent for insurance companies. We’re talking about years or probably decades before that has a real effect, if it ever works.

OK. So that sounds not particularly realistic, given the urgency and the timeline we’re on here. So what else are people looking at?

Option number two is the government gets involved. And instead of most Americans buying home insurance from a private company, they start buying it from government programs that are designed to make sure that people, even in risky places, can still buy insurance. That would be just a gargantuan undertaking. The idea of the government providing homeowner’s insurance because private companies can’t or won’t would lead to one of the biggest government programs that exists, if we could even do it.

So huge change, like the federal government actually trying to write these markets by itself by providing homeowner’s insurance. But is that really feasible?

Well, in some areas, we’re actually already doing it. The government already provides flood insurance because for decades, most private insurers have not wanted to cover flood. It’s too risky. It’s too expensive. But that change, with governments taking over that role, creates a new problem of its own because the government providing flood insurance that you otherwise couldn’t get means people have been building and building in flood-prone areas because they know they can get that guaranteed flood insurance.

Interesting. So that’s a huge new downside. The government would be incentivizing people to move to places that they shouldn’t be.

That’s right. But there’s even one more problem with that approach of using the government to try to solve this problem, which is these costs keep growing. The number of billion-dollar disasters the US experiences every year keeps going up. And at some point, even if the government pays the cost through some sort of subsidized insurance, what happens when that cost is so great that we can no longer afford to pay it? That’s the really hard question that no official can answer.

So that’s pretty doomsday, Chris. Are we looking at the end of insurance?

I think it’s fair to say that we’re looking at the end of insurance as we know it, the end of insurance that means most Americans can rest assured that if they get hit by a disaster, their insurance company will provide enough money they can rebuild. That idea might be going away. And what it shows is maybe the threat of climate change isn’t quite what we thought.

Maybe instead of climate change wrecking communities in the form of a big storm or a wildfire or a flood, maybe even before those things happen, climate change can wreck communities by something as seemingly mundane and even boring as insurance. Maybe the harbinger of doom is not a giant storm but an anodyne letter from your insurance company, saying, we’re sorry to inform you we can no longer cover your home.

Maybe the future of climate change is best seen not by poring over weather data from NOAA but by poring over spreadsheets from rating firms, showing the profitability from insurance companies, and how bit by bit, that money that they’re losing around the country tells its own story. And the story is these shocks are actually already here.

Chris, as always, terrifying to talk to you.

Always a pleasure, Sabrina.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, the United Nations has reclassified the number of women and children killed in Gaza, saying that it does not have enough identifying information to know exactly how many of the total dead are women and children. The UN now estimates that about 5,000 women and about 8,000 children have been killed, figures that are about half of what it was previously citing. The UN says the numbers dropped because it is using a more conservative estimate while waiting for information on about 10,000 other dead Gazans who have not yet been identified.

And Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, gave a press conference outside the court in Lower Manhattan, where Michael Cohen, the former fixer for Donald Trump, was testifying for a second day, answering questions from Trump’s lawyers. Trump is bound by a gag order. So Johnson joined other stand-ins for the former president to discredit the proceedings. Johnson, one of the most important Republicans in the country, attacked Cohen but also the trial itself, calling it a sham and political theater.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Cheung. It was edited by MJ Davis Lin, with help from Michael Benoist, contains original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, and Rowan Niemisto, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• May 20, 2024   •   31:51 Was the 401(k) a Mistake?
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• May 17, 2024   •   51:10 The Campus Protesters Explain Themselves
• May 16, 2024   •   30:47 The Make-or-Break Testimony of Michael Cohen
• May 15, 2024   •   27:03 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
• May 13, 2024   •   27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
• May 10, 2024   •   27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
• May 9, 2024   •   34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
• May 7, 2024   •   27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Christopher Flavelle

Produced by Nina Feldman ,  Shannon M. Lin and Jessica Cheung

Edited by MJ Davis Lin

With Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Marion Lozano and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Across the United States, more frequent extreme weather is starting to cause the home insurance market to buckle, even for those who have paid their premiums dutifully year after year.

Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter, discusses a Times investigation into one of the most consequential effects of the changes.

On today’s episode

Christopher Flavelle , a climate change reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading

As American insurers bleed cash from climate shocks , homeowners lose.

See how the home insurance crunch affects the market in each state .

Here are four takeaways from The Times’s investigation.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Christopher Flavelle contributed reporting.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Christopher Flavelle is a Times reporter who writes about how the United States is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change. More about Christopher Flavelle

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