Debate involves comparing two ideas to help determine which is stronger. Speakers use examples and evidence to support their positions and aim to convince the other side. Debate has roots in ancient Greece and India as a tool for democracy. Today, debates follow a structured format where teams take turns presenting arguments and rebuttals, while a judge decides the winner. An effective debate focuses on content, delivery style, and clear organization.

1. WHAT IS DEBATE?
 “A debate is fundamentally an activity or a process where people compare two
different sites or two different ideas and the end result of the debate is supposed
to be helping people choose one over the other”
 They will use examples and evidence to support their ideas while working
towards a conclusion. The aim of a debate is to convince the opposition that you
are right.
 The word debate comes from the Latin word “battere” meaning to fight. The
practice goes back thousands of years to ancient Greece & India where debate
was considered essential to functioning democracy. The debate structure used
today first took from in the early 18th century in England.
 Debates, in one form or another, are commonly used in democratic societies to
explore and resolve issues and problems. Decisions at a board meeting, public
hearing, legislative assembly, or local organization are often reached through
discussion and debate.

2. STRUCTURE FOR DEBATE: -
The 2 teams (3 students in each) are seated at 2 desks/tables in front of the classroom. While a
team is not required to use all of the time allocated to each debate component, speakers must stop
immediately when the allocated time runs out. The timekeeper will announce the end of time 1
minute before by knocking once or making any other sign previously agreed upon. After this last-
minute end, the timekeeper will stop the speaker immediately. Debate opens with the affirmative
team (the team that supports the resolution) presenting their arguments, followed by a member of
the opposing team. This pattern is repeated for the second speaker in each team. Finally, each team
gets an opportunity for rebutting the arguments of the opponent. Speakers should speak slowly
and clearly. At the end of the debate an adjudicator/judge will decide which team is the winner.

3. When the formal debate is finished, allow time for debriefingand discussion.Members of
the audienceshould be given an opportunity to ask questions and to contribute their own
thoughts and opinionson the arguments presented. Members of the debate teams may
also wish to reflect on their performance and seek feedback from the audience, including
the teacher.
NOTE: -
While debating,think of these three components: Manner, Matter and Method.
 Matter is what is IN your speech, the content;
 Manner is HOW you say it (eye contact, voice, gestures);
 Method is the STRUCTURE, how organized your speech is.
Manner usually accounts for 40% of a team’s score, Matter for another 40% and Method for
20%.