Learn the skills, language and structure needed to argue confidently, listen actively and speak persuasively.
👁️ Visual🖐️ Kinesthetic👂 Auditory
"Mobile phones should be banned in schools!"
🧑💼
VS
👩💼
"I strongly disagree. The evidence shows…"
📋 Learning Objectives
What You Will Learn
1
Understand the key vocabulary used in formal debates: motion, proposition, opposition, rebuttal and more.
2
Know the structure of a formal debate and the roles of the people involved.
3
Use formal spoken language to agree, disagree, make points and challenge the other side.
4
Understand how to support an argument with evidence and respond to a point of view.
5
Recognise the qualities of an effective debater: clarity, confidence and listening skills.
📖 Theory 1 of 4 · Key Vocabulary
Debate Vocabulary
A debate is a structured, formal discussion where two sides argue for and against a statement. Learning the right words helps you speak and listen more effectively.
The Motion
The statement being debated. Always begins with "This house believes that…"
Proposition
The team arguing FOR the motion — they want to prove it is true.
Opposition
The team arguing AGAINST the motion — they want to prove it is false.
Rebuttal
A counter-argument that challenges or disproves a point made by the other side.
Point of Information
A brief interruption a speaker can offer during another speaker's turn.
Evidence
Facts, statistics or real examples used to support an argument.
Chairperson
The person who manages the debate — introduces speakers and keeps order.
Floor Speakers
Audience members who are invited to contribute short speeches during the debate.
📖 Theory 2 of 4 · Structure & Roles
How a Formal Debate Works
A formal debate follows a clear order. Each side gets equal time to speak, respond and summarise. The chairperson ensures this is fair.
🟢 Proposition
👤 First speaker — opens, states team's case
👤 Second speaker — develops arguments, gives evidence
👤 Third speaker — rebuts opposition, summarises
🎙️ Chairperson manages the debate
⬇️
Floor vote at end
🔴 Opposition
👤 First speaker — challenges proposition's case
👤 Second speaker — builds opposition arguments
👤 Third speaker — final rebuttal and summary
⚠️ Remember: In a formal debate, speakers address the chairperson ("Madam Chair" or "Mr Chair"), not each other directly.
📖 Theory 3 of 4 · Language Toolkit
Debate Language — Sentence Starters
Choosing the right formal language makes your argument clearer and more persuasive. Here are the essential sentence starters for a debate.
"My opponent claims X, however…""With respect, this overlooks…""While it may seem that X, in fact…""The opposing side fails to consider…"
🔵 Adding more
"Furthermore…""In addition to this…""Not only that, but…""This is supported by…"
🟠 Concluding
"In conclusion, it is clear that…""For all these reasons, I urge you to…""The evidence overwhelmingly supports…"
📖 Theory 4 of 4 · Effective Debating Skills
What Makes a Great Debater?
🔊
Speak Clearly
Project your voice, vary your pace and avoid filler words like "um" and "er".
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Eye Contact
Look at your audience and the chairperson — not just your notes.
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Use Evidence
Back every claim with facts, statistics or real-world examples.
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Active Listening
Listen carefully to the other side so you can rebut their points effectively.
🧘
Stay Respectful
Challenge the argument, not the person. Never interrupt rudely.
🎯
Stay on Topic
Every point you make must relate directly to the motion.
⚠️ Top tip: The best debaters listen just as carefully as they speak. You can only rebut a point you truly understood!
Question 1 of 10
Debate Vocabulary
In a formal debate, what is the motion?
The gesture a speaker makes with their hands when speaking.
The statement being debated, usually beginning with "This house believes that…"
A request to leave the debate room.
The vote taken by the audience at the end.
Question 2 of 10
Roles in a Debate
What is the main role of the chairperson in a formal debate?
To argue the strongest points for the proposition team.
To count the audience votes at the end.
To manage the debate fairly — introducing speakers, keeping time and maintaining order.
To write down everything the speakers say.
Question 3 of 10
Match the terms
Select a word from the bank, then tap the correct definition to place it there.
Proposition
Rebuttal
Evidence
Opposition
The team that argues FOR the motion.
Tap to place…
Facts or statistics used to support an argument.
Tap to place…
A counter-argument that challenges the other side's point.
Tap to place…
The team that argues AGAINST the motion.
Tap to place…
Question 4 of 10
Debate Language
A pupil is about to speak first for the proposition in a formal debate. Which opening is most appropriate?
"Hi everyone! I think it's totally obvious that we're right and they're wrong."
"Madam Chair, I stand before you today to propose the motion that this house believes school uniforms should be abolished."
"Good morning. Today's debate is about school uniforms and I'm going first."
"The other team doesn't know what they're talking about, and I'll tell you why."
Question 5 of 10
Debating Skills — Multi-select
Tap all the behaviours of an effective debater.
Listening carefully to the other side's points before responding.
Shouting over the other team to make your point louder.
Supporting every claim with evidence such as facts or statistics.
Addressing the chairperson rather than attacking the opposing speaker.
Reading your speech from a script word-for-word without looking up once.
Varying your tone and pace to keep the audience engaged.
Question 6 of 10
Debate Techniques
What debate technique is being used in the statement below?
Amara says: "My opponent claims that school uniforms reduce bullying. However, a 2022 study found that bullying rates were the same in schools with and without uniforms. The evidence does not support their argument."
Point of information — briefly interrupting the other speaker.
Rebuttal — restating the opponent's claim and then disproving it with evidence.
Conclusion — summing up the team's overall arguments.
Opening statement — introducing the team's main position.
Question 7 of 10
Roles in a Debate
The debate motion is: "This house believes that all primary school children should have a hot school meal every day."
Marcus says: "I disagree. Many families value the choice of packed lunches, and forcing hot meals on everyone is unnecessary."
Which team is Marcus on?
The proposition — arguing for the motion.
The opposition — arguing against the motion.
The chairperson — managing the debate.
A floor speaker — contributing from the audience.
Question 8 of 10
Formal Debate Language
Tap all the statements that use appropriate, formal debate language.
"The evidence clearly shows that screen time of over three hours daily is linked to poor sleep in children."
"My opponent is completely wrong and doesn't know what they're talking about."
"With respect, the opposing side fails to consider the significant cost to the environment."
"Like I said before, it's just really obvious that we're right."
"Furthermore, research published by the NHS in 2023 supports this claim."
Question 9 of 10
Debate Procedures
During a formal debate, a speaker from the opposition stands up and says "Point of information!" while the proposition is speaking. What is happening?
The opposition speaker is asking for a break.
The opposition speaker is offering a brief, formal interruption — the speaker may accept or decline it.
The opposition speaker is declaring that the proposition has made an error in fact.
The chairperson is calling order because someone is speaking out of turn.
Question 10 of 10
Putting It All Together
Read the scenario below, then answer the question.
Scenario: Priya is speaking for the proposition. She pauses after each key point, makes eye contact with the audience, gestures calmly with her hands and uses the phrase "The evidence clearly shows that…" before citing a recent study. When the opposition offers a point of information, she responds: "With respect, my colleague overlooks the fact that…" and continues.
Which statement best describes Priya's performance?
Priya only demonstrates good body language but her language choices are informal.
Priya demonstrates strong verbal delivery, formal language, evidence use and effective response to the opposition.
Priya does well but should not respond to points of information as this wastes her speaking time.
Priya's performance is poor because she does not shout loudly enough to dominate the debate.