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Debating is a deeply enjoyable topic on its own and for its own sake. If you’re naturally inclined to like discussions and taking ideas and critiquing them in a logical manner you will like debating. Also, if you’re inclined toward a career in politics or law, then you most probably will find debating to be a deeply enjoyable activity.
However, debating for fun is a lot different than debating in a competition setting. Even if you’re the most confident debater in the world, you are bound to feel anxious and might even doubt your own abilities. It’s quite understandable. You will likely have a formidable opponent to contend with, your presentation will probably be timed, people will be more concerned with how well you present your ideas than how good they objectively are, and you won’t be doing it alone; you will likely be part of a team, which will require you to collaborate with others to come up with some kind of winning strategy.
If I were to define debate, I would say debating is something of a mix of art and science. The art part is the flair of the individual debate and the charisma they exude as they carry the audience through their argument. The science part is simply how to debate, and that is what we will concern ourselves with today. In fact, we won’t just give you tips on how to debate, but also on how to win a debate.
1. Prepare yourself for the Topic
The very first and most important step of winning a debate is to know the topic like the back of your hand. This cannot be overemphasized. You cannot formulate sound and cogent arguments about a topic you don’t know much about. You also won’t be able to think counterarguments to the opposition’s points if you don’t have a good understanding of the topic. You also won’t be able to raise that many points in favor of your side if you don’t understand the topic very well.
No matter what side of a motion you’re on, deep and exhaustive research on the topic you will be debating is a pre-requisite to winning the debate. Not only does it give you a strong base from which to formulate your points, but it also gives you confidence you wouldn’t have if you didn’t know much about the subject.
2. Think Comparatively and stay Confident
The essence of thinking comparatively is to understand not just your own arguments but also those of the opposition. You need to anticipate what they’ll say and how they’ll respond to your points before they even do it. That way, you and your team will preempt their arguments with counterarguments of your own and you will also better plan the defense of your own arguments. Combine this with the confidence of knowing you have done your research, being there early for the event, and dressing for the occasion, and you will be practically unstoppable.
3. Plan the Structure of your Argument
A good argument has a central point, some supporting logic, and illustrations. The central point is the one you want to convince the audience of. The supporting logic is how you justify your central point, and the illustrations are there to better demonstrate to the audience how your argument works. Each argument should be done in this way.
You can teach yourself how to write better arguments by writing argumentative essays on different essay topics. Getting an expert through the process will teach you not only how to win an argument, but also how to better express yourself, whether in speech and debate, or writing.
4. Praise your Opponents
You must not forget that a debate is not just for you and your opponent, but also includes the audience. In a sense, both you and your opponent are ‘performing’ to the audience. Complimenting your opponent when they make a good point and being a good opponent yourself will likely win the audience over to your side.
Conclusion
These 4 simple and actionable points are bound to make you a consummate debater if you apply them diligently. Just be sure to be responsible with your newfound powers of debate!
Author Bio
Emma Rundle is a writer, researcher, and editor. She has written extensively on topics in education and science, with a great focus on debate and public speaking. She enjoys helping students find and release their unlimited inner potential.
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