Content and materials for the veterans of debate. This category presents high level content, insights and analysis of debates, debaters and arguments themselves. The best and most advanced debaters can find all they need.
This debate structure guide explains the differences between Canadian Parliamentary, British Parliamentary, World Schools and APDA debate. Learn how each format organizes teams, speeches, speaker roles, rebuttals and judging.
This guide to debate competitions will walk you through the landscape of competitive debating in North America, Europe, and worldwide. We’ll cover the most prestigious tournaments (for both university and school-level debate), regional circuits, and tips on getting ready for competition day.
Debating is the most valued parent skill in 2026 because it about building skills and confidence that last a lifetime and create value for employers, individuals and institutions.
A Point of Information (POI) is a brief interruption used in parliamentary debate formats to challenge a speaker mid-speech. Learn the rules, timing, and best strategies to deliver and respond to POIs clearly and confidently.
A modern guide to World Schools Debate explaining roles, speeches, POIs, motions, judging and how the format compares to PF, LD, Policy and BP.
Competitive debates demand clarity, structure, and strategic preparation. This quick but exhaustive guide covers all essential steps—from research and framing to rebuttal prep and speaking drills—to help you enter every round confidently and perform at your competitive best.
Public Forum Debate (PF) is a two-on-two format built around current events and designed for everyday audiences. Each round begins with a coin flip to decide sides or speaking order. Teams argue either for (Pro) or against (Con) a resolution, using clear, logical reasoning free of jargon. With judges who may have no debate background, the focus is on persuasion, structure, and clarity — making PF the most accessible and real-world debate style for developing strong public speaking and critical thinking skills.
The Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one format that emphasizes ethical reasoning and philosophical frameworks. Unlike team-based debates, LD requires debaters to defend values like justice, liberty, or equality through carefully structured cases and rebuttals. This guide breaks down the speech order, explains how to build value-based frameworks, and shares tips from national-level LD competitors. Whether you’re a student, educator, or aspiring champion, understanding the unique structure of Lincoln-Douglas debate is the first step to success.
The British Parliamentary (BP) debate format – sometimes called “Worlds style” – is one of the most exciting and widely-used formats in competitive debating. If you’ve ever watched or participated in tournaments like the World Universities Debating Championship, you’ve seen BP debate in action.
