Debate Academy
Learn to debate with confidence
Practical guides, courses and speaking practice to help students prepare for the LVS High School Debate League.
Debate essentials
Speaker roles
- First speaker defines the motion and sets out the team's case.
- Second speaker adds new arguments and answers the other side.
- Third speaker focuses on rebuttal and summarises why the team wins.
Building an argument
- Claim — say what you believe.
- Reason — explain why it is true.
- Evidence — give an example, fact or story.
- Impact — show why it matters.
Rebuttal
- Listen and note the other team's main points.
- Answer the strongest point, not the weakest.
- Explain why their argument fails, then link back to your case.
Delivery
- Make eye contact and stand still.
- Speak slowly and pause between points.
- Signpost: “I have three points…”
- Keep to time — finish with a summary.
Draft wording — awaiting review by LVS management before final publication.
Debate courses
Debate courses will appear here once published in the Skills Academy.
All Skills Academy coursesPractise your speech
Get a motion, set a timer, record yourself and listen back — right in your browser.
Start practising