A passionate debater who has experienced various styles and topics, I have found that the best thing one can do to improve their debating is to ‘read’. This means one has to be open minded about topics that are discussed regardless of the viewpoint taken by others. This is useful as you never know when their idea may come in handy. From documentaries to newspapers to websites, I have personally felt the impact that reading has had on my debating. Reading broadly, critically and outside my comfort zone has gone a long way to enhance my style of debating. Speakers that are well-read about their topic are visibly more convincing and confident to the audience as they are able to better respond to POIs and rebuttals. This repository of information is what can help differentiate your speeches. These are the small nuances that will help you to win close debates. Reading is a habit that has stuck with me and even beyond debating, and it has helped me strike a variety of fascinating conversations with some wonderful people over the years.
Another key factor is to strike a balance between being respectful and fearless. There are certain situations where you will need to alter your style to suit the judge’s criteria. Though it is great for the debater to make their speech light and interactive, it is vital that it is not construed as rude or disrespectful as this will cost you points and good sportsmanship. As you continue to debate, you will begin to see the fine line between the two and allow yourself to adapt to the situation at hand.
I hope this article has helped you see the importance of certain skills in debating! Please feel free to reach out to share your experience of debating with our community!
Viha Kedia
DebatePro 