Welcome to Debate Training!
Learn how to build strong arguments, defend your position, and think critically. This comprehensive guide will teach you the essential framework for successful debating.
Whether you're preparing for a school debate or want to improve your critical thinking skills, this guide provides a simple, proven formula for constructing winning arguments.
THE SIMPLE FRAMEWORK
When you speak in a debate, use this order:
- WHAT - Your main point
- WHY - The reason
- HOW - How it works
- FACT - Your proof
- SO WHAT - Why this helps you win
STEP 1: COLLECT YOUR EVIDENCE FIRST! 📚
Before you make arguments, gather all your facts:
What to Look For:
- Numbers (like "90% of new businesses fail")
- Examples (like "Jodi wants to quit her job")
- Quotes (like "Richard Branson says...")
- True statements (like "Employees get paid every month")
Make a Simple Chart:
| My Evidence |
For or Against? |
What It Shows |
| 1 in 6 Americans are entrepreneurs |
For |
Many people do it successfully |
| 90% of startups fail |
Against |
It's very risky |
| No guaranteed income |
Against |
You might not make money |
STEP 2: BUILD YOUR ARGUMENTS FROM YOUR FACTS 🏗️
Look at your evidence and ask: "What can I argue with these facts?"
Example: Building an Argument
If you found these facts:
- Young people have student loans
- Entrepreneurs don't get steady pay
- Employees get monthly salary
You could argue:
WHAT: Young people need steady income
WHY: Because they have bills to pay
HOW: Student loans need monthly payments
FACT: Entrepreneurs have no guaranteed income
SO WHAT: So they should work for companies first
STEP 3: USE THE MAGIC FORMULA ✨
Every argument follows this pattern:
WHAT (State your point)
"Young people don't have enough experience to run businesses"
WHY (Give a reason)
"Because running a business needs many skills"
HOW (Explain how)
"They need to know about money, hiring people, and selling"
FACT (Give proof)
"90% of new businesses fail because of no experience"
SO WHAT (Connect to debate)
"This shows young people should work first, then start businesses"
STEP 4: PRACTICE WITH EASY EXAMPLES 💪
For Starting a Business:
WHAT: Young people have fresh ideas
WHY: Because they understand new technology
HOW: They can use social media and apps better
FACT: Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook in college
SO WHAT: Young people should use their advantages now
Against Starting a Business:
WHAT: Starting a business is too risky
WHY: Because most new businesses fail
HOW: They run out of money and customers
FACT: 9 out of 10 startups fail in 5 years
SO WHAT: Young people should get experience first
REMEMBER!
First: Gather all your evidence
Second: Build arguments from that evidence
Third: Present using WHAT-WHY-HOW-FACT-SO WHAT
Always: End with why your side wins the debate!