DEBATE WRITING

Debate is a contest between two speakers or two groups of speakers

to show their skills and abilities in an argument over a topic. It is a
kind of formal discussion before a public assembly or legislature. It
is a persuasive manner of speaking with the aim of converting the
view of another person, or of the audience, to your own point of
view. A speaker either speaks for or against the issue being
discussed.
Points to be Kept in Mind
- Debate should always have a good introduction to grab the
audience’s attention and garner interest in the topic.
- Prepare the debate properly by considering both positive and
negative aspects of the topic.
- Address the jury and the audience properly.
- Make your stand very clear from the beginning.
- Highlight the main points of your argument emphatically.
- While developing points, substantiate them with relevant
examples, statistics, etc.
- Use argumentative style and logical reasoning.
- State your own opinion or view in the concluding lines with a
powerful statement to emphasise your stand on the issue.
- Some examples can be added in support of your view.
- Throughout the debate, stick to your viewpoint either in favour or
against the motion.
- Include rhetorical questions, which makes your opponents
consider the validity of your point while it undermines their point.
Steps to write a Debate
1. Write Heading/ Topic of the debate at the top.
2. Write ‘For/ against the Motion’ below the topic/ Heading.
3. Address the Audience: Honourable judges, learned teachers and
dear students.
4. Begin with: I stand here today to speak for the motion (name of
the topic) that …………………..
5. Stick to your view point either in favour or against.
6. The opening sentence should touch the main theme and the last
sentence should specify the conclusion of the topic.
7. It is more appropriate that one single paragraph should deal with
one thought thoroughly.
8. Bank up arguments with relevant information.
9. Total agreement or disagreement with the topic should be
expressed forcefully and clearly by using the following:
(a) I’d like to argue…. (b) In my opinion…… (c) May I ask? (d) Refer
to your opponent’s view/views (e) I, therefore, wholeheartedly
support the view that……. (f) I feel strongly that…… (g) My
knowledgeable opponent has submitted that………… (h)
Honourable judges, my dear opponent has overlooked the fact
that…………
10. Develop each point in a systematic and logical manner.
11. Your composition should be meaningful, brief and to the point.
Unnecessary or superfluous details or explanations must be
avoided.
12. In the end, write Thank you

You are Zeenia/Zeeshan a class XII student of RSV school, Badli. You
interacted with your friends for knowing their views on shopping
Malls which have come up in every corner of the city. You found
that around half the total number of your friends love to go to
Malls, while the other half hate them. Write a debate in 150-200.
Words in favour of or against the topic Mall Culture in Cities.
MALL CULTURE IN CITIES
(For the motion)
By Zeeshan
Honourable Chairman, judges and my dear friends
I stand before you to express my views in favour of the motion
‘Mall culture in cities’. Shopping malls are becoming integral part
of cities. Every corner of a city has at least one shopping mall in
it. They are fast emerging as new hallmark of development.
Teenagers love to visit malls with their friends and family.
Air-conditioned atmosphere provides a big relief from
sweltering heat one has to face while shopping in markets in
summers. The neat and clean, safe and secure building helps
teenagers to forget the stress and pressure of schools and
colleges and enjoy free time in a relaxed way. Shopping malls
help teenagers to shop for anything under the sky under one
roof. All their favourite things like Junk Jewellery, latest DVD,
newly released books all are available there. They can take
electronic item of any brand without caring about bargaining as
the articles sold in malls are of quality brands with fixed price
tags. Window shopping, the best way to learn about latest
products in market is best done in malls. Teenagers with their
peer are seen window shopping at showrooms of famous brands
there.
Shopping malls also provide perfect place to give and enjoy
parties. McDonalds, Pizza huts, KFC and many such eating joints
have their outlets in malls. It is becoming a new trend among
teenagers to celebrate birthdays, friendship days and many such
occasions in the company of whole gang of their friends in
shopping malls. Shopping malls with their movie theatres
provide another way of enjoying holidays with friends and
family. One can watch latest movie in cool and relaxed
atmosphere of such theatres. Thus, shopping malls are emerging
as the most favourite place for teenagers to hang around in the
company of their loved ones without worrying about heat or
hunger.
Thank you

AGAINST THE MOTION) BY ZEENIA

Hon’ble Chairman, judges and my dear friends
I stand before you to express my views against the motion ‘Mall
culture in cities’. Mushrooming of shopping malls in every nook
and corner of cities is becoming a nuisances for common people.
Teenagers suffer most because of increasing mall culture in
cities.
Everything about malls is detestable. Their imposing structure
and lucrative exterior symbolise the superficiality of city life
with increasing materialistic outlook of its people. They seem to
be blot on social growth of people. Youngsters, especially
teenagers spend their valuable time and hard earned money of
their parents in malls.
Shopping malls are harmful for health of the visitors. The air
inside the mall is stale due to its being air-conditioned without
proper ventilation. The air inside it contains fumes from its
eating joints besides breathed out air of the crowd there.
Shopping malls are heavy on the purse also. Most of the
showroom in malls charge higher prices in comparison to those
in open markets as they have to pay higher rents. It costs many
times more to watch movies or buy things here. Shopping malls
encourage western culture among teenagers. They get lured by
the glossy advertisements about the eating joints there and want
to give parties in them instead of at home. They thus, harm
teenagers as they get away from Indian values like partying at
home with parents.
To conclude, one can say it emphatically that today’s Teenagers
under the bad influence of western culture, encouraged by malls,
spend their valuable time and hard-earned money by roaming
around aimlessly and many a times anonymously in malls in the
name of window shopping. They want to show off to their
friends their spending powers and western outlook at the cost of
time and money.
Thank you.

Debate Sample 1: Is Science a Curse or a Boon?

For the Motion (Science is a Boon)
Respected judges, teachers and dear friends, I support the
argument that science is a boon. Science has changed our lives in
different ways and brought countless benefits. From life-saving
medical innovations to technological advances, science has
improved our health, advanced the education system and
connected us globally.
Thanks to scientific progress and tech innovations we have cures
for deadly diseases, we can opt for means of transportation to
travel to faraway places and can rely on instant communication
in case of emergencies. Science has allowed us to know more
about the universe, understand our environment, and find
solutions to climate change and food scarcity. Undoubtedly,
science serves humanity for its betterment and has driven
innovation over the years. Science continues to make our lives
easier and safer.
Against the Motion (Science is a Curse)
Hi everyone, I stand here today to support the argument that
science has a dark side despite the privileges. The same
scientific advancements that bring comfort have led to weapons
of mass destruction, pollution, and ethical disbalances. Nuclear
bombs, environmental degradation and technology addiction
through gaming and social media are examples of how scientific
progress is misused.
Industries cause pollution that is harmful to our planet.
Technology can completely isolate us from real-life connections
and there are many cases like the Blue Whale game addiction
that has led to several suicides. The dark dark side of social
media is not hidden anymore and there have been several cases
of unethical hacking. Science, if used irresponsibly, brings
destruction and chaos. Science indeed has many advantages but
its misuse leaves significant threats to humanity.
Therefore, science can be both a boon and a curse but it hugely
depends on how we choose to use it.
Debate Sample 2: AI Serves Only Good Benefits
For the Motion (AI Serves Good Benefits)
Respected judges, teachers, and fellow students, I argue that AI
brings many benefits to society. Artificial intelligence has
revolutionised industries, has automated tasks and has helped in
increasing productivity. This progress has helped improve our
daily lives. In healthcare, AI helps doctors diagnose diseases
faster and more accurately.
In the education sector, it helps to personalise learning based on
the respective needs of the students. This way it’s helpful for the
students to learn at their comfort. AI applications have a
commendable use in improving safety, easing down business
processes and making technology more accessible to people. All
these advancements are indicative of progress. These
conveniences make AI an asset to modern society with benefits
that simplify our lives in various ways.
Against the Motion (AI Has Risks Too)
I stand here today to argue AI is not without risks. Rapid
automation is a direct threat to job security, especially in sectors
that operate in manufacturing and customer service. This
practice leaves millions of workers vulnerable. AI systems can
sometimes be biassed. It can affect decisions in hiring, lending
or criminal justice. That’s a disadvantage to specific groups.
Privacy concerns are also significant, as AI-powered surveillance
technologies can infringe on personal freedom. There have been
instances where AI has been used to forge evidence or frame
false accusations leading to severe consequences. AI has many
advantages but can pose ethical and social challenges that must
be carefully regulated. The potential downsides of AI are
concerning and it’s on us to use it responsibly.
Practice questions
1: Is it ethical to eat meat?
2: Is censorship necessary on the internet?