Francis L.

Uriarte BSED MATH 2C

MWF 10:00 – 11:00
Advanced Oral Communication

PREPARING A DEBATE
Step 1

Begin the presentation by stating specifics on the topic. This should be posed as a question or
statement on the first slide of your presentation. For instance, if you're debating the merit of school
uniforms, your first slide would read along the lines of "Are Uniforms Beneficial for Students?" Keep
the main point clear and concise to avoid confusing.

Step 2

State your position on the second slide. In a proper debate, you either take the affirmative or the
negative position. Sometimes a position will be assigned to you; sometimes you'll be asked to make
your own choice. Ensure that your audience understands your position by using text in the
presentation. For instance, "School uniforms benefit students academically and socially."

Step 3

Drill your argument down to a few key points. Since you want your audience to understand and take
your side, less than five points keeps your debate presentation concise but memorable. Choose
strong points that demonstrate your position on the matter. In the school uniform example, persuasive
points could include grades, social repercussions and monetary benefits.

Step 4

Gather evidence to support your points that you can include in the slides of your presentation.
Studies, research and surveys work well to prove your point. Whenever possible, find and use
graphics which are easy to audience to understand, such as a graph depicting the grades of students
who wear uniforms contrasted with grades of students who don't wear them. Assign the graphics to
each point page.

Step 5

Finish your presentation with your conclusion. The conclusion gives you the opportunity to restate the
issue and your position on the issue. You can also reiterate a few key points from your presentation,
but the conclusion period should be precise and short as a strong ending to your debate. Use your
last slide to restate your position in the negative or the affirmative to remind the audience of the
purpose of your debate, then end your presentation.