Responsible Teacher: Álvaro Martínez /ES).
This year’s TOPIC is: is also to be voted on this year.
-> Link to online vote for the topic.
The suggestions are:
- Should the European Union introduce stricter measures to tackle the housing crisis in European cities?
- Should the European Union introduce a common asylum system with the same rules and standards in all member states?
- Should the European Union become a leading global power and take on responsibilities traditionally associated with the United Nations?
- “Should young people in Europe be given the right to vote from the age of 16 in all European elections?”
ST. MARIENTHAL’S DEBATE CLUB – RULES & FORMAT
4 students per team | 20 min preparation | 24 min debate
THE FORMAT
- 20 MIN PREPARATION
- 6 MIN OPENING
- 14 MIN OPEN DISCUSSION
- 4 MIN CLOSING
TEAMS
Two teams of four: PRO supports the motion; CONTRA opposes it.
Each team has 2 opening speakers and 2 closing speakers.
All 8 students participate in the open discussion.
PREPARATION – 20 MIN
Prepare 2–3 main arguments, evidence/examples, possible counterarguments and a conclusion.
Useful structure: CLAIM → REASON → EVIDENCE → CONSEQUENCE.
Notes and keywords are allowed; complete written speeches should not be read.
PHASE 1: OPENING – 6 MIN
Two students per team speak for 1:30 minutes each.
Order: PRO 1 → CONTRA 1 → PRO 2 → CONTRA 2.
Explain your position, present your main arguments and give relevant evidence / examples. Do not simply repeat your teammate.
PRO1 – INTRODUCE THE CASE
State your team’s position clearly.
Explain how your team understands the motion.
Present your first main argument.
Support it with a relevant example or piece of evidence.
Establish the basic case for your team.
CONTRA1 – INTRODUCE THE CASE
State your team’s position clearly.
Explain how your team understands the motion.
Present your first main argument against the motion.
Support it with a relevant example or piece of evidence.
Establish the basic case for your team.
PRO2 – DEVELOP THE CASE
Briefly connect to or acknowledge PRO1’s argument.
Present a second main argument.
Support it with evidence, an example or a consequence.
Anticipate one important argument the CONTRA team might make.
Add something new and strengthen the PRO case.
CONTRA2 – DEVELOP THE CASE
Briefly connect to or acknowledge CONTRA1’s argument.
Present a second main argument.
Support it with evidence, an example or a consequence.
Anticipate one important argument the PRO team might make.
Add something new and strengthen the CONTRA case.
IMPORTANT: you should not simply repeat the same arguments.
PHASE 2: OPEN DISCUSSION – 14 MIN
All 8 students may speak. There is no fixed speaking order.
– Respond directly, ask questions, challenge or defend arguments, introduce new aspects and provide evidence.
– Keep interventions reasonably short (normally under 1 minute).
– Listen to what others say and respond to their actual arguments.
– Do not interrupt repeatedly, dominate, repeat points without adding anything new or make personal attacks.
– The moderator may encourage quieter students to participate.
Example: “I would like to respond to your argument about the economic impact. You said that the policy would harm businesses, but I think we also need to consider…”
PHASE 3: CLOSING – 4 MIN
The two students who did not speak in the opening now close the debate.
Order: PRO 3 → CONTRA 3 → PRO 4 → CONTRA 4.
Each speaker has 1 minute.
Summarise the key arguments, respond to the strongest points from the discussion and give a clear conclusion.
Do not introduce a completely new major argument.
PRO3 – SUMMARIZE AND RESPOND
Summarize the most important arguments presented by the PRO team.
Address the strongest argument or objection raised by the CONTRA team.
Explain why the PRO case remains convincing.
CONTRA3 – SUMMARIZE AND RESPOND
Summarize the most important arguments presented by the CONTRA team.
Address the strongest argument or objection raised by the PRO team.
Explain why the CONTRA case remains convincing.
PRO4 – FINAL CONCLUSION
Highlight the key point your team wants the audience to remember.
Briefly respond to an important point raised during the discussion.
Bring the different PRO arguments together.
End with a clear and convincing conclusion.
CONTRA4 – FINAL CONCLUSION
Highlight the key point your team wants the audience to remember.
Briefly respond to an important point raised during the discussion.
Bring the different CONTRA arguments together.
End with a clear and convincing conclusion.
IMPORTANT: The closing speakers should react to what happened during the debate, not simply repeat the opening speeches.
Speaking order: PRO3 → CONTRA3 → PRO4 → CONTRA4
MODERATOR
Announces the motion, controls the time, manages the transitions between phases and ensures respectful and balanced participation.
The moderator remains neutral and does not participate in the debate.
GOLDEN RULES
BE CLEAR – State exactly what you mean.
BE EVIDENCE-BASED – Support important claims.
BE RESPONSIVE – Answer what the other side actually says.
BE RESPECTFUL – Challenge arguments, never people.
BE FLEXIBLE – Listen and adapt rather than repeat a prepared speech.I
