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Year 6 Communication

Introduction to Debate

Learn how to argue your point with evidence and logic, and how to respond to the other side fairly.

What Is a Debate?

A debate is a structured argument where two sides discuss a topic using evidence and reasoning. Unlike a regular argument, a debate has rules: each side gets equal time, you must back up your claims with evidence, and the goal is to persuade the audience, not to shout the loudest.

Debate vs Argument

A Debate:

  • ✓ Follows structured rules
  • ✓ Uses evidence and logic
  • ✓ Respects the other side
  • ✓ Aims to persuade with reason

A Regular Argument:

  • ✗ Often has no rules
  • ✗ Based on feelings or opinions
  • ✗ Can become personal or mean
  • ✗ Aims to "win" at any cost

The Topic (also called a "motion")

Debates start with a clear statement that one side supports and the other opposes. For example:

"That homework should be banned in primary schools."

The Two Sides

Every debate has two teams. You may be assigned a side you do not personally agree with — that is part of the challenge!

A

Affirmative

The team that agrees with the topic. They argue for the motion.

Example: "Yes, homework SHOULD be banned because..."

N

Negative

The team that disagrees with the topic. They argue against the motion.

Example: "No, homework should NOT be banned because..."

Structure of a Debate

A basic debate has three stages. Each side takes turns speaking.

1

Arguments

  • • Each side presents their main points
  • • Use evidence to support each claim
  • • Usually 2–3 strong arguments
2

Rebuttals

  • • Respond to the other side's points
  • • Explain why their arguments are weak
  • • Use evidence to counter their claims
3

Summary

  • • Recap your strongest arguments
  • • Explain why your side won
  • • End with a compelling final statement

Making a Strong Argument: C.E.R.

Every argument in a debate should follow the C.E.R. formula: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning. Without all three, your argument is incomplete.

C

Claim

Your main point. What do you believe?

"Homework should be banned in primary schools."

E

Evidence

Facts, statistics, or examples that support your claim.

"A study by the University of Sydney found that homework for primary students has no measurable academic benefit."

R

Reasoning

Explain why your evidence proves your claim.

"This shows that homework is taking up children's free time without actually helping them learn more. That time would be better spent playing, reading for fun, or spending time with family."

Logical vs Emotional Arguments

In a debate, you will encounter two types of arguments. Good debaters use logical arguments as their foundation, with emotional arguments used sparingly for impact.

Logical Arguments

Based on facts, evidence, and reasoning. These are the backbone of a strong debate.

"Studies show that students who have no homework in primary school perform just as well on tests as those who do."

Uses evidence to make a rational point.

Emotional Arguments

Appeal to feelings like fairness, empathy, or fear. Powerful but must be backed by logic.

"Imagine a child who spends all evening struggling with homework, missing out on time with their family. Is that really what childhood should be?"

Appeals to empathy and the audience's values.

Spotting Logical Flaws

Watch out for these common mistakes in arguments:

✗ No evidence: "Everyone knows homework is bad." (Says who?)
✗ Personal attack: "You only say that because you're lazy." (Attacks the person, not the argument.)
✗ Exaggeration: "Homework causes ALL children to hate school." (Overstates the claim.)
✗ False choice: "Either we ban homework or kids will be miserable forever." (Ignores middle ground.)

Key Vocabulary

Motion

The topic or statement being debated (e.g., "That homework should be banned").

Affirmative

The side that agrees with and argues FOR the motion.

Negative

The side that disagrees with and argues AGAINST the motion.

Rebuttal

A response that challenges or disproves the other side's argument.

Evidence

Facts, statistics, or examples used to support a claim.

Logical Fallacy

A flaw in reasoning that makes an argument invalid (e.g., personal attacks, exaggeration).

Worked Examples

See how strong and weak debate arguments compare on the topic: "That school canteens should only sell healthy food."

Example 1: Building an Argument (Affirmative)

WEAK

"I think canteens should sell healthy food because junk food is bad."

No evidence, vague reasoning, uses "I think" which weakens the claim.

STRONG

"School canteens should only sell healthy food because childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. The Australian Institute of Health reports that poor nutrition leads to difficulty concentrating in class. By offering only healthy options, schools ensure students are fuelled for learning."

Clear claim + specific evidence + reasoning that connects back to the claim.

Example 2: Giving a Rebuttal (Negative)

WEAK

"That's wrong. Kids should be allowed to eat what they want."

Does not address the other side's evidence. Just states an opinion.

STRONG

"While the affirmative says poor nutrition causes difficulty concentrating, research shows that occasional treats have no negative effect on learning. Completely banning all treats may actually cause students to make unhealthy choices outside school. A balanced canteen menu teaches moderation, which is a more useful lifelong skill."

Directly addresses the other side's point, provides counter-evidence, and offers an alternative solution.

Example 3: Spotting a Logical Flaw

"If we don't ban junk food in canteens, every single child in Australia will become obese."

✗

Flaw: Exaggeration (also called a "slippery slope")

This claim massively overstates the consequence. Not every child will become obese from canteen food alone. A good debater would say: "Improving canteen nutrition is one important step in addressing rising childhood obesity rates."

Knowledge Check

Test your understanding of debate basics. Select the correct answer and click "Check Answer".

Question 1

In a debate, the "affirmative" team:

Question 2

Which of the following is a logical fallacy (flawed argument)?

Question 3

What is a "rebuttal" in a debate?

Question 4

In the C.E.R. formula, what does the "E" stand for?

Question 5

Which argument is the strongest for the motion "That pets should be allowed in schools"?

Key Concepts Summary

Year 5: Public Speaking Year 7: Active Listening