The Sport ofReal Argument
Show up. Take a side. Climb.
How a debate night plays out
Six steps. One evening. You don't have to nail all of it on night one.
Find an event
Browse upcoming debates in your city or online. Filter by city, date, or topic.
Browse eventsSign up & show up
Topics and sides are assigned at the event. No deck. No deep prep. Just bring yourself.
Get 5–10 min to prep
Once your topic drops, you build your case quickly. Some events share topics in advance, so check the listing.
Compete in structure
Opening speech → cross-examination → rebuttal → closing. Judges score four core criteria live: arguments, evidence, clarity, persuasion.
Get scored & feedback
Aggregated score plus written notes from each judge. Read the notes: they tell you exactly what to fix.
Build your record
Wins, losses, and judge scores on your record. Every debate builds your history.
Watch featured debatesHow you're scored
Judges score four core criteria: arguments, evidence, clarity, persuasion. The standard scorecard breaks them into six line items for a score out of 30. You don't have to be strong in all six on night one. Pick two and grow.
Argument quality
Strength of claims, evidence, logical reasoning.
Refutation
How directly you address the other side's strongest points.
Delivery
Speaking clarity, confidence, eye contact, pace.
Organization
Signposted structure. The judge always knows where you are.
Persuasiveness
Story, emotion, conviction. Why should they care?
Evidence & research
Real sources, integrated naturally, varied.
Cross-examination matters more than you think
CX is the questioning round after each opening speech. It's where strong debaters compound their lead.
- Questions only. No statements or arguments. Judges notice.
- Force a real answer. Evasion looks bad. Be persistent.
- Set up your rebuttal. Use CX to expose contradictions, then land them in the next speech.
Pro tip: Bring 2–3 rehearsed questions designed to make your opponent contradict themselves or concede.
Train, then test it live
Free tools to sharpen specific skills, plus stats that tell you where you stand.