23 Funny Debate Topics
Funny Debate Topics
Introduction
A debate is a discussion or structured contest about an issue or a resolution. A formal debate involves two sides: one supporting an explanation and one opposing it. Such a debate is bound by rules previously agreed upon. Debates may be judged to declare a winning side.
In one form or another, debates are commonly used in democratic societies to explore and resolve issues and problems. Decisions at a board meeting, public hearing, legislative assembly, or local organization are often reached through discussion and debate.
Indeed, any resolution discussion is a form of debate, which may or may not follow formal rules (such as Robert’s Rules of Order). In a classroom context, the topic for debate will be guided by the knowledge, skill, and value outcomes in the curriculum.
This blog post explains about what is a debate , its structure, guidelines on how to win a debate and examples of funny debate topics. As you follow along, remember that our qualified writers are always ready to help in any of your nursing assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us!
You can also check out 100+ Top & Compelling Debate Topics
Structure for Debate
A formal debate usually involves three groups: one supporting a resolution (affirmative team), one opposing the resolution (opposing team), and those who are judging the quality of the evidence and arguments and the performance in the debate. The affirmative and opposing teams usually consist of three members each, while the judging may be done by the teacher, a small group of students, or the class as a whole.
In addition to the three specific groups, there may be an audience of class members not involved in the formal debate. A particular resolution is developed, and rules for the debate are established.
As you continue reading remember that our top and qualified writers are here to help with any of your assignment. All you need to do is place an order with us.
Debate Preparation
- Develop the resolution to be debated.
- Organize the teams.
- Establish the rules of the debate, including timelines.
- Research the topic and prepare logical arguments.
- Gather supporting evidence and examples for the position taken.
- Anticipate counterarguments and prepare rebuttals.
- Team members plan the order and content of speaking in the debate.
- Prepare the room for debate.
- Establish expectations, if any, for assessment of the debate.
Conducting Debate
Debate opens with the affirmative team (the team that supports the resolution) presenting their arguments, followed by an opposing team member. This pattern is repeated for the second speaker in each team. Finally, each team gets an opportunity to rebut the opponents’ arguments. Speakers should speak slowly and clearly. The judges and audience members should be taking notes as the debate proceeds.
A typical sequence for debate, with suggested timelines, is as follows:
- The first speaker on the affirmative team presents arguments supporting the resolution. (5 – 10 minutes)
- The first speaker on the opposing team presents arguments opposing the resolution. (5 – 10 minutes)
- The second speaker on the affirmative team presents further arguments supporting the resolution, identifies conflict areas, and answers questions that the opposition speaker may have raised. (5 – 10 minutes)
- The second speaker on the opposing team presents further arguments against the resolution, identifies different conflict areas, and answers questions that the previous affirmative speaker may have raised. (5 – 10 minutes)
- The rules may include a short recess for teams to prepare their rebuttals. (5 minutes)
- The opposing team begins with the rebuttal, attempting to defend the opposing arguments and defeat the supporting arguments without adding new information. (3 – 5 minutes)
- First rebuttal of the affirmative team (3 – 5 minutes)
- Each team gets a second rebuttal for closing statements, with the affirmative team having the last opportunity to speak. (3 – 5 minutes each)
- There cannot be any interruptions. Speakers must wait for their turns. The teacher may need to enforce the rules.
Post-debate Discussion and Assessment
When the formal debate is finished, allow time for debriefing and discussion. Members of the audience should be given an opportunity to ask questions and to contribute their own thoughts and opinions on the arguments presented. Members of the debate teams may also wish to reflect on their performance and seek feedback from the audience.
If some form of assessment were part of the debate plan, it would be conducted at this time. Assessment could be conducted by the judging team or the entire debate audience.
Rules of Debating
- Two teams, each with two or three speakers, are competing.
- Each team has two or three constructive speeches and rebuttal speeches that are the same. The affirmative makes the initial constructive utterance. The affirmative has the debate’s first and concluding speeches.
- When phrased as a policy statement, the topic necessitates the affirmative to support a specific action taken by a particular individual or organization. The affirmative has the authority to define each of the proposition’s terms in any way it sees fit. If the negative contests the affirmative’s definition as reasonable, the court must accept the team’s definition if it provides more excellent grounds for understanding the term.
- The affirmative must support everything that the topic requires. During the argument, no changes to a team’s viewpoint are authorized.
- Whoever makes a claim must back it up with evidence. To establish a claim, the team must provide enough evidence and logic to persuade a competent but uninformed person to believe the assertion is more rational than disbelieving it. The facts must be correct. Visual materials are allowed, and once introduced, they might be used by the opponents if they so wish.
- During the questioning phase, the questioner may ask any reasonable, unambiguous question about the argument. The questioner may use the time to build up or tear down any element of his own case and gather facts, such as the opposition’s position on a particular issue, that can be used later in the discussion. The questioner must stick to asking questions and avoid making assertions, comments, or rhetorical queries.
- As soon as each speaker finishes his productive speech, he is interrogated. Without consulting his colleagues, the witness must respond to the questions.
- During the rebuttal period, no new constructive arguments may be presented. Before the last rebuttal, the positive should, if at all possible, respond to the principal negative points.
- The judge must make his judgement only on the evidence presented, disregarding any other information he may have.
- Gains earned outside of the approved procedure are not permitted.
You can also check out Special Occasion Speech
Guidelines on How to Win a Debate
- Choose a position that you believe you can defend.
Stick to a topic that you’re passionate about. If you are enthusiastic about something, you are likely to know a lot about it and be able to defend your position persuasively while discussing it.
- Learn everything you can about both your own and your opponent’s positions.
You may not always have the option to choose your stance. If you’re in a debate group, for example, you’ll be assigned a random position and will have to defend it regardless. In such instances, it is advised that you consider the subject objectively and come up with reasons to support your position.
Not only that, but you should also prepare for your opponent’s points, as this will assist you to come up with counterarguments. These strategies can assist you in developing a persuasive argument.
- Begin with a thesis statement
A thesis statement is a short statement that describes your position and some of the primary reasons why you support it.
- Pay attention to your opponent’s response.
Debates and disagreements do not occur in a vacuum. You won’t give a proper response unless you pay attention to what your opponent says and build your arguments around it.
You can often pick apart and examine your opponent’s erroneous thinking. “That logic doesn’t add up,” for example, or “Is there any research to back up your claim?”
- Do not dismiss the objections raised by your opponent
You’ll challenge your opponent’s claims, and your opponent will do the same to you. Please do not be hesitant to respond to these questions. You will be able to back up your claim satisfactorily if you are well-prepared and knowledgeable about the subject.
- At All Times, Remain Calm and Rational
This isn’t easy to learn because it takes a lot of practice to be calm and rational. Of course, even if these are informal debates, you will be a nervous wreck the first few times you debate. With time and practice, you will undoubtedly improve.
Keep in mind that you’re not here to criticize your opponent’s position; instead, you’re here to persuade them of your own. Even if they don’t comprehend your point of view, make an effort to establish arguments that support your assertion reasonably and rationally. The key is to maintain your composure!
As you continue reading remember that our top and qualified writers are here to help with any of your assignment. All you need to do is place an order with us.
Benefits of Debating
Improved Articulation
Have you ever had the impression that you can’t seem to get the words out fast enough or that you can’t get them out at all? Debating can assist you in becoming an expert at discussing a variety of topics.
Debating will help you assess your audience and establish a proper tone for anything from your favourite book’s plotline to complex mathematical calculations. If your tone is too formal, you’ll alienate your listeners, yet if it’s too casual, you’ll undercut whatever arguments you try to make.
Every debater needs to be able to plan and articulate their thoughts in order to generate a solid and well-planned argument.
Conflict Resolution
A brilliant debater can stay focused on their purpose and not deviate from the topic or problem at hand. You’ll need to remember who you want on your side and make a likable argument, just like any good orator. This will make you appear more approachable and pleasant right away.
Accepting a loss gracefully and accepting responsibility for your mistakes are crucial qualities in both everyday life and debate. They’ll also assist you in preventing any conflict from arising, so embrace any constructive criticism that comes your way.
This will make you a considerably more proficient and polished speaker in the long run.
Quick-Thinking
Challenge your opponent’s position, think outside the box, and be ready to spot any flaws in their counterarguments. Debating abilities such as responding to remarks and questions and thinking on your feet are crucial, as delaying can cost you valuable time and points.
When time is critical, and a choice must be made quickly, thinking swiftly may prepare you for almost any situation that life throws at you.
Improved Researching Techniques
In any dispute, the argument is essential, even if you disagree with it on principle. Another critical component is how you make your winning speech — debating skills such as maintaining eye contact and remaining calm have been found to be successful.
The strategy you choose to develop your debate is equally significant. Your arguments must be well-thought-out and logical. All of these aspects and the key elements that they have gathered via education, such as researching and reading sources, planning and writing a speech, and being able to listen and confidently talk, will be kept in mind by good debaters.
Improved Critical Thinking
While you may not have a dispute every day, you will almost certainly have tiny disagreements and differences of opinion daily. Instead of arguing, debating can help you calm down a situation that was otherwise rapidly growing. Instead of raising your voice, take a few steps back and think about what you’re saying.
Debating will aid in developing critical thinking skills, which are necessary for everyday life. The ability to produce well-thought-out and reasoned arguments while also questioning the facts supporting a particular conclusion or attitude is known as critical thinking.
It will help you develop a healthy attitude toward questioning by encouraging you to be curious about new ideas while still keeping scepticism.
Finding Meaning in Complex Situations
Practising your debate abilities can also help you make sense of typically complex topics. If you take the time to investigate the topic and thoroughly construct the points you want to make, you’ll be able to form a superior argument on anything from nuclear energy to world peace.
Finding solutions to prior difficulties and compiling innovative solutions and ideas is a crucial talent for any excellent debater. Making the best of a bad situation and thinking outside the box will only help you in the long run, allowing you to take on any challenge, no matter how difficult it may be.
Controlling Your Emotions
Good debaters can also maintain a sense of calm and poise, focusing on the topic at hand rather than allowing it to distract them. In reality, managing your emotions is a talent that will earn you respect in practically every aspect of your life, not just when it comes to debate.
Of course, when disputing, you should not be completely emotionless. It is critical to have an emotional connection to the topic matter. It is linked to empathy since it allows you to grasp both sides of an argument and decide how to structure your own.
As you continue reading remember that our top and qualified writers are here to help with any of your assignment. All you need to do is place an order with us.
You can also check out Example of Analytical Essay
List of Funny Debate Topics Examples
- Is English a required course for Native American students?
- Teachers, like students, should wear uniforms. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Bottled water is preferable to tap water.
- It’s preferable to be wealthy and lonely than to be poor and have a large number of friends.
- Is it true that terrible words are naughty?
- Direct reports and their bosses can’t be pals.
- Is it appropriate to authorize the sale of human organs?
- In romantic partnerships, age differences should not be taken into account.
- Sleeping in your clothes isn’t as pleasurable as sleeping in your underwear.
- Students should not be required to wear school uniforms.
- It is unethical to use animals in research.
- There is no reason why the death penalty should be abolished.
- Instead of being taught in classrooms, sex education should be taught at home.
- Is it possible for vampires to consume Corona?
- Beauty makes life more bearable.
- Feminism’s problems outnumber its benefits.
- Fish make excellent pets.
- Introverts outperform extroverts.
- Playing video games raises an individual’s IQ
- The difference between a British and an American accent.
- How vital is recess to schoolchildren?
- Are computers rapidly replacing teachers?
- Cats are preferable to dogs as pets.
References
scholar.google.com
Related FAQs
1. Can you have a funny debate topic?
You can have a funny debate topic. If you are choosing humorous debate topics, you need to be careful. The funny debate topic should be ideal for your audience. It should not be something that might be offensive, but a silly, good and fun debate topic.
2. What is a debate?
Debates – arranging pros and cons of a topic, serious discussions and heated arguments, points put forth and points taken to the end. That’s the general picture we have of a debate, correct?
3. Do you have a favourite season as a debate topic?
I know! I know! This one is an old one, but always a funny one. Just like beeches or mountains, people have their favourite seasons as well so it can make up for another funny debate topics.