40 Interesting Debate Topics for students

For competitions or for class engagements, we are always looking for interesting topics for debates.

Finding a topic that is both relevant and interesting might be challenging. When choosing a topic, there are many factors to take into account: if you can talk about it for a sufficient amount of time, how enthusiastic you are about it, how simple it will be to conduct research on, what your English teacher would think of it, and much more.

Are you trying to come up with debate topics? You’re in the correct place. See our collection of 40 debate themes.

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40 Interesting debate topics

1. Which is preferable – daydreaming or nighttime dreaming?
2. Do children’s perceptions of reality change because of fairy tales, games and films?
3. Is it true that history is an important subject that all students should study?
4. Has the balance between work and life changed as a result of technology?
5. Is downtime necessary for a productive workplace?
6. Will we soon settle on another planet?
7. Is there already irreversible climate change?
8. Is a private or public school education superior to one that is received at home?
9. Is a college degree a must for someone to be financially successful in the future?
10. Schools ought to be in charge of educating kids morally
11. Final exams have to be dropped.
12. Education at universities should be free.
13. Volunteering in the community should be a requirement for all students.
14. Street smarts are better than book smarts.
15. Before having a child, people ought to be required to undergo a parenting course.
16. Kindness is preferable to honesty in most situations.
17. Real life is portrayed on reality television.
18. Cryptocurrency should take the place of cash.
19. Pet dogs are preferable to cat pets.
20. Classical music is superior to contemporary music.
21. The ability to fly would be preferable to the ability to become invisible.
22. Non-fiction is inferior to fiction.
23. How beneficial is artificial intelligence to society?
24. Is the callout or cancel culture beneficial to society?
25. Is the right to free speech essential for a functioning society?
26. Is it acceptable to let businesses collect data on us?
27. Is travel and tourism good for the environment?
28. Are images that have been altered generating false ideals of beauty?
29. Which one is more crucial? Talent or Hardwork?
30. Is it moral to use animals in experiments?
31. Is binge-watching films and TV shows a productive way to pass the time?
32. Lies should never be told.

33. Are beauty pageants more detrimental to gender equality than beneficial?

34. Why do children require privacy?

35. Should law enforcement personnel have body cameras?

36. Is experience more valuable than knowledge?

37. Are grades a reliable indicator of intellectual capacity?

38. Are banks trustworthy?

39. Channels for children shouldn’t have any commercials.

40. Peer pressure is beneficial.

Bonus

How to win debates?

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Here are some tips for winning your debate:

1. First step is the preparation

Do some research on it. You must be familiar with the broad idea of the subject matter, but you should also make a note of any precise facts and statistics you plan to utilise. Numbers can have a strong impact on your audience and are challenging to dispute, therefore this will aid in your reasonable appeal in your case.

2. Create a speech.

You must draft the speech you will deliver during the discussion once you have chosen your position and the supporting evidence you will use. These might vary greatly depending on the type of debate and the regulations your debate chapter follows, however every debate should have proper introduction, body and conclusion.

3. Practise your material.

This is a crucial step in the debate preparation process. You’ll become more at ease with your content, more aware of your voice and body, and able to see any issues with your performance if you practise. Consider practising in front of a mirror. It is really helpful.

4. Keep your essential points in memory.

You’ll be able to respond to the opposition’s arguments more swiftly if you have quick recall.

Additionally, memorizing will give you access to material that is necessary for your argument or counterargument. You can gain favor with the judges and gain an advantage over your rivals by showcasing your quick wit.

5. Anticipate the opposition.

You should evaluate your argument’s weak areas as you create it because your opposition will probably use them. What other strong points can you think of to support the opposing argument? Remember this and come up with specific methods you might challenge or refute the truth of these claims.

6. Get lots of rest.

Being anxious makes this more challenging, but even non-tense debaters can experience restless nights due to tension. Lack of sleep might impair your memory, mental clarity, and response time, which could result in score deductions.

7. Before your debate, eat enough food.

Most seasoned debaters will consume moderate meals to get ready. Most people eat during a debate just enough to stave off hunger, but they avoid eating anything heavy that would make them feel sleepy or lethargic.

8. Dress Professionally

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The appropriate attire for your circumstance may vary depending on the calibre of your competition and the expectations of individuals involved. Dressing formally shows your audience that you respect them and will treat them well.

9. Eye Contact

Maintaining strong and constant eye contact is expected during your debate, while it is typically assumed that you will need to refer to notes for key statistics and points.

10. During the opposition’s time, take notes.

You must address particular Ok issues in your opposition’s case in order to adequately refute false information, rebut a point, or handle a counterargument. Compare your team’s statistics against those of the other side and note any information that seems misleading, lacking, or inaccurately represented.

11. Present your shortcomings in a favourable light.

If you have the last word, framing can be a powerful tool to turn a bad impression into a good one. Framing can significantly alter how information is perceived by an audience. To have a solid refutation partially prepared, you could wish to reframe the obvious counter examples that the opposition is likely to employ.

12. Draw attention to something fresh.

If you are the third speaker, you should use this strategy to divert attention from other, more significant arguments you have made.

By following these steps, you will have enough chance of winning. Good luck!

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Frequently Asked Questions

1.What should I do if during the argument I forget my lines?

Don’t memorise every word of your debate. Instead, commit to memory the most important talking points and the supporting facts. This will make your debate presentation seem more natural.

2.How can I get over my anxiety while debating?

To feel more at ease, smile occasionally. Try to fix your gaze on a region of a person’s face other than their eyes if you find it difficult to look at individuals while you are speaking without becoming worried or distracted.

3. What qualities do I need to have in order to debate effectively?

Proper communication skill, wit, and assurance. To be honest, anyone can improve their debating skills with enough practise.