How a debate works

Debates involve a negative and affirmative team, each with three speakers, that take it in turns to present arguments for their side, and respond to their opponent's arguments, on a given topic. Topics are given by SADA or Debating SA for the respective competitions and students are marked on matter (their content, arguments), manner (their presentation style) and method (their structure), to decide the winning team.

For more information on how SADA debates work, please visit https://www.sada.org.au/schools-competition or https://www.sada.org.au/rules. 

For more information on how Debating SA debates work, please visit https://www.debatingsa.com.au/schools-competition/rules-procedures-and-forms/