What is debate?

The National Speech and Debate Association provides the following descriptions of debate:

“Policy Debate is where debaters work in pairs (teams) to address the school year's topic, either from the affirmative side (to propose a plan to solve a problem with the topic), or the negative side (to prove how the affirmative’s plan is flawed). Argumentation includes a constructive case, cross-­examination, and refutation. Skills learned include research, policy analysis, case building, refutation, questioning, organization and communication.

Congressional Debate is a mock legislative assembly competition where students draft bills (proposed laws) and resolutions (position statements), which they and their peers later debate and vote to pass into law and then take action on by voting for or against the legislation.

Lincoln Douglas debate centers on a proposition of value, which concerns itself with what ought to be instead of what is. A value is an ideal held by individuals, societies, governments, etc. Debaters are encouraged to develop argumentation based upon a values perspective. The debate should focus on reasoning to support a general principle. Debaters may offer generalized, practical examples or solutions to illustrate how the general principle could guide decisions.

​Public Forum debate is where debaters work in pairs (teams) to address the month's topic, either from the affirmative side (to advocate the resolution), or the negative side (to prove how the resolution is flawed). Argumentation includes a constructive case, cross-­‐examination, and refutation. Skills learned include refutation, questioning, organization and communication.”