Debate and extempore tips for kids: a guide for parents of 11 to 15 year olds

Debate, extempore and elocution: what's the difference?

• Elocution: a prepared speech or recitation, often learnt by heart. Marks usually go to delivery: voice, expression and clarity.
• Extempore: a topic given on the spot, with a short time to think, often a minute or two. Marks usually go to ideas, structure and fluency.
• Debate: a motion (a statement) with speakers arguing for or against it. Marks usually go to arguments, evidence, rebuttal (answering the other side) and delivery.

Rules differ between schools and competitions, so always check the time limits and judging criteria first.

Extempore: the 1-minute plan

The biggest mistake in extempore is starting to speak with no plan and running out of ideas after twenty seconds. Teach your child to use their thinking time for PREP:

1. Point: what is my main idea or opinion about this topic?
2. Reason: why do I think that?
3. Example: a story, fact or experience that shows it.
4. Point again: finish by repeating the main idea in a new way.

If the time allows, they can add a second reason and example. Jotting three keywords on a slip of paper is enough. Writing full sentences wastes thinking time.

An example

Topic: "Is it okay to fail?"

Good morning, everyone. My topic is "Is it okay to fail?" and I believe it is not only okay, it is necessary. When we fail, we find out what we don't know yet. Last year, I came last in my first chess tournament. I was upset, but I studied every game I lost, and this year I reached the semi-finals. Without that failure, I would never have known what to practise. So yes, it's okay to fail, as long as we learn something from it. Thank you.

Practice topics

• A world without mobile phones
• The best lesson I learnt outside a classroom
• If I could change one school rule
• Why every child should play a sport
• Is it okay to fail?
• My idea for a cleaner city
• The most useful invention of the last 50 years
• Should children have pocket money?
• Books or films: which tell better stories?
• What makes someone a good leader?

Debate: building a strong speech

Make every argument complete

Each argument needs three parts. A simple way to remember it is claim, reason, example:

• Claim: "Homework should be optional."
• Reason: "Students learn best when they practise what they actually find difficult."
• Example: "A student who already understands fractions gains little from twenty more fraction sums, but could use that time on a topic they're stuck on."

Two or three complete arguments are much stronger than six claims with no reasons.

Prepare both sides

Ask your child to list the two or three strongest arguments the other side will make, and an answer to each. This is the best way to get ready for rebuttal, and in many competitions sides are decided by a coin toss.

Rebuttal phrases

Answering the other side politely is a big part of debating. Give your child a few phrases to use:

• "My opponent said ___, but they forgot that ___."
• "That may be true in some cases, however ___."
• "I respectfully disagree, because ___."
• "Even if we accept that, it doesn't prove ___."

Opening and closing

A strong opening grabs attention: a question, a surprising fact they can source, or a short story. A strong closing sums up the arguments in one or two lines and restates the side clearly: "For these reasons, I firmly believe that ___."

Practice motions

• Homework should be optional.
• Mobile phones should be allowed in schools.
• Online classes are as good as classroom learning.
• Board exams should be replaced by continuous assessment.
• Social media does more harm than good to teenagers.
• Junk food should be banned in school canteens.

Delivery tips for both

• Slow down. Nerves make everyone speak faster. A steady pace sounds more confident.
• Pause instead of "umm". A short silence sounds thoughtful; filler words sound unsure.
• Look at the audience and judges, not at the notes, for most of the speech.
• Stand still, with feet apart. Use a hand gesture to show a key point, then let the hand drop.
• Stay respectful. In debate, argue against ideas, never against people. Judges notice tone.
• Watch the time. Practise with a timer so your child knows what one or two minutes feels like.

Home practice drills

1. Topic jar (5 minutes). Pull a topic from the list above, 60 seconds to plan with PREP, 60 seconds to speak. Do two a day.
2. Dinner-table debate (10 minutes). Pick a light motion. Your child argues for, you argue against, then swap sides.
3. Rebuttal ping-pong. You make a one-line argument; your child answers it in one line using a rebuttal phrase. Go back and forth quickly.
4. Record and review. Record one extempore a week. Watch it once for content and once for delivery, and pick one thing to improve.
5. Read and discuss. Read one news article a few times a week and ask: "What do you think, and why?" This builds a store of examples to draw on.

For the basics of voice, eye contact and body language, see our guide on teaching public speaking at home. If your child gets very nervous before competitions, the stage fear guide can help.

After the competition

Whatever the result, ask what your child enjoyed, what they would do differently, and what the winners did well. Debating and extempore skills grow over many competitions, and every one is practice for the next. These skills also carry over into class presentations, interviews and group discussions.

How LearnNova can help

LearnNova runs live 1:1 online classes on Google Meet for children aged 5 to 15. For older children, classes include debate and extempore practice, and you can tell us about an upcoming competition so the trainer can help your child prepare for it. Our trainers are experienced in training kids to be confident, fluent speakers, and you get a progress report every week and every month. You can book a free demo class (about 60 to 70 minutes, no payment needed), or read about our public speaking classes.

Book free demo