Welcome to St Leonard’s House Debating Competition! Debates will take place at Senior (Years 10-12), Middle (Years 7-9) and Years 5-6 levels. Here you can find information regarding draws and topics, along with some quick resources to help you get your head around the concept of ‘debating’ and to assist your team with general preparation. If you are new to debating, then make sure you have a look at the other resources available on this site. Good luck, and may the most persuasive house win!

Please contact your house coordinators if you want to get involved or for further information regarding teams, topics and draws.

Middle School: Years 7 to 9

If you would like to be involved in Year 7-9 House Debating, please contact your house’s debating captain or your Middle School Head of House.

During competition time, scroll down for topics, draws and topic guides. General debating resources are also available at the bottom of this page.

Year 7-9 debates will take place during lunchtimes. Debates begin at 1.00pm (i.e. 5 minutes into lunchtime). If a house does not have three speakers present and ready to begin by 1.05pm then it will be assumed that that house has forfeited their debate. Debates must start no later than 1.05pm in order to finish before the end of lunchtime.

Speeches for Year 7-9 House Debating should be 3 to 4 minutes in length.

Round __:

Topic:

Topic Guide:

Draw:

Results:

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Senior School

If you would like to be involved in Year 10-12 House Debating, please contact your house leaders or your Head of House.

Year 10-12 debates will take place during lunchtimes. Debates begin at 1.00pm (i.e. 5 minutes into lunchtime). If a house does not have three speakers present and ready to begin by 1.05pm then it will be assumed that that house has forfeitted their debate. Debates must start no later than 1.05pm in order to finish before the end of lunchtime.

During competition time, scroll down for topics, draws and topic guides. General debating resources are also available at the bottom of this page.

Speeches for Year 10-12 House Debating should be 3 to 4 minutes in length.

Round __:

Topic:

Topic Guide:

Draw:

Resources

Below are a series of quick resources designed to assist new debaters who are becoming involved in House Debating. If you want to take your skills a step further, then make sure you check out the Debating Handbook and Resources pages on the debating STL Link site for some more in-depth explanations and information.

An Introduction to Debating

This is a brief powerpoint that was used as a starting point for new debaters who wish to become involved in House Debating. You can access an online copy of the slides by clicking through the presentation below:

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The Debating Cheat Sheet:

This is a quick run-down fo the basics of debating: speaker roles, scoring, manner, matter, method and rebuttal, along with a list of quick dos-and-don’ts and a few general resources. You can download a PDF copy below:

Debating Cheat Sheet

Debate Planning Resources

Below you can download and print off a document to help guide your preparation for a debate. It draws you attention to the key areas that should be addressed in every debate and has some useful general guiding questions. You can download a PDF copy below:

Debate Planning Proforma

Adjudicator Resources

The resources below are designed to assist adjudicators who will be judging house debating. A copy of the adjudication sheet is accessible below, along with a quick one-page guide on how to award and score debates: