Debate at its most basic is simply a formal method of arguing ideas and positions.  Debates happen informally or formally in every social situation from car rides to corporate meetings to legislative assemblies.  Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, since it includes emotional persuasion and rhetoric.  The outcome of a debate may be decided by too by a  range of factors from audience reaction to volume. 

 

The major goal of the study of debate  is to develop one’s ability to play from either position with equal ease. To inexperienced debaters, some propositions appear easier to defend or to destroy; to experienced debaters, any proposition can be defended or destroyed after the same amount of preparation time, usually quite short.  Speaking style too is improved and developed through debate.

 

Rule-based competitive debate is exists in a secondary and post-secondary level around.  Based on a set of clear rules and format the debate done and judged by students. . Each side seeks to win by being the most persuasive. Each side is either in favour (”for, ‘Affirmative’ 'government'), or opposed to (”against, ‘Negative’ 'opposition'), a statement (proposition or resolution) which if adopted would change something.  Each side has specific roles defining how they are to advance the argumentation.

 

Competitive Debate is an organized at the local, national, and international level. It is in particular popular in English-speaking universities and high schools around the world, most notably in South Africa, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Many different styles of debate occur under a variety of organizations and rules. In Canada, university level debate is run by the Canadian University Society for Inter-Collegiate Debate (CUSID) and its French counterpart SUCDI. The UW Debating Society has been a CUSID member since 2001 and debates on a regional, national and international level.