The UK Debate Team Debate Challenge

The UK Debate is introducing team debates that will pit two teams of debaters against each other in competitive challenge. The debates are conducted on the team challenge boards and are viewable by all members and visitors of the UK Debate.

Team debates can be of timed duration (for example 7 days) or based on a post limit (for example 5 posts per team) or a combination of the two. Team debates on the UK Debate may be based on the following styles, although the online debating environment may necessitate a certain amount of flexibility within "standard" offline debating rules:

Parliamentary style debates.
A Parliamentary Debate involves two teams, often called Government and Opposition sides - like in parliament. A Prime Minister and a Leader of the Opposition are appointed who post their teams responses during the debate.

Policy style debates.
Two teams, one representing the affirmative position and one representing the negative position, debate topics of public or government policy.

Academic style debates.
These are debates of a purely academic nature. An example of this type of debate would be creation/evolution debates.

Each team can choose their own team name and can provide a team badge or icon that will be used in each post made by the team.

Go to the team debate boards

Private Team Member Boards

Each team has a private board that is only visible and accessible to members of the same team. This board is provided so that team members can decide on their rolls (research, replying etc) within the team and where they can formulate their responses to the opposing teams posts.

Important: Once a response is posted on the competitive board it cannot be edited so it is vital to prepare and check replies thoroughly!

At first glance this may seem a little harsh, after all in a verbal debate the speaker can correct a mistake almost as soon as it happens but to the astute listener, of course, the damage has been done.

Live Daily Voting

Registered members of the UK Debate who are not members of the teams debating the issues can cast a daily vote for the team they think are forwarding the most convincing argument. Team members can see the ongoing vote results but cannot vote themselves! The results of the vote are updated in real time and provide an indication to each team as to how they are "performing" in the debate.

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Take the Challenge

If you want to take part in a team debate you must first register at the UK Debate. Once registered, visit the team challenge board on the forum where you can post requests for team mates, propose topics for debate and comment on debates already under way.

If you are a practiced team debater or a member of a debating society you and your team are most welcome to join the UK Debate, set up and choose your team name and invite your most fierce opponents to battle it out!

The Future of UK Debate Team Debating

The UK Debate staff hopes that the team debates prove popular to members and guests alike. If they are popular we will introduce an annual knockout competition, consisting of rounds, quarter finals, semi finals and a final that will determine which team becomes the "UK Debate Team Debate Champions" for that year! Winning team members can enjoy the kudos of UK Debate Champions and become the proud owners of a coverted UK Debate Champions Tee-shirt!

Go to the team debate boards