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The Debate Starter Kit

Everything you need to start competing — or start a club — without hunting across the internet. Free. Printable. Built for students and coaches.

Speech-writing one-pager

Claim, warrant, impact — in one page.

Printable flow sheet

Track arguments across every speech.

Time-limit cheat sheet

PF, LD, Congress, and speech events.

5 practice drills

Quick exercises with rubrics you can self-grade.

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How to Write Any Debate Speech

  1. Hook: Open with a statistic, scenario, or clear problem statement.
  2. Position: Tell the judge exactly what you are defending.
  3. Preview: Name your two or three main arguments.
  4. Contention 1: Claim + warrant (reasoning) + impact.
  5. Contention 2: Same structure. Add evidence or a concrete example.
  6. Refutation: Answer your opponent's best argument directly.
  7. Conclusion: Restate your position and end with a call to action.

Blank Flow Template

Speech 1
Speech 2
Speech 3
Speech 4
Argument A
Response
Rebuild
Final answer

Use one column per speech. Write each new argument on its own row. Draw responses on the same row. Mark dropped arguments with an X.

Debate Time Limits Cheat Sheet

Public Forum
4-4-4-4-3-3-2-2
Lincoln-Douglas
6-3-7-3-4-6-3
Congress
3 min speeches + 1 min questioning
Extemp
30 min prep, 7 min speech
Original Oratory
10 min memorized
Interp events
10 min performance

5 Practice Drills

  1. Claim-Warrant-Impact (10 min): Pick any controversial topic. Write one claim, one sentence of reasoning, and one sentence explaining why it matters.
  2. 30-Second Summary (5 min): Explain your position on a topic in exactly 30 seconds without filler words.
  3. Flow a Round (15 min): Watch a debate round online and flow it on paper. Circle the arguments still standing at the end.
  4. Refutation Fire Drill (10 min): Have a friend give you one argument. You have 2 minutes to prepare and 1 minute to answer it.
  5. Impromptu Lightning (10 min): Draw a random topic and speak for 2 minutes with no prep. Record yourself and watch once.

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