Many students ask one big question: how to start a debate with confidence and style? The way you begin sets the stage for your entire performance.
If you get the opening right, the judges listen more carefully, and your team gains early momentum. In this guide, I will show you how to start a debate, from simple debate greetings to introductions, with real examples that you can use in school or competitions.
Why the Start of a Debate Matters
The beginning of a debate is more than just a formality. It is your chance to grab attention, introduce your side, and make the audience trust you.
A strong opening makes you sound prepared and confident. On the other hand, starting a debate weak can make even strong arguments less convincing.
When you learn how to start a debate properly, you avoid nervous filler words and unclear statements. Instead, you set a clear tone for the discussion. This is why teachers always stress the importance of debate greetings, introductions, and opening lines.
How to Start a Debate: Step-by-Step
1. Begin with a Proper Greeting
Every debate must begin with a greeting. A polite opening shows respect to the moderator, judges, and audience. A common style is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and audience.” This is a classic example of how to start a debate greeting in school.
If you are wondering how to greet in a debate, think of it as showing respect before you present your case. In fact, greetings in debates are standard, and they show you understand the format.
2. Introduce Yourself and Your Team
After greetings, introduce yourself and your team. A simple introduction can be: “I am the first speaker for the motion that states…” This part is known as the debate introduction. For beginners, this step is easy but often skipped. Don’t make that mistake.
If you search for debate introduction examples for students, you will see that clear and simple introductions work best. You don’t need long details—just state your role, your side, and the motion.
3. Define the Topic Clearly
The next step in how to begin a debate is definition. Before arguments, you must explain what the motion means. For example, if the motion is “Technology is good for education,” define “technology” and “education” in simple words.
Defining terms makes sure that judges and the audience understand your arguments. Without this step, your points might sound unclear or off-topic.
4. State Your Standpoint
After definitions, clearly say whether you support or oppose the motion. A powerful opening line can be: “As the first speaker, I strongly support the motion which says…” or “I stand to oppose the motion that says…” This line is your official starting point.
Learning how to begin a debate speech with a clear stance shows confidence. It helps the audience know exactly what you are arguing for.
5. Outline Your Main Points
The final step before arguments is giving a roadmap. Tell the audience what points you will cover. Example: “I will discuss three reasons why technology helps education: access to knowledge, faster communication, and better learning tools.”
This makes it easy for listeners to follow you. It also makes your speech sound organized.
Examples of How to Start a Debate Speech
Let us look at some practical examples of how to begin a debate script. These are lines you can copy or adapt when starting your own debate.
One example is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and the audience. I am here to support the motion which states that social media has improved communication.”
Another example of how to start a debate speech first speaker example is: “I strongly oppose the motion which says that homework is unnecessary. In this debate, I will prove that homework helps students build discipline and understanding.”
These short lines make it clear who you are, what side you are on, and how the debate will go.
1. Classic School Debate Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and my respected audience. I am the first speaker for the motion that says Technology improves education, and I strongly support this motion.”
2. Formal Extended Intro
“Good morning Mr Chairman, honorable panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, my co-debaters, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I am here as the first speaker opposing the motion that says Social media does more harm than good, and I stand firmly against it.”
3. Direct and Simple Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, learned judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and ladies and gentlemen. I am the first speaker supporting the motion that states School uniforms should be compulsory, and I will show you why.”
4. Competition-Style Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, esteemed judges, accurate timekeeper, my worthy opponents, and attentive audience. As the first speaker, I rise to oppose the motion which says Homework is a waste of time, and I will prove that homework is useful.”
5. Polite Intro for Secondary School
“Good day Mr Chairman, respected panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and fellow students. I am the first speaker here to support the motion which says Online learning is better than classroom learning, and I strongly agree with this.”
6. Courtesy-Filled Formal Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, honorable judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen in the house. I am the first speaker opposing the motion that says Money is better than education, and I strongly disagree with this claim.”
7. Concise Intro for Quick Debates
“Good day Mr Chairman, judges, timekeeper, co-debaters, and audience. I am the first speaker for the motion which says Government should provide free healthcare, and I fully support this motion.”
8. Respectful Emphasis Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, respected judges, accurate timekeeper, my worthy co-debaters, and ever-attentive audience. I am the first speaker for the motion that says Examinations should be abolished, and I will prove why this is correct.”
9. Inter-School Debate Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, distinguished panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters from other schools, and the wonderful audience. I am the first speaker opposing the motion which says Private schools are better than public schools, and I strongly disagree.”
10. Traditional Full Debate Intro
“Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and my ever-attentive audience. I am the first speaker supporting the motion which says Democracy is the best form of government, and I will defend this with clear points.”
Debate Greetings in Different Contexts
Debate greetings may vary depending on where you are. For example, in secondary schools, a common greeting is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and the audience.” This is often called how to start a debate greeting in secondary school.
In some competitions, students also add: “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.” The key is to be polite and respectful.
If you want more practice, check out this Debate Topic Generator. It will give you sample motions so you can practice your greetings and introductions.
How to Start a Debate in School
Many students ask how to start a debate in school. The process is simple: greet, introduce, define terms, state your stance, and outline points. If you practice this flow, you will always sound confident.
For example, imagine you are given the motion “Should students wear uniforms?” A good way to begin is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, timekeeper, co-debaters, and the audience. I strongly support the motion that students should wear uniforms. By uniforms, I mean standard school attire worn by every student.” This shows you know how to begin a debate for students.
How to Begin a Debate in Different Formats
Some formats require short greetings, while others allow longer ones. For instance:
One, in class debates, keep greetings short so you can spend more time on arguments.
Two, in formal competitions, greetings and debate introduction are longer and more detailed.
Three, in casual debates, like club meetings, greetings may be skipped, but introductions are still needed.
Knowing how to adapt your greeting style makes you flexible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Debate
Many beginners make mistakes at the start of a debate. Let’s look at some common ones:
One, skipping greetings. This looks rude and unprepared. Always greet.
Two, failing to introduce yourself. The audience must know your role.
Three, unclear definitions. If you don’t define terms, your debate can go off track.
Four, forgetting to outline points. Judges prefer structure. Always show them where you are going.
Avoiding these mistakes will make your opening sharp and professional.
FAQs on How to Start a Debate
Always start with greetings, introduce yourself, define the motion, state your stance, and outline your points.
A good example is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, timekeeper, co-debaters, and the audience. I am here to support the motion which says…”
Yes. “Good day Mr Chairman, accurate timekeeper, and co-debaters. I stand to oppose the motion that says online learning is better than classroom learning.”
The debate introduction is the part where you greet, state your role, and say the motion before moving into arguments.
A popular example is: “Good day Mr Chairman, panel of judges, accurate timekeeper, co-debaters, and the audience.”
Conclusion
Knowing how to start a debate is the foundation of winning any competition. A good start includes greetings, introductions, definitions, clear stance, and an outline of your points.
Whether you are learning how to start a debate speech, how to start a debate in school, or how to greet in a debate, the same principles apply.
Once you master the opening, the rest of your speech becomes easier. The key takeaway is this: your confidence begins with the first words you say. Practice often, use clear greetings, and start strong. You will set yourself apart as a skilled debater. Good luck!
