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1st Debate Motion 2025/2026 / THBT A final “General Knowledge Test” - at the end of each school year - rather than the actual grading system, would be the most efficient way to make students learn.”

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1st Debate Motion 2025/2026 / THBT A final “General Knowledge Test” - at the end of each school year - rather than the actual grading system, would be the most efficient way to make students learn.”

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Analysis: "This House Would ban Smoking"

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Analysis: "This House Would ban Smoking"

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https://ed.ted.com/on/0hpdVzDs

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It's almost inevitable that today's high school students will encounter many types of debate topics online. That's why it's important for educators to create a safe and supportive space for high school students to develop more informed viewpoints by having classroom debates and discussions, where students can explore multiple perspectives and challenge biases.

And what better place to do it than on Kialo Edu? That's because Kialo Edu's Topic Library has many of these debate topics with pro and con points already provided, so you can engage your students in discussions and debates without delay!

Civics debate topics for high school students

Exploring debate topics in civics lessons improves high school students' social awareness and builds their civic literacy skills. Moreover, participating in debates on civics topics deepens students' understanding of democratic processes, supporting their future civic engagement.

Education debate topics for high school students

Debates centered around the topic of education offer students the opportunity to express their views on a subject that directly affects them. This can encourage students to take a more active interest in their schooling and increase their motivation and engagement!

Philosophy debate topics for high school students

The study of philosophy unlocks a wide range of debate topics for high school students to explore. As students reason about moral issues and explore ethical dilemmas, they develop critical thinking skills that enable them to make better decisions when faced with personal dilemmas.

Are humans innately good or evil?

Can hurting others ever be justified?

Is anything ever eternal?

Is everyone created equal?

Is happiness more important than success?

Is it better to be kind than to be truthful?

Is it ethical to use dead animals in artworks?

Is it ever okay to break the rules?

Is it ever okay to cheat on a test?

Is it ever okay to lie?

Is it good to make your beliefs a part of your identity?

Is it immoral for people to own pets?

Is killing justified under certain conditions?

Is one human life worth more than another?

Is pacifism moral?

Should morals be relative depending on culture?

Should we always forgive others?

Should we refrain from eating intelligent animals?

Religious studies debate topics for high school students

Exploring religious studies topics is a vital part of many humanities classes. This deepens students' understanding of how diverse religions have contributed to the human experience and builds their respect for different religious beliefs and practices.

Science & technology debate topics for high school students

The ever-evolving field of science and technology is a rich source for debate topics. Students can explore the ethics behind scientific advancements and develop their digital citizenship skills by examining responsible technology use.

Social-emotional learning debate topics for high school students

Debating social-emotional learning topics can increase students' self-awareness and foster their empathy toward others, improving their relationship and conflict-resolution skills. Not only are these essential life skills, but they also contribute to creating a safe and supportive classroom environment that's ideal for further debates.

With these ideas, you can empower your students to confidently navigate controversial debate topics. And that's just the beginning! Our Topic Library contains over 500 discussion topics, each with dedicated pros and cons, for a range of age groups and curriculum subjects including literature, civ i cs, and history. So, head to Kialo Edu and unleash the power of debate in your classroom today!

We'd love to hear how your students have benefited from having classroom debates and discussions with your high school students. Contact us at feedback@kialo-edu.com or on social media.

Looking for debate topics in more languages? We've got you covered! Explore our extensive collection to spark captivating class discussions with students, no matter the language you're teaching in.

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Explore Kialo Edu's list of debate topics for high school students seperated by subjects to have engagaging class discussions with students.

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▶️https://www.canva.com/design/DAGEwBDTMmk/46RSe5d25NRzcNWlF0Ogsg/view?utm_content=DAGEwBDTMmk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

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THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE OF THE LATE ALFRED "TUNA" SNIDER. IT IS NOT ACTIVELY MAINTAINED. Tuna's mission was to support all students, teachers and citizens who are interested in learning about debating (educational debate, competitive debate, public debate) and debate in all formats and in all languages for all people.

FEEL FREE TO USE THESE MATERIALS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. TEACHERS, CITIZENS AND STUDENTS CAN COPY THESE MATERIALS FOR USE IN NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. ALWAYS CREDIT "DEBATE CENTRAL at http://debate.uvm.edu"

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THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE OF THE LATE ALFRED "TUNA" SNIDER. IT IS NOT ACTIVELY MAINTAINED. Tuna's mission was to support all students, teachers and citizens who are interested in learning about debating (educational debate, competitive debate, public debate) and debate in all formats and in all languages for all people.

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M2.2024. This House Believes That (THBT) the LGBTQ+ Activists should actively support legal recognition of non-binary gender.

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M2.2024. This House Believes That (THBT) the LGBTQ+ Activists should actively support legal recognition of non-binary gender.

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M1.2024. This House Supports (THS) a legal recognition of non-binary gender.

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M1.2024. This House Supports (THS) a legal recognition of non-binary gender.

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Alfred Snider: Debate
"Debating enables people to:* Find their public voice. When we express ourselves, we are fulilling a basic need. Yet, a surprising number of people are afraid to speak in public. helps us overcome this fear. And, when we overcome our fears, when we realize that we have something to say, and when we learn that others may even be willing to listen, we have found " our voice." We are able to share ideas and engage with others. We are not just observers within the human community, but participants.
* Invigorate democracy. Democracy is based on the assumption that power rests with the people, and that the people determine the goals of government. For the people to play their role effectively, they must be informed about issues. They must actively seek information, evaluate it critically, and voice their opinion. Freedom of speech is useless if no one has anything to say, and the right to vote has no value unless you're voting for something you know about and believe in. Participating in debate and debate-related activities trains individuals to become engaged citizens and to critically evaluate issues as a matter of course. The increase in global academic debating activities and trainings is one sign that young people are eager to take up their civic role. Whether at universities in Malaysia, middle schools in Los Angeles, or in debate clubs in Macedonia, millions of students on every continent are finding their voices and learning how to use them.
* Empower themselves to advocate for change. Many believe that they cannot inluence the swirl of events in the new, globalized public arena. Debate can change this perspective. Debaters learn how to collect and evaluate information. As they debate, they encounter new ideas that enrich their understanding of issues and new arguments that challenge their own ideas. They learn to critically analyze the ideas of others and to advocate for their own. They can take the skills they have learned in debate and use them to advocate for change in their communities and the larger world. But debaters learn more than skills; they also learn attitudes. Debaters learn to cooperate in order to compete. They discover that disagreement is not about division and separation but about finding the best solution to a problem. This attitude is central to making positive changes in society.
* Oppose illogical advocacy. The vast majority of public advocacy today lacks grounding in logic. Too often we hear candidates offering slogans rather than substance. Debate challenges simplistic and illogical public dialogue and promotes critical thinking. By encouraging debaters to look carefully at the root cause of problems and understand the biases of those offering opinions, debate helps people analyze issues and evaluate possible solutions to problems.
* Address shortcomings in educational Systems. We are all familiar with the many criticisms of modern Education. Our current System emphasizes acquiring facts rather than developing skills. It views students as passive recipients of information who are told to keep quiet and learn by listening. They are to accept what comes from the teacher as unassailable fact, not question or find fault with what is offered. They "learn it once" and move on. This system must change if we are to prepare young people for the world they will face. Education should be student-centered, with an emphasis on teaching skills. Classrooms should be "noisy" environments as students research, exchange, and evaluate ideas.
Engaging in debate can help transform the classroom. By its very nature, debate is student-centered and focused on critical thinking and the exchange of ideas...."

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TED-Ed celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world. Discover hundreds of animated lessons, create customized lessons, and share your big ideas.

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The Power of Persuasive Communication...

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The Power of Persuasive Communication...

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High School Debate Championship 3.11.2022

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Great topics for exciting debates and discussions: a range of debating motions, covering all sorts of topics, from sport to citizenship, to science and international relations. Use them as the starter for a form-time discussion, or as the topic in debating clubs.

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We have gathered together a range of debating motions, covering all sorts of topics, from sport to citizenship, to science and international relations. Use them as the starter for a form-time discussion, or as the topic in debating club this week.

Debate topics with stimulus sheets

Our stimulus sheets can be a great way to help novice debaters feel more comfortable when preparing for a debate.

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We have gathered together a range of debating motions, covering all sorts of topics, from sport to citizenship, to science and international relations. Use them as the starter for a form-time discussion, or as the topic in debating club this week.

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100 High School Debate Topics To Engage Every Student

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These high school debate topics range from fun and funny to complex and ethical, with links to reliable pro/con sources for each.

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Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

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“THBT TO FACE HEALTH EMERGENCIES, IT IS ETHICALLY JUSTIFIABLE FOR A DEMOCRATIC STATE TO LIMIT SOME FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.”

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M2.2023. THBT  Third and fourth generation nuclear power is a sustainable energy source.

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M2.2023. THBT  Third and fourth generation nuclear power is a sustainable energy source.

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M1.2023. “THBT Standardised School Tests* do more harm than good”

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M1.2023. “THBT Standardised School Tests* do more harm than good”

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Let's try and state at least three benefits of debating in schools...
https://qatardebate.org/benefits-of-debating/

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Debate Students - Know and Understand the Debate process...

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LET'S TRY AND ANALYSE MOTIONS. WHAT "DEFINITIONS" WOULD YOU COME UP WITH?

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LET'S TRY AND ANALYSE MOTIONS. WHAT "DEFINITIONS" WOULD YOU COME UP WITH?

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1. THBT "Debate" should be a mandatory school subject (like Civic Education) in all schools.

2. THBT before teaching, teachers should take and pass a test on general knowledge and psychological competence.

3. THBT all governments in the world should give a fixed amount of money to families*

(*single parents / couples with at least one child)

***

1. This House Would / THW support the "lying flat" (Chinese "tang ping") culture.

2. THBT the adoption of advanced technologies will improve the well-being of individuals and of society in general.

3. THBT to face health emergencies, it is ethically justifiable for a democratic state to limit some fundamental rights such as individual freedoms in order to protect the health of the entire community.

4. THW introduce 40% female quotas at the manager boards of the big multinational companies.”

5. Impromptu motion: THBT we should not eat meat.

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Debate Students - Know and Understand the Debate process...

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ANALYSING ISSUES AND ARGUMENTS - GERMAN DEBATE SOCIETY HELPS US IDENTIFY "THE REAL ISSUE"

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ANALYSING ISSUES AND ARGUMENTS - GERMAN DEBATE SOCIETY HELPS US IDENTIFY "THE REAL ISSUE"

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https://www.schoolsdebate.de/videos/QatarDebate%20THW%20ban%20smoking.mp4

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With Shilo and Sandik - The Debaters' Council in Sri Lanka,

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Who We Are

The National Speech & Debate Association was created in 1925 to provide recognition and support for students participating in speech and debate activities. While our organization has evolved over the decades, our mission is more relevant today than ever before. We connect, support, and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate.

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The National Speech & Debate Association was created in 1925 to provide recognition and support for students participating in speech and debate activities. While our organization has evolved over the decades, our mission is more relevant today than ever before. We connect, support, and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate.

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WHAT CURRENT ISSUES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

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WHAT CURRENT ISSUES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

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What are some main current issues nowadays? What are you particularly interested in?

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Collaboration and Mediation (Assessment Grid)

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Collaboration and Mediation (Assessment Grid)

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Let's ask some questions so as to get to know each other!

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Let's ask some questions so as to get to know each other!

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PAIR WORK - Students choose a friend in the group and interview him/her. Then, they share with the group what they’ve found out about each other’s characteristics, attitudes, interesting aspects…

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Describe your favourite and most efficient methods and strategies - to cope with studying and learning school subject matters - using the descriptors in the table.
...

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Describe the way you are in relation to the study of subjects in school, using the descriptors in the table.
...

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INDIVIDUAL WORK/WHOLE GROUP

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Food for Thought and Discussion... Let's discuss some key words: effort and practice; challenges and risks; personal barriers; failures and setbacks; confidence; goals; autonomy and autonomous choices...

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Food for Thought and Discussion... Let's discuss some key words: effort and practice; challenges and risks; personal barriers; failures and setbacks; confidence; goals; autonomy and autonomous choices...

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INDIVIDUAL WORK/WHOLE GROUP - What are you like? How do you like studying? Let's analyse and discuss cognitive, metacognitive, critical thinking objectives - and learn how to grow our intelligence and improve our school performances...