← Ages 12 and up

Switch-Sides Debate

Argue for a light, friendly motion, then swap sides and argue the opposite. The audience listens closely and votes.

Reasoning
Listening
Seeing the other view
Speaking up

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19

Debate in progress

Sides

A side can be one person or a small team. Everyone else is the audience.

Motions

Speaking time

1 minute 2 minutes 3 minutes

Options One minute to prepare A timer and a few tips before each round, to plan a claim, a reason and an example. Quick answers at the end Sounds A tick in the last five seconds and a buzz when time is up.

You’ll need

Two speakers or two small teams
An audience to listen and vote, even just one person
Paper and pens for notes

Our own motions

One per line. Keep them light and kind, like “Socks with sandals are a good idea.”

Debate

The motion

After the first round, you swap and argue the opposite!

Audience

Swap sides!

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” Proverbs 18:17

Argue the other side as well as you can, as if you really believed it. Use the best points you heard!

Audience, time to vote!

Count the hands for each. Speakers can vote too, just not for themselves.

Best argument

Which side made the single best point of the whole debate?

Best in the other side’s shoes

After the swap, who argued the opposite view most convincingly?

Did anyone change their mind?

Hands up if you think differently about the motion now.

The results

Best argument

Best in the other side’s shoes

A kind endingEach speaker tells someone on the other side the best point they made. Then shake hands or high-five!

Tips for speakers

For the audience

Choose a motion

Or write your own

Print

Motion cards Speaker sheets One for each side: claim, reason and example for both rounds. Listening sheet For the audience: the best points, and how they’ll vote.

No printer? Write motions on slips of paper and draw one from a bowl. The tips and timers are all on the screen.

Well argued, everyone!

“…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19

How to play

Two sides: one person each, or two small teams. Everyone else is the audience.
The screen deals a motion, like “Pineapple belongs on pizza.” One side argues for it and the other against.
Take a minute to prepare: a claim, a reason and an example.
Each side speaks while the clock runs. The audience listens and notes the best point.
Swap sides! Now each side argues the opposite, as well as it can.
The audience votes for the best argument, and for the best in the other side’s shoes. Did anyone change their mind?

Debate kindly

Argue with the idea, never the person. No eye-rolling!
Let each speaker finish. Write your answer down instead of interrupting.
End by telling the other side their best point.

A strong argument

Claim: what you think, in one sentence.
Reason: why. One strong reason beats three weak ones.
Example: something real that shows it’s true.

For mixed ages

Younger ones can join a team and give the example, or be the timekeeper.
Give newer speakers 1 minute and confident ones 3.
Write your own motions on the menu, and save them to a file.

Keys on a computer

Enter or Space presses the main button: start the clock, then next speech.
P pauses the clock and T shows tips. Motion: D a different one, C choose, O toss a coin.