Using debates in the classroom provide students the opportunity to work in a collaborative and cooperative group setting. By having students discuss and organize their points of view for one side of an argument they are able to discover new information and put knowledge into action. Classroom debates help students learn through friendly competition, examine controversial topics and “strengthen skills in the areas of leadership, interpersonal influence, team building, group problem solving, and oral presentation”. By having students discuss and organize their points of view for one side of an argument they are able to discover new information and put knowledge into action.

Debates can be used in all disciplines on a wide range of topics. Here are some examples of subject matter topics for debate which can easily be adapted for a variety of subject areas:

• Arts - There should no restrictions upon artistic expression
• Business - Corporations should be abolished
• Education - Intelligence testing is without value
• Engineering - Only bridges over waterways need to be routinely inspected
• Sociology - It is morally okay to break laws you don't agree with
• English - Language is not a skill
• Geology - Mountain top mining is good for the economy
• Health - There is nothing morally wrong with doing drugs
• Mathematics - Elementary school mathematics should be confined largely to arithmetic
• Science - The theory of evolution is based on both science and faith