Why debate
Key Skills
Students who engage in debate gain far more than just the ability to argue—they acquire lifelong skills in numerous areas. Critical thinking skills enhance performance on tests, essay-writing, and problem-solving. The University of Missouri identifies an 18% boost to reading test scores alone. Communication skills enable them to express their ideas effectively. Beyond the clear boost to public speaking abilities, research on debate highlights its profound and lasting benefits.
High School
A solid foundation in these skills distinguishes debaters from peers in the classroom and on standardized tests. By honing their ability to analyze information more thoroughly, debaters gain significant academic advantages.
Research from the University of Washington and the National Speech and Debate Association highlights these benefits, showing that high school debate participants experienced:
- An 87% increase in analytical skills.
- A 44% improvement in critical thinking skills.
- A 25% boost in reading comprehension.
- A 120-point increase in SAT scores.
College Admissions
Debate has a substantial impact on students' grades and test scores, providing them with a distinct advantage in college admissions. Moreover, colleges actively seek students with competitive debate experience, valuing their potential as future leaders. Research by Professor Minh A. Luong underscores these benefits, revealing that:
- Students who participated in debate had a 30% greater likelihood of being admitted to a "top-tier college".
- For debate captains, this likelihood soared to over 60%.
These benefits significantly surpass the advantages associated with being class president (+5%), a sports team captain (+5%), or a band member (+3%).