Why should you do Lincoln-Douglas debate?

Academic debate is one of the best investments a student can make in their future. From building communication skills to fostering critical thinking and confidence, debate teaches students what they need to live a successful academic, professional, and personal life.

Speech and debate activities focus on … critical thinking, the ability to clearly articulate thoughts and ideas, to answer questions logically with clarity, and to think on one’s feet. Additionally, students develop interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution, assertiveness, and listening to peers. These important life skills empower youth to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals, and honorable leaders in our society.
— National Speech and Debate Association

Academic success

Debate provides a competitive incentive to do the very activities that are a necessity in the classroom. Debate research involves finding, reading, and synthesizing information from various sources, evaluating competing points of view, and compiling this in a communicable format. In debates themselves, students are forced to select key arguments and critically analyze their opponents’ arguments for flaws. These tasks are exactly the ones needed to prepare research papers, participate in classroom discussions, and increase comprehension of material. Not surprisingly, evidence finds that debate is directly linked to higher GPAs and graduation rates.

[D]ebaters attended school more frequently, improved their GPAs by 10%, decreased risky behaviors, and achieved a 25% increase in literacy scores relative to a non-debating control group.
— Los Angeles Metropolitan Urban Debate League

Careers

An article in Forbes magazine urged booming companies to hire debaters, who come with a “deep understanding of how to persuade, how to present clearly and how to connect with an audience.” Debate trains exactly the skills needed for success in any workplace.

Here is the truth about students who compete in speech and debate. They’ve spent hundreds of hours perfecting their speaking skills. Many have done intensive research to write their speeches. All have endured the pressure that competition brings, and have performed well intellectually under such pressure. They’ve made connections and friendships with other high performing peers. All of these behaviors are excellent predictors of success on any leadership team.
— Forbes Business Magazine