In a prepared speech, every card is written in advance. In a debate, only part of the stack is. Your definition, team line and arguments can be prepared, but your rebuttal depends on what the other team says. Good debate cards keep the prepared parts short and leave room for the rest.
The cards a debater needs
- An opening card with the definition of the topic and the team line, the whole case in one sentence.
- One card per argument (often called a contention or substantive point): the claim, the reasoning and one piece of evidence or an example.
- Rebuttal cards with the arguments you expect from the other side and a one-line answer to each.
- A summary card naming the main clashes of the debate and why your side wins each one.
- A few blank cards for notes you take while the other team speaks.
Write in key words. You will be glancing down mid-sentence, often while thinking about a reply, so a card should take a second to read. Put your name, side and speaker position on the back of the first card in case the stack gets mixed up with a teammate's.
Cards for each speaker
Speaker roles vary between formats, but in the three-speaker format used in many schools they look roughly like this:
| Speaker | Main job | What goes on the cards |
|---|---|---|
| First | Set up the case | Definition, team line, the split between speakers, and their own arguments. Opposition first speakers add a rebuttal card. |
| Second | Rebut and extend | Rebuttal of the previous speaker first, then the team's remaining arguments. |
| Third | Rebut and sum up | Mostly rebuttal and a summary of the clashes. In many formats the third speaker cannot add new arguments, so their cards are mainly blank at the start. |
Formats such as World Schools add a reply speech and points of information, and timing and rules differ between competitions. Use your competition's rules as the final word.
Writing rebuttal cards
Before the debate, brainstorm the three or four strongest arguments the other team could run. Give each one its own card with two lines:
They say: school uniforms stop bullying about clothes.
But: students find other things to compare; the evidence on bullying is mixed. Cost to families is certain.
During the round, pull the cards for the arguments they actually make and put the rest aside. Anything new goes on a blank card in the same "They say / But" format. Keep rebuttal cards a different colour, or mark them with an R in the corner, so you can find them under pressure.
Using cards during the debate
- Number the prepared cards Rebuttal cards move around; prepared cards should not. Numbers let you get back on track after a point of information.
- Mark your timing Write the minute you want to reach each card by, such as "by 2:30", so you know when to move on from rebuttal.
- Look up for the important lines Read the prompt, look up, then deliver your team line and conclusion to the adjudicator and audience, not to the card.
Use one side of each card only. Turning cards over mid-speech is the quickest way to lose your place.
Evidence cards in policy debate
If you debate in an American policy or Lincoln-Douglas league, "cutting cards" means preparing evidence: a short tag that states the claim, the full citation, and the quoted passage with the parts you will read highlighted. That work is usually done in a word processor with a template built for it. EasyPalmCards is not a card-cutting tool, but it works well for the speaking notes you hold alongside your evidence, such as your roadmap, overviews and rebuttal blocks.
For everyone else, the quickest start is the debate template. Replace the prompts with your case, add a card for each expected argument, then print. If you are still working out your arguments, the speech outline builder has a debate structure with a time plan for each part.