Effective Argument: Key to Debate Success

An effective argument wins a debate every time

Only when a person has an effective argument, can he or she achieve debate success; when that element is missing, the debate fails. It is guaranteed to fail.

A proper debate has two opposed, but matching sides, based upon propositions. In a debate, one argues either one side or the other. In this context, argumentation consists of a discussion regulated by certain guidelines, at least to some degree.

A true debate is not intended to be a battle or a war of words, although it could disintegrate into that, at any time. Ideally, it is more of a formal argument, between two parties, who hold differing thoughts, opinions and ideas. Each person participating in the debate, respects the other person involved in the debate and argues accordingly.

In any discussion, there is going to be differing poles of thought or a positive and a negative side to the debate. In choosing one side or the other, it is essential to have appropriate grounding, in order to maintain any stand at all. If the grounding is not based upon truth, the argument cannot and will not stand.

Going into a debate represents a challenge, because people have differing perceptions of what truth consists of, depending upon their understanding of reality. Truth is open to be challenged by anyone, at any time, but it is not necessarily challenged in a formal debate. It can be challenged in many other ways.

Few people enter into a debate, not expecting some contention, which they may or may not enjoy. Some people tend to avoid debates because they do not like contention, although they may have effective arguments. Because of that reality, they would succeed in the argumentation, if they did participate in the debate process. Others realize that and assume that they are the winners, because no one who is willing to contend with them or to lead them in the other direction.

It is stated that the human mind engages in its own debate process, ie. argues either effectively or non-effectively with itself, before it allows a person to engage in an actual debate with another person. The initial stand that it takes allows that person to succeed or to fail.

Debates are not something new or different in our world, as they have existed from the beginning of time. 

What is different is the reality that times change and so do people. Their thoughts and ideas can be from the past, the present or the future. Each person needs to express his or her own argument in a debate.

That is an important part of our freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of press. Now it is affecting our freedom of expression on the Internet also.

Many times change for the better, will be the direct result of a debate.

The most important thing in debating is to take a stand based upon appropriate argumentation. Then, success is certain.