How to Adapt Your Debate Style to Different Audiences

The Dynamic Approach for Debating

Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

Debating is as much an art form as it is a science. It’s both a prepared text and a kind of jazz. To be effective as a debater, you have to both know your topic well and be prepared to vary your style to suit the audience. On the face of it, there’s no reason that a strong argument shouldn’t be appealing to all people of good will.

But in practice, it just isn’t so. Audiences are hugely diverse in their tastes, prejudices and expectations. Equally you might not have the knowledge but know enough to challenge. This means that the most successful debaters will be those who vary their style to suit their audience. Here are a few tips on how to do it.

Know Your Audience

The first variable in how to revise your presentation style is your audience.There are several different kinds of audiences of which we may take advantage.

1. Academic Audiences

Characteristics: This group values logic, evidence, and rigorous analysis.

Approach: Stick to formal language, structured and well-argued ideas, and draw from reputable sources wherever possible. Academics are used to it and like it that way. And, even if you’re writing about…