Debate Topics

09/19/05

The theme for the debate competition is "Sustainable Development for Bermuda". What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development can be defined as "the ability to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainable development encompasses a balance between three components – social, ecological and economic development.

Definition from the Elemis PLC website located in the United Kingdom.

The topics for the debate include:

	Recycling should be mandatory.
	Open space is more valuable then building houses.
	Students should be banned from owing cell phones.
	A tunnel from Dockyard to Spanish Point is better than building a bridge.
	There should be price control in Bermuda.

Research

Research is very important and cannot be disregarded if you wish to make a winning speech. Look for facts and examples more so than statistics (numbers). Statistics can be very handy for filling up minutes, but they can also be very boring. Your information should back up your argument and be memorable.

Remember! Your argument should back up your speech and your research should back it up, not the other way around.

Sources for Research

There are many sources of information for research, but you may have to look hard for it.