Presenting an argument is one of the most important tools a person can have. Being able to coherently present your ideas and views in an intelligent manner for the purpose of opposing those of an opponent’s in a formal argument is needed by anyone who wants to at least sound like they know what they’re talking about.

Extracurriculars can teach its students many things outside the regular curriculum. Presenting a formal argument, more commonly known as debate, is one of those things. According to students across America, being in the debate team at their school has given them the chance to improve their speaking skills and become more comfortable in social environments. While the debate team here at Bob Jones hasn’t yet achieved the prominent title of some other debate teams across the country, they have still accomplished some highly notable feats that have gotten them recognized.

Like other teams, they compete in tournaments across Alabama. Just last year the Bob Jones debate team won an all expense paid trip to compete in New York in an international competition, where they faced over two-hundred other teams from multiple different states. This, in my opinion was impressive. It helps very much to uphold Bob Jones’s name as high ranking school, capable of, not only teaching its students many different skills, but also how to use those skills as well.

The debate team has achieved great success, representing Madison in various local and international debates. The team, as a whole, benefits their school and community, but while the kids on this team are preparing their speeches, they’re also improving vital skills needed in many professions. According to Bustle, students who were on the debate team were better prepared for challenges commonly faced as adults, such as making up BS or differentiating between what is BS and what isn’t.  Ha ha, that was a joke. No, but seriously, learning how to debate helps strengthen communication and observational skills.

Many students, according to an MIT article, who are or have been on a debate team say it helps them build confidence. Not only in a debate or in public speaking, but in any kind of event, social or otherwise. Students claim that building confidence also helped them to be more opinionated and allowed them to give reasons to back their opinions.

According to Carsten Grove, a senior at Bob Jones and a leading member of the debate team, it is very much the same here. “Being on the Debate Team has not only helped better me at public speaking and presenting arguments, it’s also helped to improve my writing skills,” said Carsten. When asked what usually went on at the meetings, he said: “We work on writing our arguments for tournaments. We also practice by doing mock debates.”

He added, “The debate team is one of the best things I’ve done here at Bob Jones.”

Being a member of the debate team doesn’t just prepare you for the next debate tournament; it prepares you for real life adult situations.

See Mrs. Bergeson for more details.