By Sherry Lin

Hi PDA fam, it’s Student Coach Sherry again! This week, I’m diving into something that I get asked all the time: what resources should beginners actually use to improve their Public Forum debate performance? If you’ve ever typed “how to get better at debate” into Google, you’ve probably already encountered a problem: there are hundreds, even thousands of guides, videos, tips, and blogs out there, all “tailored” to budding debaters, but most of them assume you already know advanced debate jargon. So, today, instead of throwing a long list of links at you, I’m going to not only share some helpful resources for debate beginners but also explain why they matter and how you can use them effectively. The truth is, debate isn’t about memorizing everything—it’s more about knowing where to look and what to practice consistently.

First, and maybe most importantly, the PDA curriculum is a great place to start. Everything your coaches teach, from speech structure and flowing to signposting and crossfire strategy, is from a curriculum created by PDA specifically for an effective beginning approach to Public Forum debate. If a concept feels confusing the first time, don’t fret: since classes are recorded, rewatching sections of lectures could help. Additionally, practicing drills you did in class independently and reviewing given examples can make a huge difference. Think of your PDA classes and curriculum as your home base, giving you the fundamentals necessary for you to grow. We even have other blogs that you might find useful as well.

Once you feel comfortable with those basics, a practice drill that’s extremely helpful is watching sample debate rounds online (for example, through YouTube channels like “PF Videos”). It gives you a chance to see how debate functions in real time, and how experienced debaters run and respond to arguments. As a beginner, don’t worry about trying to keep up with varsity-level speed or advanced strategies. Instead, focus on trying to learn how debaters organize their front-half speeches, how they collapse in Summary and Final Focus, and how they compare their impacts (weighing). The goal of this resource is not to become a carbon copy of the debaters you observe, but rather to pick up some tools and techniques that you can try out when you’re the one debating.

Another way to utilize these sample debate round recordings to help you improve, is by working on your flowing (note-taking) skills. Flowing may feel intimidating at first, especially when the rounds you’re watching are quite advanced, but the more you do, the easier it becomes. You can start by flowing while listening to these YouTube rounds, but you can also flow other speeches, like your friend’s rebuttal or a mock reading of your own case—this helps you learn how to listen actively and respond strategically. And while it may feel awkward, recording yourself giving speeches is another extremely effective tool. Listening back to your own speaking helps you catch sections where you rush, or identify unclear transitions. Many beginner debaters don’t realize how much stronger they sound after a few weeks of doing skill practices up to 30 minutes a day.

Of course, debate isn’t just about skill, it’s also about topic knowledge. When it comes to research, many beginners make the mistake of trying to read lengthy, jargon-filled academic papers right away. However, that’s usually unnecessary, and might even tire you out—discouraging you from researching further. Instead, start with reliable news sources like AP News, Reuters, BBC, etc., to help you build a clear understanding of the topic. Once you feel confident in your background knowledge, you can upgrade to explore think tanks: Brookings, RAND, CSIS, and the CATO Institute are all great sources for deeper analysis and expert viewpoints on domestic and foreign policy. If research tends to overwhelm you, remember that you don’t always have to read reports in their entirety; skimming for relevant reasoning and statistics is often enough to build a strong case. If you want to see how experienced debaters structure their cases, you can also look at the OpenCaselist Public Forum Wiki, which has self-published cases from many of the top debaters on the current topic. But remember, these are reference points, not templates: instead of copying and pasting others’ hard work, your goal should be to learn from them.

Don’t forget that some of the most valuable resources aren’t online at all—instead, they’re the people around you. PDA coaches and captains are always here to help you grow; asking for feedback, attending office hours, redoing your speeches, or seeking help editing a case can sometimes save you hours of solitary confusion. Debate is inherently a social activity, and isn’t meant to be learned alone. Reaching out for guidance can make your process much faster, and much more enjoyable!

Debate can definitely feel confusing at first, but using the right resources (while knowing how to use them) makes everything much more manageable. You shouldn’t feel pressured to master every skill right away; improvement happens slowly, through consistent practice. What matters most is taking things step by step and being willing to ask for help. With the right tools and a consistent routine, driven by a positive mindset, you’re destined to become a stronger debater!