Research your topic. As with any other paper, writing a debate paper begins with research and compiling information. Contact your local library and inquire as to whether or not they have any books or articles that might relate to your subject. You can also find a great deal of information by searching for content from .edu and .gov sites on the internet. Type in your search terms in a search engine, followed by "site:.edu" or "site:.gov" to achieve the best results.
Outline your debate paper. Having a proper outline in place will make the writing process go smoothly. Begin by outlining an introduction, in which you will state your thesis, and back it up with a small amount of detail. Next, outline your first source and what it says about your thesis question. Critique the source and move onto the next. You should reference and critique two to three sources for your paper. Finally, outline a conclusion in which you summarize your findings and wrap everything up.
Study the APA formatting guidelines. There are a variety of factors to internalize before setting down to write your paper, including spacing, font size, titling and more. Following APA style usually means writing in the third person ("Studies have shown...") and using an active rather than passive voice. Unlike many other writing styles, APA discourages the use of poetic language in exchange for more to-the-point simplicity. Spend some time writing a few small practice pieces to familiarize yourself with APA formatting. If possible, run each piece by someone who is familiar with the style for critiquing.
Begin writing your paper. Edit and reread each draft of your paper until you are happy with the end result, making sure that the entire piece adheres to APA formatting guidelines.