Debates are types of speeches in which two or more people challenge one another to support a particular side of an argument or issue. In a debate format, each debater is usually required to give an introductory speech and a closing speech, as well as respond to questions and topics during the debate. The two speeches are written and practiced by the debaters ahead of time, but the responses that occur mid-debate must be the result of the debater being able to think quickly and improvise.
Assign students the task of presenting a how-to explanation of a process that is complex. In this type of speech, speakers have to provide a step-by-step guide to the audience so that the audience learns how to perform a task. Visual aids can enhance the speech because they allow the speaker to physically demonstrate particular tasks as she explains them. For a complex speech idea, have people come up with how-to tasks that require more than five or six steps.
One of the powerful elements of a persuasion speech comes from the speaker having factual evidence to back up the argument and convince audiences to believe in something. For instance, if the goal is to persuade the audience that sugar substitutes are not healthy, the speaker must provide statistics from medical journals or doctors that back up the claims. Another example of a persuasive argument in this case is to mention the side effects of sugar substitutes.
An effective assignment for letting students practice formulating arguments is to have them argue one side of an issue and then require them to switch sides and support the issue they were just arguing against. This exercise teaches speakers how to look for powerful argument tactics and communication styles regardless of whether or not they believe in what they are arguing.