HOW TO GREET IN A SCHOOL DEBATE
Complete Guide for Students on greetings for debate in school
Public Speaking Series · 8-Minute Read · Primary & Secondary School Students
Master the art of the perfect debate greeting — from your first words to your closing remarks. Impress the judges and command the room with confidence.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Your Debate Greeting Matters
- The Correct Order of Address
- Greetings for the First Speaker
- Greetings for the Second Speaker
- Greetings for the Third Speaker / Rebuttal
- Full Sample Opening Speeches
- Do’s and Don’ts of Debate Greetings
- Tips for Delivering Your Greeting with Confidence
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why your debate greeting matters
In a school debate, the first thing you say sets the tone for everything that follows. Your greeting signals to the judges, audience, and your opponents that you are prepared, respectful, and confident. A strong opening greeting creates an immediate positive impression — before you have even made a single argument.
Think of it as the handshake before a meeting. It is brief, but it matters enormously.
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| Key Insight
Research in public speaking shows that audiences form a first impression within the first 7 seconds of hearing a speaker. Your greeting is your most powerful tool for starting strong. |
2. The correct order of address
In a formal school debate, there is a specific order in which you must acknowledge people. Always follow this order — getting it wrong shows a lack of preparation.
| 1 | Mr/Madam Chairperson — Always first. They are running the debate. |
| 2 | Honourable judges / adjudicators — They are scoring you. |
| 3 | Teachers and guests — Respected members of staff and visitors. |
| 4 | Worthy opponents — Acknowledge the other team respectfully. |
| 5 | Fellow students / audience — Last, but not forgotten. |
| Common Mistake
Never greet your opponents before the judges. Never skip the Chairperson. The order of address is part of formal debate protocol and may affect your score. |
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3. Greetings for the first speaker
The first speaker carries the most responsibility for setting up a strong opening. Your greeting should be formal, confident, and flow naturally into your introduction of the motion.
| Standard formal greeting
“Good morning/afternoon, Mr/Madam Chairperson, honourable judges, respected teachers, my worthy opponents, and fellow students. I am [Name], the first speaker for the [Proposition/Opposition], and I am here today to argue that [state the motion].” |
| Confident & assertive opening
“Mr/Madam Chairperson, distinguished adjudicators, teachers, worthy opponents, and dear audience — a very good morning to you all. My name is [Name], standing proudly on behalf of the [Proposition/Opposition] team.” |
| Short & punchy version
“Good morning, Madam Chairperson, honourable judges, respected teachers, dear opponents, and fellow students. I am [Name], first speaker for the [Proposition], and we firmly believe that [motion].” |
4. Greetings for the second speaker
The second speaker does not need to repeat the full formal greeting. A shorter acknowledgement of the Chairperson is acceptable, followed by a brief reference to what your first speaker established.
| Standard second speaker greeting
“Thank you, Mr/Madam Chairperson. Fellow students, honourable judges, and my worthy opponents — my name is [Name], the second speaker for the [Proposition/Opposition]. As my colleague [Name] has clearly established, [briefly restate the key argument]…” |
| Building on the first speaker
“Mr/Madam Chairperson, judges, and audience — I am [Name], and I rise once again on behalf of the [Proposition/Opposition] to further strengthen our position. My first speaker has shown that [recap]. I shall now demonstrate that [your point]…” |
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5. Greetings for the third speaker / rebuttal
The third speaker’s greeting is typically the shortest. Your role is to rebut the opposing team’s arguments and summarise your team’s case, so you waste no time.
| Third speaker / rebuttal opening
“Mr/Madam Chairperson, with your kind permission — my name is [Name], the third and final speaker for the [Proposition/Opposition]. My team has today proven beyond all reasonable doubt that [motion]. The opposition has argued [X], but we say…” |
| Strong summary-style opening
“Mr/Madam Chairperson, honourable judges — I am [Name]. My colleagues have already established a compelling case for [motion]. It is now my duty to address the opposition’s claims and bring our argument to a close.” |
| Pro Tip
Third speakers should spend less than 10 seconds on the greeting. The judges want to hear your rebuttal — get to it quickly after a brief, respectful acknowledgement. |
6. Full sample opening speeches
Sample 1 — Proposition, first speaker
| Full example
“Good morning, Mr Chairman, honourable judges, our esteemed teachers, my worthy opponents, and dear fellow students. I am Amara Johnson, proud to stand as the first speaker for the Proposition team. Today, we debate the motion: ‘This house believes that social media does more harm than good.’ Ladies and gentlemen, we firmly stand in support of this motion, and by the end of this debate, we shall prove without a shadow of a doubt that the evidence overwhelmingly supports our position.” |
Sample 2 — Opposition, first speaker
| Full example
“A warm good afternoon to our distinguished Chairperson, respected adjudicators, our honourable teachers, our able opponents, and all present. My name is David Okafor, and I stand before you today as the first speaker for the Opposition. We challenge the notion that ‘children should not be allowed to use mobile phones in school.’ We believe this motion is misguided, and we shall demonstrate why.” |
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7. Do’s and don’ts of debate greetings
| DO | DON’T |
| ✓ Stand tall and make eye contact | ✗ Rush through names nervously |
| ✓ Follow the correct order of address | ✗ Skip the Chairperson or judges |
| ✓ Speak clearly and at a measured pace | ✗ Greet in the wrong order |
| ✓ State your name and position clearly | ✗ Use slang or casual language |
| ✓ Mention which side you represent | ✗ Spend more than 30 seconds greeting |
| ✓ State the motion after your greeting | ✗ Forget to introduce yourself |
| ✓ Keep the greeting under 30 seconds | ✗ Read the greeting from a paper |
8. Tips for delivering your greeting with confidence
- Memorise your greeting — never read it from a paper. It should feel natural and rehearsed.
- Take a breath before you begin. A 2-second pause after standing up signals confidence.
- Scan the room as you greet each group — look at the judges when you say “judges,” look at opponents when you say “opponents.”
- Project your voice to the back of the room. Debate halls can be large, and judges must hear every word.
- Smile slightly — it communicates warmth and confidence to the audience and judges alike.
- Practise your greeting out loud at home until it flows without thinking.
- Avoid filler words like “um,” “so,” and “like” — pause silently instead.
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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I use “Good morning” and “Good afternoon” at the same time?
No — pick the one that matches the time of day. If your debate is in the morning, say “Good morning.” If it is in the afternoon, say “Good afternoon.” Using both sounds awkward.
Q: What if I forget the order of address mid-greeting?
Pause, breathe, and continue calmly. Do not panic or apologise mid-sentence. Most judges understand that nerves happen — your recovery and overall delivery matter more than a slight stumble.
Q: Should I greet in my home language or English?
Always greet in the language of the debate. If you are debating in English, your greeting must be in English. Using your home language without instruction from the debate organisers may cost you marks.
Q: How long should a debate greeting be?
For the first speaker, 20–30 seconds is ideal. Second and third speakers should be briefer — 10–15 seconds is enough. Never let the greeting eat into your argument time.
Q: Do I have to greet opponents as “worthy opponents”?
You do not have to use those exact words, but the sentiment of respectful acknowledgement is required. You may also say “our able opponents,” “the opposing team,” or “my esteemed opponents.”
Remember: Your first words set the stage for your whole performance.
Practise your greeting. Own the room. Win the debate.
