Wisconsin Speech and Debate Society

The Wisconsin Speech and Debate Society brings together two forms of competitive speaking:

• Speech is competitive public speaking, where students craft and perform original speeches and dramatic interpretations to persuade, inform, or move an audience. Wisconsin competes in all 11 AFA-NST events.
• Debate is competitive argumentation, where students clash over complex questions of policy and philosophy, using reasoning and research to defend both sides of contemporary and timeless issues. Wisconsin primarily competes in the World Universities Debating Championships format of debate.

Any enrolled UW–Madison student may join the Society, learn the skills, and participate in practices.

Join to become a better speaker and debater, gain knowledge on a broad range of issues, compete against other universities, and make friends!

JOIN (Google form)

Fall 2025 practice meetings

interested students are welcome to drop in!

6:00 pm, Room 382 Van Hise Hall
Debate Team: Mondays and Wednesdays
Speech Team: Tuesdays

no fees • no debate/forensics experience required

Time commitment varies. Casual members come to practices when it fits their schedule. Competitive members participate regularly in the weekly sessions, practice independently (just like a student musician or athlete), and attend multiple tournaments and events.

Competitions

Selected student teams travel to Speech and Debate competitions around the United States and other countries.

There are eleven National Forensics Association – American Forensics Association individual Speech events. We support preparation for any individual event and are particularly strong in Impromptu, Extemporaneous, and Persuasive speaking—all forms of competitive Speech.

We primarily debate in the format of the World Universities Debating Championship. In this format, called British Parliamentary or “Worlds,” four teams of two have fifteen minutes to prepare to speak on a motion (the motion is the topic for Debate). Two teams speak in favor of the motion and two teams speak against the motion. Speeches are seven minutes long. All four teams are in competition with each other.

We also participate Civic Debate events. Civic Debate events take many forms but are unified by their desire to engage with stakeholders of contemporary issues, encourage scholarship, and promote service.

Although we focus on British Parliamentary, we are interested in Debate of all formats.