How to Write Great Debate Topics
Learn how adding context to your debate topic helps our AI generate more focused, relevant, and interesting debates. See examples across different categories and discover our live news crawling capability.
Why Context Matters: A Real Story
A user wanted pre-match commentary for "Real Madrid vs Chelsea" - tactical analysis, player roles, and strategic insights for entertainment.
But the AI interpreted it as a betting discussion - odds, predictions, and gambling advice. Why? The topic was ambiguous.
The fix: "Real Madrid vs Chelsea - Which team has better tactics and form? Focus on match strategy, player analysis, and recent performance, not betting odds."
Adding context clarified the perspective, and the AI generated exactly the tactical debate they wanted.
Examples by Category
Current Affairs & Breaking News
Our AI can discuss the latest events as they happen, thanks to live news crawling.
"US Election 20XX: Should the electoral college be abolished? Consider the popular vote vs state representation debate and recent close elections."
Why this works: Shows you can debate current elections as they happen. Specifies which aspect to debate and mentions relevant context.
"Latest AI breakthrough: Will Gemini 3.0 change how we work? Focus on productivity gains vs job displacement, considering what happened with previous AI releases."
Why this works: References current events and asks for specific analysis angles.
"Breaking: New climate report released - Are current carbon reduction targets achievable? Compare commitments from major economies vs actual progress."
Why this works: Timely topic with specific data comparison requested.
Technology & Innovation
Tech debates benefit from specifying which concerns matter most to you.
"Should social media platforms be liable for user content? Consider free speech protections, moderation costs, and real-world harm from viral misinformation."
Why this works: Identifies the key tensions and trade-offs to explore.
"Cryptocurrency regulation: Will it protect consumers without stifling innovation? Look at what happened in countries that already implemented strict rules."
Why this works: Requests evidence-based analysis from real examples.
"Self-driving cars: Are they safer than human drivers? Focus on accident statistics, edge cases, and liability questions - not science fiction scenarios."
Why this works: Clarifies what to focus on AND what to avoid.
Politics & Policy
Policy debates work best when you specify the criteria for success.
"Universal basic income: Would it reduce poverty without reducing workforce participation? Consider findings from pilot programs in Finland, Kenya, and California."
Why this works: Names specific success criteria and evidence sources.
"Medicare for All vs public option: Which achieves universal coverage while controlling costs? Compare actual outcomes from similar systems in other countries."
Why this works: Sets clear goals and requests international comparisons.
"Should college be free? Focus on economic returns, opportunity costs, and who should pay - not just ideals about education access."
Why this works: Frames it as an economic analysis, not just values debate.
Sports & Entertainment
Sports debates need context to avoid being interpreted as betting/gambling discussions.
"Lakers vs Celtics: Which franchise has the better long-term strategy? Analyze recent draft picks, coaching decisions, and player development - not championship count."
Why this works: Focuses on strategy and management, not just history or odds.
"Should VAR be removed from soccer? Consider its impact on game flow, referee authority, and accuracy of major decisions based on data from leagues that use it."
Why this works: Identifies specific criteria and asks for data-driven analysis.
"Streaming vs theaters: Which is better for the film industry? Look at revenue models, creative freedom for directors, and audience experience - not just convenience."
Why this works: Explores multiple stakeholder perspectives beyond consumer preference.
Society & Culture
Social debates benefit from framing which values or outcomes to prioritize.
"Remote work vs office: Which is better for productivity and innovation? Look at data from companies that tried both post-pandemic, not just personal preferences."
Why this works: Requests empirical evidence over opinions.
"Should elementary schools teach coding? Focus on cognitive development, career preparation, and trade-offs vs other subjects like arts or physical education."
Why this works: Identifies what to weigh and what to compare against.
"Cancel culture: Does it promote accountability or stifle free speech? Consider evidence from high-profile cases, impact on public discourse, and alternatives for addressing harm."
Why this works: Acknowledges both sides and asks for concrete examples.
Science & Environment
Scientific debates work well when you specify which evidence to prioritize.
"Nuclear vs renewable energy: Which is better for fighting climate change? Compare lifecycle emissions, land use, reliability, and buildout speed based on engineering studies."
Why this works: Lists specific metrics for comparison and cites evidence type.
"Lab-grown meat: Will it reduce environmental impact of agriculture? Consider energy requirements, scalability challenges, and consumer acceptance based on current production data."
Why this works: Balances environmental goals with practical constraints.
"Should we pursue Mars colonization now? Weigh technological feasibility, costs, and whether resources would achieve more solving Earth problems - use NASA and SpaceX data."
Why this works: Sets up opportunity cost analysis with specific data sources.
Quick Tips for Better Debates
- 1.Specify the angle: "Better for the environment" is vague. Add "considering lifecycle emissions including production" for clarity.
- 2.Request evidence: "Look at data from pilot programs" or "Compare actual outcomes from other countries" guides the AI to use facts.
- 3.Name what to avoid: "Focus on strategy, not betting odds" or "not just ideals about access" prevents misinterpretation.
- 4.Use current events: Our live crawl means you can debate breaking news and trending topics as they happen.
- 5.You have 500 characters: Use them! Adding context gets you better, more focused debates.
Ready to Create Your Debate?
Use these examples as inspiration and create engaging debates on any topic - from breaking news to timeless questions.