Author: Katie Doll

Why is asking questions important in a debate? What types of questions should you ask? According to Trey Gowdy, the most effective tool of persuasion isn’t any particular way of making an argument but asking questions. Gowdy claims that as a prosecutor and chair of Congressional committees, he spent more time asking questions than constructing a narrative from those answers. Here’s how to ask questions in a debate so you can have the upper hand.

What is information gathering in a debate? How can you gather information while also forming an argument against your opponent? Debating requires you to do many things at once. While your opponent is giving their argument, you also have to ask the right questions to receive more information that can be used against them. Discover how to gather information while you’re opponent has their turn to talk.

How can you execute refutation in debates? What are ways to undermine your opponent’s facts? According to Trey Gowdy, knowing your opponents is an important part of debating because it allows for an easy refutation of their argument. This means fully understanding what their arguments are, what facts they’re relying on, and what it would take to convince them to abandon their position. Check out how to get a good sense of who your opponents are so you can chip away at their argument.

How do you use leading questions in a debate? What are the benefits of steering a conversation by asking questions? According to Trey Gowdy, there are three types of questions: leading, non-leading, and “why” questions. Leading questions can be used to direct the conversation and stay on topic when you’re opponent changes the subject. Let’s look at how to ask leading questions in a debate.