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Debate & Persuasion
🔧 Fix the Weak Argument
Take a weak argument and repair it until it can survive a serious question.
What you need
Weak claims such as “School uniforms are good because they are good for schools.”
How to play
- Read the weak argument.
- Identify what is missing: reasoning, evidence, example, or impact.
- Rewrite it with a clear claim and explanation.
- Add one useful example or piece of support.
See one in action
Weak: “Homework should disappear because students dislike it.”
What is missing? Disliking something does not prove it has no value.
Stronger: “Schools should reduce weekend homework when the additional academic benefit is small, because recovery time can improve students’ focus and readiness for the next school week.”
You strengthen the argument by adding reasoning, not by making the claim louder.
What is missing? Disliking something does not prove it has no value.
Stronger: “Schools should reduce weekend homework when the additional academic benefit is small, because recovery time can improve students’ focus and readiness for the next school week.”
You strengthen the argument by adding reasoning, not by making the claim louder.
10 ideas to try
Choose any one of these prompts and use the activity steps above:
- Weak: “Cats should run companies because they look important.” Improve the reasoning.
- Weak: “Mondays are bad because nobody likes them.” Explain what makes them difficult.
- Weak: “School uniforms are good because they are good for schools.” Add a real reason.
- Weak: “Public libraries are important because books are important.” Explain who benefits and why.
- Weak: “People should exercise because exercise is healthy.” Explain the mechanism.
- Weak: “Phones are bad because people use them too much.” Define the actual harm.
- Weak: “School should start later because students are tired.” Explain how later starts change the outcome.
- Weak: “Parks are good because nature is nice.” Connect parks to a concrete benefit.
- Weak: “Everyone should own a dog because dogs are great.” Add limits, reasoning, and tradeoffs.
- Weak: “Homework should disappear because students dislike it.” Explain why dislike should matter to the policy.
Make it harder / funnier
Mix silly and serious arguments. After fixing one, let another player attack your improved version and see if you can strengthen it again.
Why it helps
Practices argument construction, reasoning, clarity, and self-editing without making every example feel like homework.
Ready to use this skill?
Try it in Debate Practice →Take the activity into a full SpeakCoachLab practice session.