Debate topic:
My side (YES or NO):
Opponent's team name:
How to use this worksheet. The debate is over — great job for showing up and speaking! This sheet helps you look back at how it went. There are no wrong answers here. Being honest with yourself is how you get better.
- Answer each part about YOUR own debate. Circle words when it asks you to, and write on the lines.
- Every part has a Clarify hint. Read it if you feel stuck. It gives you a friendly tip, never the "right" answer.
- Part 6 is for your Moderator or Mentor to fill out with you. You do not write in that part.
PART 1
My Performance Check-in
Let's start with how you felt and what you were trying to do.
1.How did I feel before this practice debate? (circle one or more): Excited | Nervous | Ready | Confident | Curious | Anxious
2.What was my main goal for this practice debate? (e.g., speak clearly, listen well, use my notes)
Clarify — Any feeling is okay, even nervous ones. Naming how you feel helps you manage it. Brave people feel nervous too — they just speak anyway.
PART 2
Opening & Closing Statements
Your Opening tells your side. Your Closing reminds everyone of your best idea.
3.Did I clearly state my side in my Opening Statement? (circle one): Yes | No | Almost
4.What worked well?
5.What could I do better next time?
6.Did I share my strongest idea in my Closing Statement? (circle one): Yes | No | Almost
7.What worked well?
8.What could I do better?
Clarify — "Worked well" and "do better" are BOTH good news. Noticing what to fix is a skill, not a mistake. Every strong speaker keeps a list like this.
PART 3
Listening & Responding (Rebuttals)
A rebuttal is when you answer the other side. Good listening comes first.
9.What was one main reason the other side presented?
10.How did I try to respond (my rebuttal)?
11.How well did my response counter their point? (circle one): Very well | Okay | Needs more practice | I didn't get a chance to respond
12.What was one strong point my team made that I remember?
Clarify — To write down the other side's reason, you had to LISTEN carefully. That is a big skill. If you couldn't respond in time, that's okay — you can plan a response now for next time.
PART 4
Challenges & Stutters
Every speaker hits bumpy moments. Let's spot them so we can practice.
13.Was there a moment I felt stuck? (circle one): Yes | No
14.If yes, what happened?
15.What might help if this happens again?
16.Did I use "um," "uh," or repeat words a lot? (circle one): Yes | No | Sometimes
17.What can I practice to speak more smoothly? (e.g., pausing, slowing down)
18.Was it hard to remember all my points? (circle one): Yes | No | Sometimes
19.How can I use my notes better next time?
Clarify — Everyone stutters sometimes, even famous speakers. A short, calm pause is better than an "um." Take a breath, look at your notes, and keep going. Pausing is a pro move, not a mistake.
PART 5
Overall Reflection & Improvement
Two big ideas to finish: one win and one goal.
20.One thing I did really well:
21.One specific thing I want to improve for my next debate:
Clarify — Pick just ONE thing to improve, so it feels doable. One small goal you actually reach beats a long list you never start. You can pick a new one after your next debate.
✍️ PART 6 — Feedback from Moderator / Mentor
This part is filled out by the Moderator or Mentor, together with the student.
A.Strengths observed — Clarity of arguments:
B.Strengths observed — Listening / Responsiveness:
C.Strengths observed — Confidence / Delivery:
D.Areas for specific improvement (e.g., organization, rebuttals, speaking flow):
E.Effort in preparation and participation (circle one): Excellent | Good | Needs more focus
FOR MENTOR USE — STUDY THIS TOGETHER
Mentor Guide
How to run the reflection and give growth feedback
1. What this worksheet builds
This is the final sheet in a 4-part debate series, and it builds metacognition (thinking about your own thinking), self-assessment (spotting your own wins and next steps), and the skill of receiving feedback without feeling judged. The goal is honest, kind self-reflection — not a perfect score. If the student can name one win and one goal, this sheet worked.
2. How to fill out Part 6 with the student
- Do it together, out loud. Sit beside the student and talk through each line — do not hand it back marked up.
- Be specific. "You said your side clearly in the first sentence" helps more than "good job."
- Strengths first. Fill the three strengths (Clarity, Listening, Confidence) before the improvement line, so the student hears what went right first.
- One improvement. Name just one area in line D — the same one the student chose in Part 5, if you can, so you are pulling in the same direction.
3. Using the Clarify hints
Let the student try each part first; read the Clarify box together only if they stall. The hints coach attitude and strategy ("any feeling is okay," "pick just ONE thing"), never the answers. They reframe stutters and nerves as normal, fixable, and even signs of courage — reinforce that message in your own words.
4. Supporting the student
- Compare this debate to the student's OWN earlier debates in this series, never to peers. "You paused instead of saying um this time" is the kind of win that motivates.
- Work on one improvement at a time. A single clear goal that is actually reached builds far more confidence than a long list.
- Accept an oral answer first, then help the student write it — speaking removes the blank-line freeze.
5. Celebrating growth across the series
This is worksheet 4 of 4 — a milestone. Look back at sheets 1 through 3 together and point to concrete progress: clearer openings, braver delivery, sharper rebuttals, calmer nerves. Name the growth out loud and celebrate it. Finishing a full debate series is a real achievement, and the student should walk away proud and ready for the next one.