What are debates and why do we have them?

A debate is a way for people with different views to argue against each other in an organised way.

It means everyone gets to chance to talk, trying to convince an audience that their opinion is the right one.

Debates are won when one side manages to persuade more people than the other that their opinion is right.

This can be done by making strong points that the audience will remember, or finding problems with the other debaters' ideas.

Ricky's been taking a look at what debates are and why we have them...