1. Expand your knowledge base. Through research, argument preparation and intercollegiate competition, debaters across the country develop in-depth knowledge and new perspectives about politics, philosophy, current events, social justice and policy decision-making. 2. Foster critical thinking skills. Since teams prepare and debate both sides, debaters strengthen their critical thinking and analytical skills as they refine strategies, evaluate evidence and fortify their rebuttal stories between tournaments. 3. Improve public speaking ability. Students have the opportunity to work on word choice, volume, rate, pitch and other elements of delivery as they gain confidence as effective communicators in and outside of rounds. 4. Enhanced research skills. Preparing for debates requires extensive research on a wide range of topics. This process helps students develop strong research skills and the capacity to locate and analyze relevant information. 5. Improved problem-solving skills. Debating against intellectually-gifted students with excellent coaching staffs can be frustrating at the start. However, debate is an incredible teacher that can help you rise above seemingly insurmountable challenges. Students learn to think on their feet, listen carefully, and use their skills to triumph in intellectual combat. 6. Teamwork and collaboration skills. In CEDA debate, you not only work with a partner but students work together to research, prepare, and present arguments so it doesn’t overwhelm your schoolwork commitments. Learning to communicate and be reliable are great preparations for the workplace. When one teammate wins, it’s a victory for the entire NYU squad. 7. Improved academic skills. The consensus of local and national studies over the past two decades demonstrate that debate significantly improves written and oral communication, critical thinking, research abilities and reading comprehension. The speed of debate also enhances your ability to process information quickly and respond effectively