World Schools Style debate

World Schools Style debate (alternatively WSS, WS, or WSD) is one of the most widely used debate formats in secondary schools. It was designed in 1988 to be used at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC), but became a global standard for secondary school debate as WSDC gained popularity. WS is most similar to British Parliamentary, Australasian, and Karl Popper debate formats. The rules of WS are contained in the WSDC rulebook, with other users of the format explicitly using these rules at their competitions (e.g. EuroSDC). The interpretation of these rules differs across various historic and geographic contexts, leading to frequent clarifications and adaptations at the WSDC.

Each debate comprises eight speeches delivered by two teams of three members, representing the Proposition and Opposition. One team is in favour of a debate motion, typically expressed as a statement beginning with "This House" (e.g. This House Would Ban Alcohol). When used internationally, the topics debated are generally relevant on a global scale, thus debaters are expected to consider the entire world in their examples and argumentation. The first six speeches are eight minutes in duration, with each team then finishing up by giving a four-minute concluding reply speech. In Impromptu debate, teams of three to five debaters are given 60 minutes to prepare for their speeches; in prepared debates, the motion is announced days to months before the debate to allow for research and preparation. At the WSDC, prepared motions are released 8 weeks before the competition. Notably, debaters can prepare for the latter with the help of their coaches, the internet, and any other resource, whereas they may only converse within the team for impromptu debates.