* The World Online Debating Championships

Debatewise is proud to announce the third World Online Debating Championships (WODC). This is a debating competition like no other; you can debate from the comfort of your home, you can participate anywhere with internet access, you have a full 24 hours to perfect your arguments and can collaborate with teammates, no matter where they are in the world.

The 2011 competition is currently underway - read the debates here. Also, see the 2009 and 2010 debates.

How does it work?

First register your team by sending us an email, below.

At the given time (yet to be finalised, but in early July) we'll pair up teams, assign a motion and decide who will be the proposition and who'll be the opposition - all at random of course

A typical debate starts on Monday and runs as follows

1. Monday 12 noon GMT
   Motion revealed to Proposition – they make their case
2. Tuesday 12 noon GMT
   Motion and proposition's arguments revealed to Opposition. Opposition responds and makes its case
3. Wednesday 12 noon GMT
   Proposition responds to opposition – adds new arguments
4. Thursday 12 noon GMT
   Opposition responds to proposition – makes new arguments
5. Friday 12 noon GMT
   Both sides summarise
6. Saturday 12 noon GMT
   Judging begins. Two judges will be experienced real-world debate judges, and the third 'judge' will be a score devised from the open voting facility on the site.
7. Winners progress to the next round

Entry costs US$20 per person and is capped at $100 per team. Bursaries are available to all deserving applicants. We will only have one team from each country so may hold preliminary rounds to select the representative before the main contest starts. You'll be notified if that is the case.

Otherwise, get entering and good luck. We are restricting this competition to 32 teams only so don't delay, enter now!

Any questions - email us below:

Why enter?

• Fantastic prizes
• Chance to call yourself a World Champion
• Ability to hone your debating skills
• Debate with people from around the world without leaving home
• Permanent recognition in the Debatewise Hall of Fame
• Certificates of achievement for all 32 finalists
• Chance to mentor next year's contestants

Useful links

• More details on the competition (pdf)
• Tips and tricks (pdf)
• The rules (pdf)