What Makes a Great Debate? Here’s an Expert Analysis on the Trump-Harris Showdown

A Rutgers professor breaks down key elements of a standout debater and performance

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, all eyes turn to the second debate of the election season, featuring former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Philadelphia and broadcast on ABC, this face-off marks the first head-to-head encounter between the presidential candidates.

The event features a similar debate format as the debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, which attracted about 51.3 million viewers on CNN. The debate will unfold without an audience, muted mics when the candidates aren’t speaking and a ban on written notes, stripping the event down to its core: the skill and strategy of the debaters.

Erin Christie, an assistant teaching professor at the School of Communication and Information and a faculty adviser for the Rutgers Public Speaking Organization and Debate Union, offered expert insights on the elements that define a standout debate performance.

What are the key elements of a great debate?

In a good debate, parties should address the topic with a clearly presented position, using valid supporting sources, anticipating and defending against objections and identifying weaknesses in the opponent’s arguments, including critiquing the opponent’s sources. Lastly, they should develop a closing statement that incorporates insights gained from the above.

What are the qualities of an exceptional debater?

As for a good debater, the key qualities, in no particular order, include being highly informed about the material and utilizing critical thinking skills. This includes reviewing content to ensure that the structure of the material is well presented.

A good debater will be well-rehearsed but comfortable enough with the content to include personal asides where appropriate. Additionally, an array of techniques should be employed: volume control, eye contact, moderate speaking rate, clarity of expression, vocal emphasis on key words and phrases, attentive listening, adequate pauses at important moments, appropriate body language and gestures and suitable facial expressions. Lastly, a good debater should avoid ad hominem, or personal, attacks.

Effective use of these techniques can enhance a debater's success, while lapses or failures in these areas can greatly diminish it.

How do personality traits and communication styles influence debate performance?

In general, personality traits that are friendly and non-offensive make for success when debating. An aggressive style usually turns off an audience. Therefore, it is important to be aware of both positive and potentially off-putting behaviors and to use or avoid these aspects when debating.

Former President Trump employs a deeply committed and emphatic style, whereas Vice President Harris’s most prominent characteristic is her likeability. However, Trump’s commitment can become off-putting if overdone.

Similarly, Harris’s facial expression, namely smiling and appearing happy (which indicates friendliness and approachability) can positively impact her performance by enhancing likeability. But if excessive, it can make her appear disingenuous. Harris also tends to have a lilt in her voice, which has a positive effect, but when overused diminishes its impact.

What strategies may the presidential candidates use to counter their opponents?

Effective preparation requires knowing your material cold, conducting proper research and verifying sources. Good critical thinking should be applied at all times. Rehearsal to gain feedback, especially with others, is highly necessary. Preparation of a clear and concise opening statement is invaluable. Taking care of oneself physically, namely proper rest, also should not be overlooked when preparing.

Specific strategies used to anticipate and counter the opponent’s arguments include examining the topic with a focus on the opponent’s position, which can help identify flaws that can be pointed out. This includes the identification of negative consequences of the opponent’s position as well as flaws in any of the opponent’s assumptions. Occasionally, with good critical thinking, flaws can be found that actually support one’s own position and disprove the opponents.