Developing disarming discourse and creating robust rebuttals will be high on the agenda for those attending a Sunshine Coast Schools Debating Expo at USC on Thursday 18 May.

The University is staging the ‘Words at 10 Paces’ expo from 10am-1pm at USC’s Innovation Centre Auditorium to boost the debating skills of high school students and their coaches from across the region.

It has been designed to help beginners, as well as those who already have the gift of the gab but want to refine or refresh their skills.

Students and teachers can watch a demonstration debate between two local schools and learn more about the key features of a debate, including points of information, rebuttals and the role of each speaker.

The expo will prime students for an eight-week Sunshine Coast Schools Debating Competition, a short-preparation style debating tournament for students in Years 6 to 12, that will begin in August.

To register or for more information, contact Robyn Warn on 5430 1239 or rwarn@usc.edu.au.

— Gen Kennedy