Help Your Middle Schooler Speak with Confidence and Think Like a Champion DebaterPublic Forum debate is one of the most valuable activities for students—but also one of the hardest to start. Debate Like a Champion: The Public Forum Edition makes it simple, clear, and beginner-friendly for grades 5–8.
Written by Bani Kaur Rawal, a Student Champion and Debate Instructor from New York City, this book shows young learners exactly how to speak confidently, build strong cases, and win debates—even if they have never debated before.
Since publishing this book, Bani has continued competing at the highest levels of high school Public Forum debate, becoming a finalist at the Liberty Bell Classic hosted by the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and an octofinalist at Harvard University. She has also competed in Model United Nations at Brown University, earning an Honorable Mention, and has participated in conferences at Harvard. These experiences reflect her continued growth in advanced argumentation, strategy, and competitive speaking.
This practical and inspiring guide teaches students how to:
Write cases that judges actually care about
Deliver persuasive arguments using impact and weighing
Dominate crossfire without freezing or losing confidence
Think quickly under pressure and respond with clarity
Win rounds with strategy, presence, and smart decision-making
Improve speaking, teamwork, and leadership skills
Perfect for:
Grades 5–8
New debaters
Public Forum teams & school clubs
Homeschoolers and independent learners
Kids who want stronger speaking and critical-thinking skills
With clear examples, step-by-step breakdowns of every PF speech, and real insights from tournaments, this book gives students everything they need to succeed.
Your child’s voice is powerful. This book helps them use it like a champion.
Bani Kaur Rawal is a Student Champion and Debate Instructor from New York City. She discovered her passion for Public Forum debate in middle school, went on to compete and earn multiple speaker awards, and now teaches online debate classes and workshops to students across the country.Bani attended The Anderson School and now studies at The Spence School, where she continues to grow her commitment to student leadership and communication.She is the founder of Civispeak Debate Academy, where she helps young speakers build confidence, public speaking ability, critical thinking, and leadership skills through structured debate instruction.Bani also runs her own debate education website, FreeDebateClasses.com, where she provides free beginner-friendly resources to help students start learning debate from anywhere.
