Help with Debates

Insurance Debate is an interactive forum where the audience can discuss important topical issues, using an 'Oxford-style debate'.  This style of debate uses experts to discuss differing views of a chosen topic. Readers are then asked to take part in two ways:

• Join the debate at any stage by making comments on what you have read or simply voice your own opinion
• Vote upon which expert's view you agree with. You can change your vote at any time during the debate.

Each debate lasts for five days and progresses with new posts on the site each day, and voting closing at the end of the final day.

The format for each debate:

• On the first day the two experts, known as a 'Proposer' and 'Opposer', post their opening statements. A 'moderator' also posts a statement, which helps to the set the scene of the debate. From this point onwards the audience can add their own comments through the discussion board, and start voting on whether they agree with the Proposer or Opposer
• On the second day a guest speaker adds a statement. Staying neutral, they give their own take on the topic being discussed
• Both Proposer and the Opposer make their rebuttals to each other's views, reacting to what has been discussed so far
• Closing statements then follow from both sides on the penultimate day
• Voting then closes, with the moderator giving a summary of the debate and announcing the winner
• The Debate is then archived to view
• THE AUDIENCE CAN USE THE DISCUSSION BOARD AND VOTE AT ANY STAGE OF THE LIVE DEBATE

All of our debates will use #InsuranceDebate on Twitter, so keeping up to date with the discussion couldn’t be easier.

For any further queries or to make suggestions for how we can improve the Debates contact our publisher, Phil Davison.