What Is Debater of the Month?
Debater of the Month (DotM) is VersyTalks' flagship monthly competition that celebrates outstanding debaters through community voting and real rewards.
Every month, a selection of debates is marked as eligible for DotM. Participants in these debates compete not only for intellectual recognition but also for a share of a minimum $120 prize pool distributed among winners.
The competition combines quality argumentation, strategic thinking, and community engagement, making it the highest-profile event on the platform.
How Debater of the Month Works
Here is the month-long flow for Debater of the Month (DotM) at a glance:
- Join eligible debates: Look for debates marked as DotM-eligible or listed in the Debater of the Month tab. Any arguments, discussions, or feedback you contribute there count toward the competition.
- Earn votes: When other users like your work, they vote on your arguments and discussions. For discussions, the thread becomes votable once it reaches at least three total replies.
- Reach the Top 20: At the end of each month, the 20 debaters with the highest vote totals move into the judging stage, as long as they have made at least 15 total contributions (arguments, feedbacks, or discussions) in DotM-eligible debates.
- Judging stage: Debate coaches and educators review the Top 20 and select 3–6 standout debaters based on clarity, logical structure, evidence, creativity, and respectful engagement.
- Win prizes: The top five debaters by votes automatically earn $10 each. Judges then distribute the remaining prize pool among 3–6 standout debaters, which can include people who are already in the top five.
- Get featured: Winners may be highlighted on the home page, in the newsletter, and on VersyTalks social media channels.
Prizes and Recognition
Winners of Debater of the Month receive multiple forms of recognition:
- Cash Rewards: A minimum of $120 is distributed among the top debaters each month.
- Achievement Badges: Winners earn exclusive badges displayed on their profiles.
- Platform Visibility: Winning arguments are highlighted in newsletters, social media, and featured content.
- Reputation Boost: Success in DotM significantly raises your profile visibility and credibility on the platform.
Voting Guidelines
Community members vote based on:
- Argument Quality: Logic, structure, and depth of reasoning.
- Evidence and Citations: Use of credible sources and data.
- Clarity and Persuasiveness: How effectively the argument communicates its points.
- Respectful Tone: Civil engagement with opposing views.
Revived Debates in DotM
Each month, up to six debates can be "revived" and re-enter the DotM competition through community votes using revival tokens.
These debates appear with a 🧟 zombie icon, and debaters can update their arguments within a 7-day window or leave them as-is.
Revived debates give past arguments a second chance to compete and allow debaters to demonstrate growth and improvement.
Strategies to Win Debater of the Month
To maximize your chances:
- Participate early in the month: Give your arguments time to gather votes and feedback.
- Engage with feedback: Accepting constructive edits improves argument quality and community perception.
- Focus on clarity: Well-organized, easy-to-follow arguments perform better than dense, overly technical ones.
- Support your claims: Use data, examples, and credible sources wherever possible.
- Be active in discussions: Respond to challenges and participate in thread discussions to demonstrate engagement.