Many different schools have different types of debate programs. They are all ran differently. For instence I am on my school's debate team and we are in a leuge of other schools that use one type of debate which is called parlimentary debate. I have no idea what type of debate your school has to offer so you might want to check that one out with the debate coach(s). Once you find out go online and sure enough you will find ways to practice and stuff. My debate works like this. You have tournements. Each tournements have different schools attending it. Each schools maybe 4-6 schools will have some teams. Each team in MY league is a 3 person team. One who is 1st speaker who gives the team's introduction to the argument. Second rebuts the others and brings up new points. And the third just argues everything the opposing team has said.
You program may be entirly different. This is how I practice:
First you want to collect as much information you can get on the topic. Weather it means going to your local library, going on the internet-wikipedia, google, info please, ect. or look something up in an encyclopedia. Debate takes a lot of research without the research you are nothing. You also want to be able to argue both sides of the topic YES and NO. This will help you get a lot of points and arguements.
The second thing is you want to become a very good speaker. Get up in front of your family or friends and get someone to help and argue on a topic. This will get you great expirience especially public speaking.
Ask your debate coach(s) about it.
Good Luck.
