An AI-powered tool that strengthens critical thinking by challenging students' arguments with counter-arguments, identifying logical fallacies, and providing actionable feedback.
- ** Counter-Arguments**: AI generates the strongest possible counter-argument to your position
- ** Fallacy Detection**: Identifies logical fallacies in your reasoning
- ** Improvement Tips**: Actionable advice to strengthen your argument
- ** Scoring System**: Comprehensive analysis across 4 dimensions (Clarity, Logic, Evidence, Persuasiveness)
- ** Beautiful UI**: Modern, responsive design that works on all devices
- ** Fast Responses**: Optimized mock mode for perfect demos
Create a folder called debate-buddy with this structure:
| File | Purpose | Lines |
|---|---|---|
index.html |
Application structure | ~150 |
css/styles.css |
Styling & responsive design | ~400 |
js/config.js |
Configuration | ~20 |
js/api.js |
Mock AI responses | ~200 |
js/app.js |
UI logic & interactions | ~230 |
Simply open index.html in your web browser!
That's it! No installation, no API keys, no setup required!
-
Enter Your Topic
- Example: "Should college education be free?"
-
Write Your Argument
- Be specific and detailed (minimum 50 characters)
- Include your main points and reasoning
-
Click "Challenge My Argument"
- Wait 1-2 seconds for AI analysis
-
Review Results
- Counter-Argument: See the opposing view
- Logical Fallacies: Identify weaknesses
- Strengthening Tips: Get actionable advice
- Score: See how strong your argument is
-
Improve and Try Again
- Refine your argument based on feedback
- Re-submit to see improvement
Topic: Should homework be banned in schools?
Argument: Homework should be banned because it causes unnecessary stress for students and takes away time from family activities and hobbies. Research shows that excessive homework doesn't improve academic performance and can actually harm mental health. Students need time to relax and pursue their own interests outside of school.
Topic: Should social media have age restrictions?
Argument: Social media platforms should require users to be at least 16 years old because younger teens are vulnerable to cyberbullying and don't have the emotional maturity to handle online interactions responsibly. Studies show that early social media use correlates with increased anxiety and depression in adolescents.
Topic: Should single-use plastics be banned?
Argument: Single-use plastic bags should be banned worldwide because they take hundreds of years to decompose and cause massive environmental damage to oceans and wildlife. Countries that have implemented bans have seen significant reductions in plastic waste without major economic disruption.
- Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6 Modules)
- AI: Intelligent mock responses (production-ready for real AI integration)
- Design: Custom CSS with modern gradients and animations
- No Dependencies: Pure vanilla JavaScript (no frameworks!)
- Instant responses - perfect for demos
- No API costs - completely free
- Reliable - works every time
- Smart responses - analyzes argument quality
- Production-ready - easy to swap for real AI
The mock mode is intelligent - it analyzes your argument and provides contextual feedback based on:
- Argument length
- Use of examples
- Statistical evidence
- Language complexity
- Uses AI as an intellectual challenger, not just a helper
- Promotes critical thinking rather than providing answers
- Multi-dimensional analysis (counter-arguments + fallacies + scoring)
- Helps students become better thinkers
- Useful for debate clubs, essay writing, philosophy classes
- Teaches logical reasoning skills that apply everywhere
- Clean, modular code architecture
- Intelligent mock system that adapts to input
- Responsive design that works on all devices
- Production-ready structure for real AI integration
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Smooth animations and transitions
- Clear feedback and guidance
- Mobile-friendly design
- Lines of Code: ~1000
- Load Time: < 1 second
- Response Time: 1-2 seconds
- Dependencies: 0
- Browser Support: All modern browsers
Once hackathon is complete, easy upgrades include:
- Real AI integration (Hugging Face, OpenAI, Anthropic)
- Save argument history
- Compare before/after versions
- Debate mode: AI vs User back-and-forth
- Export results as PDF
- Team debate mode
- Voice input for arguments
- Multi-language support
- Start with a weak argument - show how AI challenges it
- Revise based on feedback - demonstrate improvement
- Show all 4 tabs - counter, fallacies, tips, scores
- Highlight the score increase - before/after comparison
- End with impact statement - how it makes students better thinkers
- Use a compelling topic (education, technology, environment)
- Show the colorful UI and gradient design
- Capture all 4 result tabs
- Include the scoring visualization
The Problem: Students often write arguments without considering opposing viewpoints or logical flaws. They need practice in critical thinking, not just writing.
The Solution: Debate Buddy acts as an intellectual sparring partner, challenging arguments to make students think deeper and reason better.
The Impact: By practicing with Debate Buddy, students learn to:
- Anticipate counter-arguments
- Identify logical fallacies
- Support claims with evidence
- Think more critically about complex issues
These skills transfer to essays, debates, presentations, and real-world problem-solving.
For: Student Hackpad 2025
Theme: Tools that make student life better
Category: Learning & Education
Technologies:
- HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript ES6
- Responsive Design
- Intelligent Mock AI System
MIT License - Free to use, modify, and learn from!
- Student Hackpad team for the opportunity
- All the students who struggle with critical thinking - this is for you!
- Coffee (lots of it)
Made to help students become better debaters, one argument at a time!
"The best way to learn critical thinking is to have your ideas challenged."