Why should I debate?

A debater must take a motion; a statement of policy or belief and turn it into a clear line of rigid argumentation in 15 minutes or less. They must be able to present their ideas clearly and effectively. They must persuade the adjudicators and beat their opponents. 
All of these, above all the art of clear and effective thinking, are things essential to real life. A debate career looks good on a resumé for a reason: It convinces employers that you are, in fact, a thinker of the finest quality, a good speaker, and a team player.
Besides all that, debating is plainly enjoyable. You meet new people, you expand your horizons, and if you attend tournaments, these and more effects will be amplified vastly.
Become a better person. Become a debater. 

What is BP debating?

BP is the oldest and most common debate format. Most international tournaments are held in BP. Some national ones are, too. British Parliamentary is the standart in international European debating and recieves its global relevance due to being the official format of WUDC (World University Debating Championships), the biggest and most celebrated competition worldwide. It is also the format of EUDC (European Universites Debating Championships). 

A BP debate consists of four teams. Each team consists of two people, making a total of 8 debaters in a debate. First, the motion (a statement of policy or belief; the question that the entire debate will revolve around) is revealed. The teams now have 15 minutes to prepare, and then the debate begins. The teams assume their previously assigned positions, whereby two teams argue for the motion and the other two against. Each speaker has 7 minutes to convey their arguments, making a debate last for about an hour. The adjudicators then decide on a ranking and give the speakers feedback for them to improve in future debates. 

Cheat Sheet for BP