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Hold the Floor

Practice the hard question before it's asked for real.

Members answer real questions out loud, take the follow-up from an AI practice partner and get one clear thing to try next. Then they run it again.

Talk to us How a round works

How a round works

Four steps, then run it again.

  1. 1

    Pick a real question

    Start from questions that were put to real speakers, or write your own. Each one keeps its sources.

  2. 2

    Say it out loud

    Record up to a minute, or type if you're somewhere quiet. Review your words before you send them.

  3. 3

    Take the follow-up

    An AI practice partner pushes back the way a skeptical listener would. Choose a friendly peer or, if you opt in, a hostile room.

  4. 4

    Get one better move

    Feedback names one thing to try next and rates five skills, then you run it again. Agreement is never part of the score.

Practice modes

Six ways to take the floor.

Each mode trains a different move, from a first round against a friendly skeptic to pressure that doesn't let a dodge go. Leaders choose which modes their group uses.

  • Step Up

    A skeptical peer

    Make an opening case, answer pushback that adapts to what you said, get coaching, then take a targeted rematch.

  • Rebuttal Sprint

    A prepared critic

    One objection and one clean answer, with a 45-second target to aim for.

  • Definition Drill

    A precision challenger

    Define the contested term fairly first, then answer without hiding behind the definition.

  • Steelman Switch

    A fair-minded opponent

    State the other side's strongest case, in words they would accept, before you make yours.

  • Hostile Room Opt-in

    A hard interviewer

    Three skeptical follow-ups that press on anything you dodge. The pressure comes from the argument, never from abuse.

  • Expert Cross-Exam

    A source-first expert

    An expert presses only from the supplied sources, and stops when they support no further challenge.

Practice with purpose

Feedback on the argument, not the accent.

Every round is rated on how a member makes their case, never on which side they take.

  • 5skills rated on every answer
  • 6practice modes, from friendly to hostile
  • 15question types in Quiz Night
  • 0points for agreeing with anyone

Feedback

Five skills, and a tip for each.

Ratings run from Starting to Excellent. Every rating comes with one thing to try in the next round, and agreement is never one of the skills.

  1. Build a clear case

    Answer the question, then connect your reason to your conclusion.

  2. Use evidence

    Name a relevant source and explain what it actually supports.

  3. Listen and respond

    Answer the objection you were given before adding another point.

  4. Communicate clearly

    Use one point per sentence and cut unnecessary repetition.

  5. Stay fair

    Represent the other view accurately and acknowledge real limits.

Questions

About Hold the Floor.

More answers on the FAQ page.

Who can see a member's practice?

Only the member. Recordings, transcripts and coaching stay private unless they choose to share an answer's text with their group.

Does it grade opinions?

No. It rates five skills: building a clear case, using evidence, listening and responding, communicating clearly and staying fair. Political or religious agreement is never scored.

Do members have to speak out loud?

Speaking is the point, but a member can type an answer when they're somewhere quiet. Either way, they review their words before sending them.

Which AI does it use?

OpenAI powers the practice partner and the coaching, and ElevenLabs transcribes recordings and reads text aloud. Our Privacy Policy explains what they receive.

Hear it with your own questions.

We'll set up Hold the Floor with the questions your members actually face.

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