Users of this site can access materials either on the homepage or the site map at left. In either case, there are three ways in which this site can be used. (In parentheses are the numbers of the debates for that year. Incumbents are designated with an asterisk.):

The first is to focus on the debates and the candidates who participated in the debates. Clicking the years of the debates on the left will link to a historical background of the debate including the establishment of format, rules, etc. Clicking the names of the candidates will link to biographical information.

The second use for the site has to do only with the debates. Links to searchable transcripts provide verbatim accounts of each debate. Within the transcripts, clicking highlighted issues within the text will link to summaries of the issues. Links to video excerpts enables users to experience some of the noteworthy moments in television debate history.

The third use of the site is to provide detailed syllabi and lesson plans that are either debate-specific or refer to debates in general. Included in the lesson plans are links to appropriate source material. (A typical lesson plan might involve searching the transcripts to identify recurring themes, such as nuclear proliferation, and contrasting the positions of the candidates.)

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