This study discusses the field of argument evaluation and criterion in debate discourse. This evaluation is the result of theoretical investigation of the contents of education in debate discourse. In order to take account of debate discourse, the realm of the subject of appraisal has to be classified. The criterion in debate discourse should not be in the form, but in the act. Acts are classified either as an argument or persuasion by the purpose and objective. The target area of argument evaluation lies in the argument in illocutionary acts which are separate from the persuasion in perlocutionary acts. This was how the standard for assessment of illocutionary acts was set-up. The criterion is related to the composition of the argument and is divided and discussed through questions such as ``Was the argumentation established?``, ``Was the claim justified?`` and ``Was the ground appropriate?``