PUBLIC FORUM DEBATEPartner debate

Resolution• The central component of Public Forum Debate is the

resolution, which is the topic that the students debate.• It is based on current events• Examples • Resolved: The costs of a college education outweigh the

benefits. • Resolved: The United States federal government should

permit the use of financial incentives to encourage organ donation.

• This month’s resolution: Resolved: The United States Federal Government ought to pay reparations to African Americans.

• The resolution or topic changes every month

Sides• The team that is for the resolution is called the affirmative

or aff.• The team that is against the resolution is called the

negative or neg.• Teams do not know which side they are debating until

seconds before the round. This means they have to be prepared to defend either side.

The way it works• You arrive at the tournament with the team on the bus• You go to the cafeteria and wait• Round 1 will be posted on a paper; it will look like this

• PF

CODES ROOM

2A 6B 110

7A 9A 111

9B 14C 112

14A 3A 113

5A 14B 114

6A 7B 115

1A 4A 116

The way it works continues• Find your code (I’ll tell you what it is on the bus) and go to

that room• Wait for your judge to enter the room before you go in• When both teams are there, one team chooses heads or

tails and the judge or other team flips a coin• Whoever wins the coin toss can choose either 1. What

side they want to argue (aff. Or neg.) or 2. If they want to be the first or second team to talk

• If you win the coin toss, choose what side you are stronger in

• If you lose the coin toss, choose to be first speaker

Where to sit

First speaker

Team A Team B

Second speakerThird speaker Fourth speaker

Judge

Lectern

Timing• Constructive speech Team A first speaker 4 min• Constructive speech Team B first speaker 4 min• Crossfire Team A first speaker, Team B first speaker 3 min• Rebuttal speech Team A second speaker 4 min• Rebuttal speech Team B second speaker 4 min• Crossfire Team A second speaker, Team B second speaker 3 min

Summary speech Team A first speaker 2 min• Summary speech Team B first speaker 2 min• Grand Crossfire All members 3 min• Final Focus Team A second speaker 2 min• Final Focus Team B second speaker 2 min

Constructive Speech• The first speech given on each side• Prepared ahead of time• The first speaker just reads it• It should include an introduction that frames and defines

the resolution, then one or more contentions (points) that argue for the team’s position, followed by a conclusion

• The speaker stands at the lectern and speaks to the judge

Crossfire• A chance to ask/answer questions• Team A gets to ask the first question, unless they choose

not to• It should go back and forth with turns, but this is not a rule

and some debaters will just keep asking questions and bully their opponent

• Widefield don’t play that way• Both speakers stand at the lectern, but face forward to

look at the judge

Rebuttal• this is the first opportunity for each team to refute, or

answer, the arguments made by their opponents. • In this four-minute speech, the speakers are charged with

disproving their opponent’s cases with their own analysis or with evidence from third-party sources.

• The first speaking team’s rebuttal will focus on refuting their opponent’s case

• the second speaking team’s rebuttal must both refute their opponent’s case and also respond to attacks made against their own case.

• This person is usually the stronger debater of the team• The speaker stands at the lectern and speaks to the judge

Summary speech• Following the second crossfire, the first speakers on each

team deliver their summary speeches. • These speakers will attempt to summarize the main

issues in the debate and continue to persuasively advocate for their position.

• The speaker stands at the lectern and speaks to the judge

Grand Crossfire• The grand crossfire is very similar to the other crossfires,

except that all four debaters participate. • The debaters address one another and the judge but

generally remain seated. • The grand crossfire is notorious for escalating tension, so

all participants need to be mindful of decorum.

Final Focus• The last speech of the debate is the final focus, which is

delivered by the second speaker. • No new arguments may be made in the final focus;

instead, the speaker concentrates on analyzing the arguments that have been made already and detailing for the judge why, on the merit of those arguments, her team should win the debate.

• The speaker stands at the lectern and speaks to the judge

Prep time• each team has two minutes of preparation time, just called

“prep.” • Debaters may choose to use prep time at any point of the

debate, but only between speeches or crossfires; debaters may not take prep time in the middle of a speech.

• During prep time, partners may consult with each other over potential arguments to make or questions to raise during upcoming speeches or crossfires.

• The two minutes of prep time is cumulative for the debate, so participants must manage this time wisely.

Who wins?• The judge determines the winner based off of who

convinced him.• He also considers evidence used, ethical behavior, and

how well you spoke• You do not find out if you won or lost until we have left the

tournament• Show ballot example

Rounds• You do this 3 times• If you win all 3 of your rounds, you go on to the finals• 1st-6th place get awards

HOW TO FLOW A ROUNDKeeping notes

Watch me• See how I take short hand notes• And keep track of arguments that were attacked and not

attacked• Keep track of which arguments are backed by evidence• Use handout• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdNg3F7aBcM

• Your turn• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ll_9bKFyXA

RESOLUTION

3 types of resolutions• Resolutions of Fact: Resolutions that question whether or

not a piece of information about the world is true.• Example Resolved: U.S. policies established after

September 11, 2001, have substantially reduced the risk of terrorist acts against the United States.”

• This resolution requires that the affirmative prove two things: that the risk of terrorist attacks has been reduced and that the policies established after September 11 caused that reduction

3 types of resolutions• Resolutions of Value: Resolutions that question a

particular ideal or a set of judgments about the world. • Example “Resolved: When the values are in conflict,

the United Nations should prioritize global poverty reduction over environmental protection.”

• This would lead to a discussion surrounding why prioritizing global poverty reduction has more benefits than environmental protection and, thus, a normative evaluation of global poverty reduction.

3 types of resolutions• Resolutions of Policy: Resolutions that question a

particular course of action.• Example Resolved: Direct popular vote should replace

Electoral College vote in U.S. presidential elections.” • To win, the affirmative team must prove that direct popular

vote replacing the Electoral College would be the ideal reality.

Building a case• Once you know the resolution, determine what the main

issues will be• Begin creating a column of aff and neg points of

arguments or contentions• Begin researching• Choose the 3 strongest points and focus on those• Don’t get rid of the other stuff, this may come in handy

during a debate• Write your two cases or constructive speeches• See handout