Public Forum Debate

The Rules in Brief

Pre-Debate• Two people debate two people.• One team flips a coin and the opposing

team calls heads or tails.• Whoever wins can choose from two

options:-To debate the pro or con side -To speak first or second

• The losers of the coin flip choose from the remaining option.

This is not what we do!

Debate SetupTeam A: First Speaker: Opening Statement 4 minutes

Team B: First Speaker: Opening Statement 4 minutes

Crossfire (A1 vs. B1) 3 minutes

Team A: Second Speaker: Rebuttal 4 minutes

Team B: Second Speaker: Rebuttal 4 minutes

Crossfire (A2 vs. B2) 3 minutes

Team A: First Speaker: Summary (Rebuttal) 2 minutes

Team B: First Speaker: Summary (Rebuttal) 2 minutes

Grand Crossfire (A1 and A2 vs. B1 and B2) 3 minutes

Team A: Second Speaker: Closing Statement 1 minute

Team B: Second Speaker: Closing Statement 1 minute

More in Depth

The Opening Statements (“Constructive Speeches”):• Team A- since they go first it consists of

the main arguments for their side.• Team B-  their opening statement should

consist of their team’s main arguments as well as some references/rebuttal to the arguments they just heard.

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First Crossfire:• Now the two first speakers from Teams A and

Team B begin their 3 minute crossfire.• In theory, A1 asks the first question. In practice,

however, B1 may do this. • They ask questions back and forth, revealing

weaknesses in each others arguments.• Questions can be relevant to arguments made by

the opponent during first speech or something you want to trap your opponent on

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The Rebuttal (for debaters A2 and B2):• Team A- Second speaker gives a 4 minute speech

which presents new arguments but also rebuts arguments made by the other team in first crossfires/speeches.

• Team B- Second speaker does the same as above.• Following this is the 3 minute Crossfire between

the two second speakers....exact same procedure as the first crossfire.

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Summary Speech:• Team A- First speaker (A1) gives a two minute

summary speech of the debate with: this is mostly a re-statement and a chance to add facts, examples, and new arguments; as well as a chance to rebut.

• Team B- First speaker (B1) does the same as above for two minutes.

More in DepthGrand Crossfire!!• This is the source of Public Forum’s surging popularity

among debate formats. It’s very similar to the other crossfires but this one includes all 4 team members together.

• The speaker that gave the first summary begins the grand crossfire by asking the first question.

• Grand Crossfire lasts the same amount of time as the other crossfires, three minutes. Avoid the urge to have one partner or the other dominate: try to present a balanced attack.

• Also...AVOID YELLING!!...although the Grand Cross may get heated, screaming will only cost your team valuable points!

More in Depth

The Final Focus:• The second speakers of each team give a

one minute persuasive speech to explain why his or her team should win the round (their strengths or the other side’s weaknesses). A2 goes first, then B2.

• No new arguments are allowed in the Final Focus!

Prep Time/ Preparedness

Each team gets a total of two minutes’ preparation time, which they can use before any rebuttal or crossfire round, if needed, in increments as small as 30 seconds. When it’s a debater’s turn, though, he/she must be ready. Debaters may take notes during their opponents’ arguments, as long as they are listening to them. Debaters may not interrupt or heckle, nor should they make silly or dismissive faces/ gestures…ever! Politeness is rewarded in scoring, and the line between aggressiveness and rudeness varies from judge to judge.

Judging

Any adult or student in the community can judge SPDL, except in the playoffs. NFL requires judges to be 18 and h.s. grads. Leagues use an official scoring ballot, which is similar from one league to the next. They score you by giving up to 30 points:29-30 = Outstanding 27-28 = Above Average 24-26 = Average 20-23 = Below AverageWhat’s rough about SPDL is that each competing Public Forum pair must show up with a judge, or they can’t compete. That’s why novice debaters must be judges first.

Mandatory Workshops

No one should judge SPDL who has not attended the judging workshop on October 14th or participated in multiple SPDL tournaments. Fortunately, some LM debaters went to SPDL in 2008-09 as observers, and I doubt league personnel know the difference. So they have the option of going to the novice workshop on October 21st. As for those who were not part of SPDL last year, they must attend on October 14th and on October 21st. The experience is vital.

Parents/GuardiansThanks to a handful of lawsuit-lovers, no student may ride with another student, or another student’s parent, or a teacher, to a school function, ever! Nor may you drive yourself. We ride in the big yellow bus, just like sports teams. If you want or need to be picked up at a tournament by your own parent/guardian, I must speak to them beforehand. That would be 3:30 on debate day at the latest, since I turn my cell off when I judge. I also must see you leave with that parent, so it can’t be before the last round of the evening is over. Parents/guardians can be incredibly helpful, though, if they are willing to judge. A parent who judges enables another team of two to debate, gaining them valuable experience.