The basics
Two teams of two. One team argues Pro (the resolution is a good idea), the other argues Con. The resolution is a policy question drawn from current events, set by the National Speech & Debate Association, and it changes every one or two months. Judges are frequently parents, teachers, and community volunteers, and the format is designed so that a clear, well-evidenced argument beats a fast, technical one.
The coin flip
Before the round, a coin flip decides who chooses first. The winning team picks either the side (Pro or Con) or the speaking order (first or second). The other team gets the remaining choice. Speaking second is generally an advantage because your team gets the last word, so many teams choose order over side if they are comfortable on both sides. Be comfortable on both sides.
The speeches
| Speech | Time | Who | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constructive | 4:00 | First speaker, Team A | Read the case: framing, two or three contentions, evidence |
| Constructive | 4:00 | First speaker, Team B | Same |
| Crossfire | 3:00 | First speakers | Questions and answers, both directions |
| Rebuttal | 4:00 | Second speaker, Team A | Attack the other side's case |
| Rebuttal | 4:00 | Second speaker, Team B | Attack the other case and, usually, defend your own |
| Crossfire | 3:00 | Second speakers | Questions and answers |
| Summary | 3:00 | First speaker, Team A | Narrow the round to what matters and weigh |
| Summary | 3:00 | First speaker, Team B | Same |
| Grand crossfire | 3:00 | All four | Open questioning |
| Final focus | 2:00 | Second speaker, Team A | Tell the judge why you win |
| Final focus | 2:00 | Second speaker, Team B | Same |
Each team usually has three minutes of preparation time to use during the round. Local tournaments sometimes vary the times; read the invitation.
What a case looks like
A Public Forum case runs about 550 to 650 words. It opens with a sentence or two of framing (what the judge should care about), then presents two or three contentions. Each contention is a claim, a piece of evidence with a citation, and an explanation of the impact: how many people are affected, how badly, and how certain the outcome is. Unlike Lincoln-Douglas, there is no formal value and criterion, but every good case still tells the judge how to weigh.
Evidence rules
Public Forum allows paraphrased evidence, but you must be able to produce the original source on request, and the paraphrase must accurately represent it. Keep a document with every source you cite: author, title, publication, date, and a link. Misrepresenting evidence loses rounds and reputations. Read Five research skills every debater should learn before you cut your first card.
What judges are looking for
- Clarity. Could a person hearing this topic for the first time follow your argument?
- Evidence. Did you back your claims with credible sources, and did you explain them rather than just reading them?
- Responsiveness. Did you answer what the other team said, or just repeat your case?
- Weighing. Did you tell the judge why your impacts matter more than theirs? See Weighing in Public Forum.
- Conduct. Polite, confident, and in control during crossfire. Interrupting and sarcasm cost speaker points.
Your first week
- Read the current resolution and this season's topic primer.
- Write one contention for Pro and one for Con, each with one piece of real evidence.
- Practice reading each contention out loud until it takes under ninety seconds.
- Learn to flow (take notes on the round) using How to flow a debate round.
- Debate a practice round against teammates. Lose. Ask the judge why. Fix one thing. Repeat.
What judges write on ballots, and what it means
- "Dropped" means you never answered an argument. In Public Forum, an argument that goes unanswered through summary is usually treated as true.
- "Extend" means carry an argument from one speech to the next, by name and with its impact. Anything not extended in summary cannot be used in final focus.
- "Weigh" means compare your impacts to theirs. Ballots that say "no weighing" are telling you the judge had to decide the round for you.
- "Signpost" means say where you are on the flow before you respond.
- "Speaker points" are a score for your speaking, separate from the win. Low speaker points with a win usually mean clarity problems.
Your first four weeks
- Week 1: watch a full round (a recorded round from a past national tournament works), flow it on a flow sheet, and learn the speech order until you can recite it.
- Week 2: write a pro case with your partner on the current topic using the case outline in this guide.
- Week 3: write the con case. Practice crossfire using the cross-examination guide.
- Week 4: a full practice round on each side, with a debrief. Then sign up for a local tournament.
Common mistakes
- Reading a case written for a fast, technical judge in front of a parent volunteer. Know your judge.
- Splitting arguments between partners so that one debater cannot explain the other's contention in crossfire.
- Running out of prep time before final focus. Save at least one minute.
- Treating the coin flip as luck. Decide in advance what you will pick and why.
Get new guides and topic primers by email
One email when a new topic primer or guide is published, about twice a month during the season. No other mail.