Debate Procedures

Debate Format

Here's how the upcoming debates will be structured:

Physical Layout:

• Speakers will use the podium, which will be at the center-front of the classroom


• The teams currently debating will occupy a row of desks at either side of the front of the class until their turns to speak.


• All of us not in the current debate will occupy the regular class seats.

Notes

Students may use notes in any form. These will not be turned in to the instructor. Many previous students have found 3" by 5" cards to be an effective form for notes, though some few prefer outlines. Flow-charts have been used effectively by a small number of students who are responding to previous speeches (that is, everyone but the first pro speaker).

A few students have used visual aids effectively, but they have often caused more trouble than they have been worth. Since the speeches must respond to previous arguments, completely mapping out a speech before the debate tends to keep the speaker from properly responding, and grades may suffer.

The only speaker in a debate who can know before the debate exactly what he or she will say is the first pro speaker. No one else should attempt to pre-write a speech. Even first pro speakers will usually find that writing out the entire speech is usually not the best way to perform, since it's very hard to give an effective delivery when one is reading. (An outline is usually effective for the first pro speech).

Procedure in a 2 vs 2 Debate

Anyone who arrives late on the debate day runs the risk of being unable to participate in the debate, and possibly having to take a zero for the debate. We will accomodate people who arrive late only insofar as this does not handicap those who arrive on time, but that also means that we will not keep the class waiting.

• Round #1 (first speakers)




• First pro speaker makes a speech, taking up to 5 minutes. This explains what the pro-side's proposal is and why it should be implemented or accepted.


• Cross-examination -- the first con speaker asks questions of the first pro speaker. As in all cross-examinations, the questioner ONLY asks questions, making no statements. The person who answers ONLY answers, asking no questions. Cross-examinations may take up to 3 minutes.


• The first con speaker makes a speech describing why the pro platform should be rejected, answering the first pro speaker's arguments and extending the argument in whatever ways the con side finds advantageous.


• The second pro speaker cross-examines the first con speaker. Notice that the person asking questions is always the person who will speak next, and the person answering questions is always the person who has spoken.




• Round #2




• Second pro speaker speaks.


• Second con speaker cross-examines second pro speaker.


• Second con speaker speaks


• First pro speaker cross-examines second con speaker.




• Round #3




• First pro speaker speaks. Notice that by this time it's unlikely (although entirely possible!) that the debaters are dealing with entirely new main concepts.The second speech usually amounts to a rebuttal -- a response to previous arguments.


• The first con speaker cross-examines the first pro speaker.


• The first con speaker speaks.


• The second pro speaker cross-examines the first con speaker.




• Round #4




• The first pro speaker speaks.


• The second pro speaker speaks.

In the case of a 3 versus 3 debate, there will be two more rounds. Cross-examinations will continue in all rounds except the very last one. (The reasons that cross examinations are not traditional in the last round is that it's not usually advantageous to ask questions of an opponent unless one will have the opportunity to respond. Since both teams cannot have the opportunity to respond last, the most equitable procedure is to have no cross-examination for either at the end.)

It may happen that teams have a different number of debaters on debate day. If so, the members of the team with fewer members has a choice to make. They are entitled to make extra speeches and cross-examinations to make up for the teamates that are missing or non-existent, so that the team has equal time. Or they may refuse to speak extra in order to avoid the extra work or stress. They will not be penalized for either decision, but historically, extra speaking often raises a grade and almost never drops it.