Debate Rules
2016-03-01 14:16:00
Number of Teams and Debaters
Each debate will feature two teams. One team is called the proposition. The other team is called the opposition. Each debate team is comprised of two students. One student is known as the first speaker for the team; one is the second speaker for the team.
Speaking Order
Every round begins with a coin toss to determine which team will be able to choose either the speaking order or to be the proposition or opposition team of the debate. The team losing the coin toss will determine the remaining undecided option. For example, if the team winning the coin toss decides to be the opposition team for the debate, the team losing the coin toss will decide the speaking order. If the team losing the coin toss decides to speak first, the following order may reflect how speakers will make their presentations; if the team instead chooses to speak second, then the following order would instead begin with the opposition team.
Each debate will feature two teams. One team is called the proposition. The other team is called the opposition. Each debate team is comprised of two students. One student is known as the first speaker for the team; one is the second speaker for the team.
Speaking Order
Every round begins with a coin toss to determine which team will be able to choose either the speaking order or to be the proposition or opposition team of the debate. The team losing the coin toss will determine the remaining undecided option. For example, if the team winning the coin toss decides to be the opposition team for the debate, the team losing the coin toss will decide the speaking order. If the team losing the coin toss decides to speak first, the following order may reflect how speakers will make their presentations; if the team instead chooses to speak second, then the following order would instead begin with the opposition team.
- First Speaker, Proposition Team [Constructive Speech]
- First Speaker, Opposition Team [Constructive Speech]
- First Speakers, Proposition & Opposition Teams [1st Crossfire]
- Second Speaker, Proposition Team [Rebuttal]
- Second Speaker, Opposition Team [Rebuttal]
- Second Speakers, Proposition & Opposition Teams [2nd Crossfire]
- First Speaker, Proposition Team [Debate Summary]
- First Speaker, Opposition Team [Debate Summary]
- Both Speakers, Both Teams [Grand Crossfire]
- Second Speaker, Proposition Team [Final Focus]
- Second Speaker, Opposition Team [Final Focus]
Preparation Period
Since the topic will have been announced beforehand, debaters will have 2 minutes of preparation time to review their notes, speak with their coaches and teammates, and copy notes or other information for use in the upcoming debate.
Debate Materials
Before a debate competition, students may utilize any means at their disposal to research and collect information that will help them prepare for the debate. They may review books from the library, current event articles in newspapers or magazines, websites or other information on the internet, class notes, or records of debate meetings or previous debates. They may speak with teachers, coaches, teammates, parents, friends, or others.
During the competition students may bring and utilize all of their collected materials and notes in any form as long as they were prepared beforehand (including written notes or notes stored on iPads, computers, or other digital devices; however, no electronic devices maybe connected to the internet once the debate begins). During the debate competition, students may not conduct more research or obtain any new information that was not prepared before the competition.
Competition Structure
Once the preparation time concludes the competition begins with the first speaker of each team making a 4-minute opening constructive speech. In these speeches, each team will construct, or build, its arguments. New arguments may be introduced in these speeches. After each team’s opening statements each team will have a three-minute crossfire session involving only the first speakers of both teams.
The first speaker will begin crossfire by asking a question to the first speaker from the opposing team. The opposing team’s first speaker will answer the question and then ask a question back. Both first speakers will continue this crossfire exchange until the three minutes are up.
After the first crossfire session, the second speakers of both sides each state a four-minute rebuttal where each second speaker will first address the opposing team’s arguments before moving on to strengthen their own arguments. After the rebuttals, a second crossfire session will begin between the second speakers of each team, followed by a two-minute debate summary to be given by the first speakers of both teams. After the summary, the grand crossfire session involving both speakers from both teams will begin with one of the speakers from the team in the first speaking order. The speaker will begin the grand crossfire by asking a question to the opposing team and both sides alternate to first give responses and then follow up with a question.
Concluding each round is the final focus, given by the second speakers of each team. These are the final speeches of the debate for each side. In these speeches, the debaters will try to make the best case for its side of the debate and, at the same time, try to eliminate the major points of the other team. No new arguments are permitted in the focus, but new evidence to support previous arguments is allowed, although discouraged.
Please refer to the table below for the debate format and process
Since the topic will have been announced beforehand, debaters will have 2 minutes of preparation time to review their notes, speak with their coaches and teammates, and copy notes or other information for use in the upcoming debate.
Debate Materials
Before a debate competition, students may utilize any means at their disposal to research and collect information that will help them prepare for the debate. They may review books from the library, current event articles in newspapers or magazines, websites or other information on the internet, class notes, or records of debate meetings or previous debates. They may speak with teachers, coaches, teammates, parents, friends, or others.
During the competition students may bring and utilize all of their collected materials and notes in any form as long as they were prepared beforehand (including written notes or notes stored on iPads, computers, or other digital devices; however, no electronic devices maybe connected to the internet once the debate begins). During the debate competition, students may not conduct more research or obtain any new information that was not prepared before the competition.
Competition Structure
Once the preparation time concludes the competition begins with the first speaker of each team making a 4-minute opening constructive speech. In these speeches, each team will construct, or build, its arguments. New arguments may be introduced in these speeches. After each team’s opening statements each team will have a three-minute crossfire session involving only the first speakers of both teams.
The first speaker will begin crossfire by asking a question to the first speaker from the opposing team. The opposing team’s first speaker will answer the question and then ask a question back. Both first speakers will continue this crossfire exchange until the three minutes are up.
After the first crossfire session, the second speakers of both sides each state a four-minute rebuttal where each second speaker will first address the opposing team’s arguments before moving on to strengthen their own arguments. After the rebuttals, a second crossfire session will begin between the second speakers of each team, followed by a two-minute debate summary to be given by the first speakers of both teams. After the summary, the grand crossfire session involving both speakers from both teams will begin with one of the speakers from the team in the first speaking order. The speaker will begin the grand crossfire by asking a question to the opposing team and both sides alternate to first give responses and then follow up with a question.
Concluding each round is the final focus, given by the second speakers of each team. These are the final speeches of the debate for each side. In these speeches, the debaters will try to make the best case for its side of the debate and, at the same time, try to eliminate the major points of the other team. No new arguments are permitted in the focus, but new evidence to support previous arguments is allowed, although discouraged.
Please refer to the table below for the debate format and process
| Section | Section Explanation | Participating Debaters | Time Allotted |
| Prep Period | Preparation before competition. | All Speakers | 2 minutes |
| Constructive Speech | State arguments for team’s chosen side (Proposition or Opposition). | Team A: First Speaker |
4 minutes |
| Constructive Speech | State arguments for team’s chosen side (Proposition or Opposition) as well as rebuttals to arguments from first speech. | Team B: First Speaker |
4 minutes |
| 1stCrossfire | Speakers direct questions to opposing teams and address opponent questions in an attempt to expose weaknesses in arguments via questions, or further develop and attack arguments through discourse. Every speech should be no more than 20 seconds each time. | First Speakers from Both Teams | 3 minutes |
| Rebuttal | Speaker first states rebuttal speech to refute arguments, then strengthens own arguments. | Team A: Second Speaker |
4 minutes |
| Rebuttal | Speaker first states rebuttal speech to refute arguments, then strengthens own arguments. | Team B: Second Speaker |
4 minutes |
| 2ndCrossfire | Speakers direct questions to opposing teams and address opponent questions in an attempt to expose weaknesses in arguments via questions, or further develop and attack arguments through discourse. Every speech should be no more than 20 seconds each time. | Second Speakers from Both Teams | 3 minutes |
| Debate Summary | Speaker states summary speech of debate including further rebuttal of opponent’s case and reiteration of own arguments. | Team A: First Speaker |
2 minutes |
| Debate Summary | Speaker states summary speech of debate including further rebuttal of opponent’s case and reiteration of own arguments. | Team B: First Speaker |
2 minutes |
| Grand Crossfire | Both sides alternate speaking, with a speaker from the team in the first speaking order to begin the Grand Crossfire by asking the first question. Every speaker’s speech should be no more than 20 seconds each time. | All Speakers | 3 minutes |
| Final Focus | The speaker is given one last chance to explain exactly why they have won the round. No new arguments are allowed. | Team A: Second Speaker |
2 minutes |
| Final Focus | The speaker is given one last chance to explain exactly why they have won the round. No new arguments are allowed. | Team B: Second Speaker |
2 minutes |
| Total Time for Each Round | 35minutes | ||
Further Section Explanations
Preparation Period: All debaters will have a two-minute prep time before the competition.
Constructive Speeches: Speakers may systematically state their understandings, opinions and reasoning behind their arguments. Speakers are encouraged to be biased, strategic and clear.
Crossfires: One side asks short and targeted questions while the opposite side must answer before asking their own questions. No rhetorical questions are permitted. Every question should be no more than 20seconds; every answer should be no more than 30 seconds. Crossfire sessions may be used to ask revealing questions in an attempt to expose weaknesses in opponent’s arguments, or used as a way to further develop and attack arguments.
Rebuttal: One side systematically refutes the opponent’s arguments.
Summary: Speakers systematically state a summary speech of the debate, which includes further rebuttal of the opponent’s case and reiteration of their own arguments.
Grand Crossfire: Both speakers from each team may participate and each team will alternate speaking. Every speaker’s speech should be no more than 20 seconds each time.
Final Focus: Speakers are given one last chance to explain exactly why they have won the round. No new arguments are allowed in this section, but new evidence to support previous arguments is allowed, although discouraged.
Downtime: Each team also has a total of two minutes of down time, which they can use before any of their speeches. This time is spent at the team’s discretion (may be used to plot arguments or discuss weaknesses in the opponents' case; however, the time may not be used to conduct additional research or obtain new information not prepared before the debate). Each team is allowed to use its allotted down time in whatever increments it chooses. The debaters ask the judge to use the time as needed, and then alert the judge when they are ready to begin their next speech. The judge then stops the clock and records the time remaining from the original two minutes.