WHAT IS PUBLIC FORUM PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE IS

WHAT IS PUBLIC FORUM?

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE IS: Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. A central tenet of the debate is that the clash of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or “citizen judge”, i. e. a member of the American jury.

THE DEBATE SHOULD SHOW: -display solid logic, reasoning, and analysis -utilize evidence but not be driven by it -present a clash of ideas -counter the arguments of the opponents (rebuttal) -communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum

Public Forum is a unique debate form. While Policy Debate focuses on a plan to solve the problem(s) posed by the resolution, and Lincoln Douglas Debate focuses on the core value of the resolution, Public Forum Debate focuses on advocacy of a position derived from issues presented in the resolution, not a prescribed set of burdens.

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE TIMING SCHEDULE (In the Following Order) First Speaker - Team A = 4 Minutes First Speaker - Team B = 4 Minutes Crossfire = 3 Minutes Second Speaker - Team A = 4 Minutes Second Speaker - Team B = 4 Minutes Crossfire = 3 Minutes Summary - First Speaker - Team A = 2 Minutes Summary - First Speaker - Team B = 2 Minutes Grand Crossfire = 3 Minutes Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team A = 1 Minute Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team B = 1 Minute Prep Time (per team) = 2 Minutes

THE JUDGE: Judges evaluate teams on the quality of the arguments actually made, not on their own personal beliefs, and not on issues they think a particular side should have covered.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR…? Quality, well-explained arguments Debaters should use quoted evidence to support their claims, and well-chosen, relevant evidence may strengthen – but not replace – arguments. Clear communication is a major consideration. Judges weigh arguments only to the extent that they are clearly explained, and they will discount arguments that are too fast, too garbled, or too jargon-laden to be understood by an intelligent high school student or a well-informed citizen. A team should not be penalized for failing to understand his or her opponent’s unclear arguments.

THE COIN FLIP The round starts with a coin toss; the winning team selects either: ! • The side (pro or con) they will argue! • The speaker order (begin the debate or give the last speech).

1 ST & 2 ND SPEECHES • Intro (DEFINITIONS; EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR GOING TO TALK ABOUT) • 3 -5 Main Arguments • Conclusion

SUMMARIES • Expand on your topics • Rebut your opponents speech.

CROSSFIRE • CLASH • BRING UP VAILD ARUGUMENTS. • ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!! • THIS IS YOUR TIME TO GET CLARIFICATION.

FINAL FOCUS During Final Focus, debaters should give a short statement on which ideas were important and why their side should win the round. Judges should not expect a debater to give a full summary of the entire round in two minutes.

Resolved: The U. S. government should not require its citizens to have health insurance. or Resolved: The continuation of current U. S. anti-drug policies in Latin America will do more harm than good. or Resolved: On balance, the rise of China is beneficial to the interests of the United States.