Format:

Affirmative: Constructive speech 5 minutes

Negative: Cross-examination 3 minutes

Negative: Constructive speech 6 minutes

Affirmative: Cross-examination 3 minutes

Audience: Question Affirmative side 2 minutes
Audience: Question Negative side 2 minutes

Affirmative: Speaker’s rebuttal 3 minutes

Negative: Speaker’s rebuttal 4 minutes

Affirmative: Speaker’s rebuttal 2 minutes

Audience: Question Negative side 1 minutes
Audience: Question Affirmative side 1 minutes
OVERALL TIME: 32 minutes

THE FOUR ROLES:

The CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH: One speaker from your group lays out your side’s positions in a solid persuasive speech.

CROSS-EXAMINATION: One person from your team asks direct questions of the opposing team, trying to undermine their positions by exposing fallacies or other weaknesses in their arguments with tight, carefully rehearsed lines of questioning. (Emphasize Yes-or-No questions; don’t give them a soap box!!)

ANSWERING: This is a two-part assignment: (1) responding to Cross-examination from the opposition; and (2) responding to audience questions. The best answers include references to your group’s research and are not merely hunches or opinions. Use the evidence!

REBUTTAL: An uninterrupted talk (two, if you’re on the Affirmative side) in which you refute the other side’s attacks and convincingly rebuild your positions. When attacking or rebuilding, be sure to quote the opposing team, and then use logic and evidence to show why their assertions against you are wrong.

WINNING A CLASS DEBATE MEANS CONVINCING A JURY THAT YOUR SIDE HAS ARGUED MORE ELOQUENTLY, FACTUALLY, AND LOGICALLY THAN THE OTHER SIDE HAS. THEREFORE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CROSS-EXAMINATION, DEBATERS FACE THE AUDIENCE, NOT THEIR OPPONENTS.