Types/Formats of Debate Offered
Congressional Debate typically appeals to students who are interested in socially and politically interacting with peers to discuss a problem in a group setting. Using Robert’s Rules of Order, students give alternating, brief affirmative and negative speeches, followed by questioning periods.
| Speech | Time Limit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship | 3 minutes | Constructs advocacy by explaining need for the legislation to solve/mitigate a problem, and how it will do that. |
| Questioning of Sponsor | 2 minutes | Presiding officer recognizes 4 students to each engage in a 30-second direct question-and-answer periods with the sponsor. |
| First Negative | 3 minutes | Constructs opposition by explaining how attempting to solve/mitigate a problem with the legislation will fail to meet objectives or will make the problem worse |
| Questioning of First Negative | 2 minutes | Presiding officer recognizes 4 students to each engage in a 30-second direct question-and-answer periods with the first negative. |
| Subsequent Speeches | 3 minutes | Refutes opponents’ arguments by explaining why they are incorrect and extends previous arguments on the same side to related concepts or more in-depth exploration. |
| Subsequent Questioning | 1 minute | Presiding officer recognizes 2 students to each engage in a 30-second direct question-and-answer period. |
| Debate on each item of legislation may last up to an hour, at which time, the presiding officer takes a vote of delegates, and moves on to the next agenda item. The chamber may take a brief break, or recess. | ||
Congressional Debate: Showcase
Parliamentary Procedure & Presiding
Public Forum features two teams of two students apiece, who debate a current issue of importance. Being able to persuade a range of judges is a central component to this format of debate. Please note: Summary speech and prep times were revised in 2021.
| Speech | Time Limit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Team A Speaker 1: Constructive | 4 minutes | Present the team's case |
| Team B Speaker 1: Constructive | 4 minutes | Present the team's case |
| Crossfire | 3 minutes | Speaker 1 from teams A and B alternate asking and answering questions. |
| Team A Speaker 2: Rebuttal | 4 minutes | Refute the opposing side’s arguments and defend/extend Team A's case. |
| Team B Speaker 2: Rebuttal | 4 minutes | Refute the opposing side’s arguments and defend/extend Team B's case. |
| Crossfire | 3 minutes | Speaker 2 from teams A and B alternate asking and answering questions. |
| Team A Speaker 1: Summary | 3 minutes | Summarize the most important issues in the debate, and why Team A's arguments are more worthy than Team B's. |
| Team B Speaker 1: Summary | 3 minutes | Summarize the most important issues in the debate, and why Team B's arguments are more worthy than Team A's. |
| Grand Crossfire | 3 minutes | All four debaters engage in interactive questioning and answering. |
| Team A Speaker 2: Final Focus | 2 minutes | Explain why Team A wins the round over Team B. |
| Team B Speaker 2: Final Focus | 2 minutes | Explain why Team B wins the round over Team A. |
| Each team is entitled to three minutes of prep time during the round. | ||
Public Forum Debate: Structure
(has older speech times)
Public Forum Debate: Showcase
(has older speech times)
WHSFA State Contest 2018
WHSFA State Contest 2017
Demonstration Debate 2017
Demonstration Debate 2015
Lincoln-Douglas Debate typically appeals to individuals who like to debate, but prefer a one-on-one format as opposed to a team or group setting. As a format centering around values to weigh issues of societal importance, questions of morality and justice are commonly examined.
| Speech | Time Limit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative Constructive | 6 minutes | Present the affirmative case |
| Negative Cross-Examination | 3 minutes | Negative asks questions of the affirmative |
| Negative Constructive | 7 minutes | Present the negative case and refute the affirmative case |
| Affirmative Cross-Examination | 3 minutes | Affirmative asks questions of the negative |
| First Affirmative Rebuttal | 4 minutes | Refute the negative case and rebuild the affirmative case |
| Negative Rebuttal | 6 minutes | Refute the affirmative case, rebuild the negative case, and offer reasons that negative should win the round, commonly referred to as voting issues. |
| 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal | 3 minutes | Address negative voting issues and offer reasons for why the affirmative should win. |
| Each debater is entitled to four minutes of prep time during the round. | ||
Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Introduction
Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Showcase