SPEECH 71 ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE

DEBATE FORMATS
General Features of Debate
1.

2.

Has TWO SIDES

a. PROPOSITION SIDE (Affirmative) - advocate the adoption of the resolution
b. OPPOSITION SIDE (Negative) - refutes the resolution
Has an ADJUDICATOR (Judge) - person whose job is to decide the winner

Tyoes of Debates (accdg. to format)

1.

TEAM POLICY DEBATE

Composed of two debaters per team; a total of four people (debaters) participating in the debate
A 3-minute cross-examination is done after each of the first constructive speeches
Resolutions are always of a policy nature, usually governmental policy
Focused on evidence gathering and organizational ability
Speech
1 AC
1 NC
2 AC
2 NC
1 NR
1 AR
2 NR
Time
8 min
8 min
8 min
8 min
4 min
4 min
4 min

2 AR
4 min

2.

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE
Began as a reaction to the excesses of team policy debates
Idea was to have a debate focused on discussing the merits of competing ethical values in a persuasive manner
A one-on-one debate inspired by the famed debates between 1850s senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen Douglas
Resolutions are usually stated as propositions of value
Speech
AC
Cross-Ex of NC
Cross-Ex of Affirmative Negative
Affirmative
Aff by Neg
Neg by Aff
Rebuttal
Rebuttal
Rejoinder
Time
6 min 3 min
7 min 3 min
4 min
6 min
3 min

3.

NATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT (NDT)

Similar to the team policy debate in terms of format
Contains 4 constructive speeches, 4 rebuttals, 4 cross-examination periods, etc.

4.

CROSS-EXAMINATION DEBATE ASSOCIATION

Born as a reaction to NDT that is why the structure is very similar to that of NDT and team policy debate
A two-on-two debate which was intended to be a values-driven debate

5.

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Arose as a reaction against the excesses of NDT and team policy debate
Emphasis is on persuasiveness, logic, and wit
Resolution is not usually established until 10 minutes before the debate round begins and there is a new resolution
for every round of debate (no required evidence)
Has vague resemblance to the debates in the British parliament
Has two sides:
a. PROPOSITION TEAM (GOVERNMENT)
- Has the Prime Minister (PM) and Member of the Government (MG)
b. OPPOSITION TEAM (OPPOSITION)
- Has the Leader of the Opposition (LO) and Member of the Opposition (MO)
Speech
PMG
LOC
MG
MO
L0R
PMR
Time
7 min
8 min
8 min
8 min
4 min
5 min
There are no cross-examinations but has various motions on which the debaters can rise during others speeches
a. POINT OF INFORMATION
- usually a rhetorical question designed to throw the speaker off
- may only be asked in constructive speeches
- may not be asked during the first and last minute of the speech
b. POINT OF ORDER
- raised when one of the rules of debate is being broken
c. POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
- most common is to protest a gross misrepresentation of ones statements or an attack on ones character
- can also be used to ask for a personal favour or exception from the judge
Resolutions are in the form of a quotation or proverb provided shortly before the round
Government team is supposed to come up with a specific case that is an example of the resolution
Government team must establish a topic that has two (or more) clashing sides and is debatable
OXFORD-OREGON DEBATE
Contains three debaters per team (affirmative and negative)
Each speaker delivers a particular focus on the issue at hand: Necessity, Practicability, and Beneficiality
Interpellation is done after each constructive speech

6.

<.keniken.opina.> <09.03.13> <adapted from AKVillaruel>