Short Debate Guidelines

 

The following provides guidelines for a short in-class style debate with teams compose fof 2-4 persons.

There are two teams per debate; one known as the affirmative team is in favour (or for) the resolution, and one known as the negative team is against.  The times shown for each item below may have to vary depening upon available time.

 

Structure of the debate :

 

We will use a common version of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate format.  It starts with a statement of the resolution. The debater who agrees with the statement (the affirmative) begins the debate, which is structured in this way:

1.       Affirmative position debater presents constructive debate points. (6 minutes)

2.       Negative position debater cross-examines affirmative points. (3 minutes)

3.       Negative position presents constructive debate points. (7 minutes)

4.       Affirmative position cross-examines negative points. (3 minutes)

5.       Affirmative position offers first rebuttal (4 minutes)

         *** OPEN DISCUSSION as time allows***

6.       Negative position offers first rebuttal and closing comments (6 minutes)

7.       Affirmative position offers second rebuttal and closing comments (3 minutes)

 

This gives each team 16 minutes to present their points in an organized fashion.

 

A typical starter debate team format has six roles (a team member can be assigned more than one role) as follows below.  This is meant as a guideline.   Please ensure that your teams are organized  prior to class time.

·         Lead Debater/Constructor -- presents the main points/arguments for his or her team's stand on the topic of the debate.

·         Questioner/Cross-Examiner -- poses questions about the opposing team's arguments to its Question Responder.

·         Question Responder -- takes over the role of the Lead Debater/Constructor as he or she responds to questions posed by the opposing team's Questioner/Cross-Examiner.

·         Rebutter -- responds on behalf of his or her team to as many of the questions raised in the cross-examination as possible.

·         Summarizer -- closes the debate by summarizing the main points of his or her team's arguments, especially attempts by the opposition to shoot holes in their arguments.