Debate Outline and Rubric

Topic (circle one):

Farrowing and gestation stalls
GMOs
Antibiotic use in livestock

My team (circle one):

For the motion (A)
Against the motion (B)
Audience

Debate Outline:

 Team A presents opening statement – 3 minutes

 Team B presents opening statement – 3 minutes
 Team A presents rebuttal – 2 minutes
 Team B presents rebuttal – 2 minutes
 Team A asks two questions for Team B to respond to – 5 minutes
 Team B asks two questions for Team A to respond to – 5 minutes
 Team A presents closing statement – 2 minutes
 Team B presents closing statement – 2 minutes
 Questions from audience – 5 minutes

Debate Objectives:

 Team A’s objective is to prove that their stance for the motion is the better choice, while citing
good sources, following the formal debate outline, and staying respectful to all classmates
 Team B’s objective is to prove that their stance against the motion is the better choice, while
citing good sources, following the formal debate outline, and staying respectful to all classmates
 The audience’s objective is to objectively listen to the arguments made by the two debating
teams, ask relevant questions during specified time of the debate, and grade both debating teams
as best as possible on the rubric. The winning team will be decided based on your rubrics and
votes.

Debate Organizer:

 Opening statement
 o Include a strong hook, statement to identify your position, at least three arguments that
support your position, and a concluding sentence.
o Hook: _________________________________________________________________
o Statement: ____________________________________________________________
o 1st Argument: __________________________________________________________
o 2nd Argument: _________________________________________________________
o 3rd Argument: __________________________________________________________
o Conclusion: ____________________________________________________________
 Rebuttal
o Try to preemptively guess what points your opponent will make, and plan strategies to
weaken those points.
o Potential opponent argument: _________________________________________
 Our argument against: __________________________________________
o Potential opponent argument: _________________________________________
 Our argument against: __________________________________________
o Potential argument against: ____________________________________________
 Our argument against: __________________________________________
 Questions
o Use questions to try to poke holes in their argument. This section will test how well each
team can defend their position.
o 1st Question: ___________________________________________________________
o 2nd Question: __________________________________________________________
 Closing statement
o Use this time to summarize your main points and arguments. This will be your last main
time to prove your position is correct!
 Audience questions
o Be prepared to answer the same types of questions as you would in a rebuttal or the
questions section.

Rubric:

 Following are two rubrics. The audience will use one to judge Team A and one to judge Team B.
 Team A and Team B can use these rubrics to prepare for the debate and see what will be
examined.
Criteria 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points Points
Organization All arguments were Most arguments were Arguments were Some arguments were Arguments were
and Clarity concise, logical, clear, concise, logical, clear, adequately concise, concise, logical, clear, consistently not
and well-organized. and well-organized. logical, clear, and well- and well-organized, and concise, logical, clear,
organized. others were not. or well-organized.
Use of rebuttal Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and questions
and questions were concise, relevant, questions were were relevant, and were mostly relevant, were irrelevant,
and strong. Team concise and relevant. defended against rebuttal but defense against lengthy, and/or weak.
defended against Team defended with some uncertainty. rebuttal and questions Team’s defense against
rebuttal and questions against rebuttal and was weak. rebuttal and questions
with ease. questions well. were weak.
Relevant and Every major point was Every major point Every major point was Some points were well None of the major
appropriate well supported with was supported with supported with facts, but supported, others were points were supported
multiple facts from valid facts from valid the relevance or source of not supported with facts from good
facts, sources, sources sources some facts was sources
and statistics questionable
Understanding A deep and clear Team displayed clear Team presented topic Team showed partial Team did not show an
of Topic understanding of the understanding of clearly, but did not understanding of topic adequate
topic was displayed with topic, with one or two display as deep of an understanding of topic
unwavering confidence moments of understanding
uncertainty
Respect of All statements, body Most statements, Team worked to remain Team struggled to Statements, body
other team language, and responses body language, and respectful, but showed maintain composure, language, responses,
were respectful, and responses were disrespectful behavior and showed multiple and/or language were
used appropriate respectful, with one three or four times instances of disrespect consistently
language or two exceptions disrespectful
Total points
Criteria 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points Points
Organization All arguments were Most arguments were Arguments were Some arguments were Arguments were
and Clarity concise, logical, clear, concise, logical, clear, adequately concise, concise, logical, clear, consistently not
and well-organized. and well-organized. logical, clear, and well- and well-organized, and concise, logical, clear,
organized. others were not. or well-organized.
Use of rebuttal Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and questions Rebuttal and questions
and questions were concise, relevant, questions were were relevant, and were mostly relevant, were irrelevant,
and strong. Team concise and relevant. defended against rebuttal but defense against lengthy, and/or weak.
defended against Team defended with some uncertainty. rebuttal and questions Team’s defense against
rebuttal and questions against rebuttal and was weak. rebuttal and questions
with ease. questions well. were weak.
Relevant and Every major point was Every major point Every major point was Some points were well None of the major
appropriate well supported with was supported with supported with facts, but supported, others were points were supported
multiple facts from valid facts from valid the relevance or source of not supported with facts from good
facts, sources, sources sources some facts was sources
and statistics questionable
Understanding A deep and clear Team displayed clear Team presented topic Team showed partial Team did not show an
of Topic understanding of the understanding of clearly, but did not understanding of topic adequate
topic was displayed with topic, with one or two display as deep of an understanding of topic
unwavering confidence moments of understanding
uncertainty
Respect of All statements, body Most statements, Team worked to remain Team struggled to Statements, body
other team language, and responses body language, and respectful, but showed maintain composure, language, responses,
were respectful, and responses were disrespectful behavior and showed multiple and/or language were
used appropriate respectful, with one three or four times instances of disrespect consistently
language or two exceptions disrespectful
Total points