The Great Debate

Format and set of regulations

16 April 2024

Topic - " Should marijuana be legalized? "

Prepared by the judging panel
Main Provisions

There are two teams in the debate: supporting and opposing. Both
teams try to defend their side - to be "for" or "against". Each team has
four participants (speakers). The debates are listened to by a panel of 6
judges, who decide, based on the debates, which of the two sides has won
the debate. Decision is announced at the end of the debate. Before the
start of the debate, an anonymous vote of the audience will be conducted
for their general opinion on the topic. Also after the end of the debate,
before the judges announce the results, there will be another anonymous
vote of the public for their opinion on the winner of the debate.

Debate Format

Each team member gives a two and a half minute speech to affirm
their side of the topic. The member of the supporting team speaks first.
Next, both sides present their speeches alternately. After the first six
speeches, both sides are given two minutes preparation break. When
the last two recitals are finished, both teams have two minutes to line
up a closing speech of three minutes. There will be no breaks between
teams’ closing speeches. Closing speech shall be presented by any
member of the team. The opposing side shall deliver its closing speech
first. Before each speech (except the first speech of the supporting team),
the teams are given one minute to prepare. Additionally, each side
has an opportunity to direct 2 questions to the speaker of the opposite
team, after the completion of his/her statement. If the questions are
directed, speaker is expected to give a reply, up to 1 minute in total.

2
 *Q&A processes are not shown.

Statement Structure
1st supporting speaker (PRO) - 2.5 minutes

3
 a. A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the
topic.
b. Should include a complete response in support of the proposition.
c. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

1st opposing speaker (CON) - 2.5 minutes

a. A good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the
topic.
b. Should include a complete response in opposition of the proposition.
c. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

2nd supporting speaker (PRO) - 2.5 minutes

a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic A. Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

2nd opposing speaker (CON) - 2.5 minutes

a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic A. Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

3rd supporting speaker (PRO) - 2.5 minutes

a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic B . Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

4
3rd opposing speaker (CON) - 2.5 minutes
a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic B . Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

4th supporting speaker (PRO) - 2.5 minutes

a. Should include a complete response in support of sub-topic C . Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence.

4th opposing speaker (CON) - 2.5 minutes

a. Should include a complete response in opposition of sub-topic C . Response
should provide a different angle than the first speaker, or serve as an
elaboration on the first speaker’s speech.
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting
evidence

Closing opposing speech (CON) - 3 minutes

a. Should include the closing summary and statements of the group
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

Closing supporting speech (PRO) - 3 minutes

a. Should include the closing summary and statements of the group
b. Speech should make use of facts, statistics, and anecdotes as supporting evidence.

Statement and Argument

An argument has four parts: assertion, explanation, proof, conclusion.

An example on the topic

Part of the Answers
Short description "Alcohol should be
argoment question
banned."
Assertion What's being An assertion is a reason Alcohol can't be banned
asserted? why a topic is or is not because that would support
important. An assertion also organized crime.

5
 summarizes the argument as
a whole.
The purpose of an
explanation is to explain
Why is my what is said in the statement.
Explanation
assertion true? An explanation answers
questions about why and
how it is so.
The purpose of the proof is
to demonstrate that even
Is that true in if the statement is logically
Proof real life? explainable,it is really true
in reality. As evidence can be
scientific studies, statistics,
examples, analogies.
In conclusion, the speaker
How does any
should return to the
of the above
Conclusion assertion of the argument
relate to the
and show why is it important
theme?
at all.
Although the state no longer
sells alcohol, the demand for
alcohol remains. That's why
there's going to be the black
market, and the profits that
come out of it, instead of
government, will be gained
by criminals.
In the 1930s, the United
States "Prohibition" was
introduced, which meant
that the sale of alcohol was
banned. Alcohol began to be
sold by mafia groups, like
the Al Capone clan, whose
power increased sharply as a
result of “Prohibition.”
Consequently, organized
crime gets more money and
power from the
“Prohibition.” which is bad
for society as a whole.

Judging and Grading

The total evaluation of the result of each team is made up of 2 parts:

individual (of each speaker) and group (of the whole team).

Individual speaker: /30

1. Content: Was the speaker's argument clear and well-supported with evidence
and examples? /5
2. Delivery: Did the speaker speak clearly and confidently, using appropriate
tone, pace, language, and gestures to engage the audience? /5
3. Relevance: Did the speaker stay focused on the topic and avoid tangents or
irrelevant information? /5
4. Responsiveness: Did the speaker effectively respond to the arguments and
questions raised by the opposing team during cross-examination? /5

6
5. Persuasiveness: Did the speaker successfully convince the audience of their
argument and effectively refute the arguments of the opposing team? /5
6. Effective use of time /5

Whole team: /20

1. Team coordination and cooperation: /5
2. Persuasiveness & relevance of rebuttal: / 5
3. Originality and creativity: /5
4. Overall Impression: /5

Total Points: /140