PUBLIC

FORUM DEBATE

INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC FORUM

DEBATE
CLASS PRESENTATION

1
 I CAN…

✔ Deliver speeches in public forum debates.

✔ Behave accordingly while I am participating in
debates.
✔ Follow timing and turn-taking during debates.

2
 1
Public Forum Debate Basics

3
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BASICS

2 Debaters (Affirmative/Pro Team)

-VERSUS-
2 Debaters (Negative/Con Team)
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BASICS

What is a forum debate?

What is required in debates?
 PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BASICS

Each side presents their case based on research

called evidence. Individual pieces of evidence
are called cards.
 PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BASICS

Both sides answer questions

posed during crossfire periods
(also called cross-examination
or CX)
 PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE BASICS

Each side builds their case and tries to persuade

the judge (or audience) to vote for them during
a series of speeches.
 2
Public Forum Debate Objectives

9
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE OBJECTIVES

The objective is to convince the judge (or

audience) to vote for your team.
 PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE OBJECTIVES

The objective IS NOT to convince your opponents

they are wrong.
 PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE OBJECTIVES

Public forum debate is not arguing. That

requires no listening skills (and can be abrasive
or rude).
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE OBJECTIVES

Debate requires listening, understanding of

both sides of the issue, and persuasion based
on facts (not opinion).
 3
Preparation Time

14
 PREPARATION TIME

During the round, each side gets 3 minutes of

prep time.
 PREPARATION TIME

Prep time may only be taken between speeches.

 PREPARATION TIME

Say “We’d like to take prep

time” or “We’d like to take 30
seconds prep time.”
 PREPARATION TIME

Clarify when you are stopping prep time and

keep track of how much time you have left.
 PREPARATION TIME

Don’t use all your prep time at the beginning of

the round. You’ll need some later!
 4
Constructive Speech Outline

20
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

This speech is pre-written and read during the

four-minute constructive period.
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ Open with an
attention-getting
device (AGD)
(Examples: quote or statistic
relating to your position on
the topic)
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ My partner and I (affirm or negate) the topic,

Resolved:_____(insert resolution/topic of
debate)_____
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ We offer the following definitions….

(Define key words in the resolution and cite the

sources.)
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ Our framework for this debate is ____ because

_____.
(Framework is the weighing mechanism the judge can
use to weigh/judge the round.
Example: public safety, saving lives, equality, etc.)
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ Observations (optional)
(An observation is anything you want the judge to know
(clarification) before the round begins.
For example, if a keyword in the resolution has two common
meanings/definition you might want to clarify which you will be
using in you case.)
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ Contention (Arguments)

Each arguments should have a clear CLAIM (short

tagline for the point you are making).
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

› Contention 1: › Contention 2: › Contention 3:

Tag line (Claim) Tag line (Claim) Tag line (Claim)

Warrant(s) Warrant(s) Warrant(s)
Explain Impacts(s) Explain Impacts(s) Explain Impacts(s)
 CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

⮚ Closing Line

For example: “And for all these reasons, vote

affirmative.”
 WHAT DID I LEARN TODAY?

✔ Learned how to deliver speeches in public forum

debates.
✔ Learned how to behave accordingly while I am
participating in debates.
✔ Followed timing and turn-taking during debates.

30
 THANK YOU
AND
KEEP LEARNING!

31