1. A GUIDE TO PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE

2. PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the monthly resolution topic announced on line at www.nflonline.org. The National Forensic League is the oldest and largest debate and speech honor society.www.nflonline.org Topics include such resolutions as: September topic: Resolved: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people. October topic: RESOLVED: The United States should significantly increase its use of nuclear energy. November topic: RESOLVED: That the United States government should implement universal health care modeled after the French system. December topic: RESOLVED That, on balance, social networking Web sites have a positive impact on the United States.

3. Public Forum TOPICS are worded as Resolutions which advocate solving a problem by establishing a position. Teams must understand the terminology so that debates have a “clash of ideas” in a consistent manner. Example: Resolved: Free Trade Benefits All Nations An expert definition of “Free Trade” would be necessary from an economics dictionary. Case Development & Evidence Pro and Con case is supported by evidence and reasoning. Goal: debate centers on a few quality arguments Team should research several arguments on both sides of the issue. Team must adapt its case to either the pro or con side.

4. Public Forum  Research Based  *Credible, unbiased, quality supporting evidence  *Mix of facts and statistics, expert quotations, studies, polls; real life examples  Current Events  Public Forum topics are based on current events.  Sources: think tanks, web sources, periodicals

7. SPEAKER 1Team A 1 st Speaker4 minutes Speaker 2Team B 1 st speaker4 minutes CROSSFIRESpeakers 1 & 23 minutes Speaker 3Team A, 2 nd speaker4 minutes Speaker 4Team B, 2 nd speaker4 minutes CROSSFIRESpeakers 3 & 43 minutes Speaker 1Summary2 minutes Speaker 2Summary2 minutes GRAND CROSSFIREAll Speakers3 minutes Speaker 3Final Focus1 minute Speaker 3Final focus1 minute

8. DEBATE INTEREST MEETING Where: When: Loudoun Valley Debate

9. Loudoun Valley Debate Interest meeting! Where: When:

10. Public Forum  CONSTRUCT ARGUMENT  Advocate resolution’s worthiness  Must establish there IS a problem in the status quo  Underlying concept is Change Versus Risk of Not Changing  Define terms  TOPICS  2007 April Public Forum Topic Resolved: United States corporations should honor all prior commitments to employee pensions.  2007 March Public Forum Topic Resolved: That the quantity of credit available to American consumers should be significantly reduced.  2007 February Public Forum Topic Resolved: The costs of legalized casino gambling in the United States outweigh the benefits.

11.  This speech constructs arguments showing disadvantages of the resolution and why it should not be adopted.  Show why change is ill-advised  Use the track record of the status quo  Summarize arguments

12.  Questioning periods give debate interactivity  Must have clash of ideas  Equal access to floor  Debater 1 must address debater 2  May speak freely but dominating the other speaker results in loss of points