A GUIDE TO PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the monthly resolution topic announced on line at The National Forensic League is the oldest and largest debate and speech honor society. 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.

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.

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

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

DEBATE INTEREST MEETING Where: When: Loudoun Valley Debate

Loudoun Valley Debate Interest meeting! Where: When:

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.

 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

 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