What Is Public Forum Debate?

The resolution changes almost every month, and students usually receive the topic about six weeks before it is used at tournaments. This means students must research both sides of the topic, prepare arguments, gather evidence, and practice responses well before they compete.

Students do not know which side they will be arguing until right before the debate begins. One team will argue Pro, meaning they support the resolution, and the other will argue Con, meaning they oppose it. This is why preparation on both sides of the topic is required.

Each debate round lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and follows a fixed speaking order. Before the round begins, teams flip a coin to decide which team speaks first and if they are Pro or Con.

Each student on a team has a specific role during the debate. Speaker 1 is responsible for presenting the team’s main arguments and later summarizing the round. Speaker 2 focuses on rebutting the opposing team’s arguments and delivering the final persuasive speech.

A Public Forum round includes:

• Two 4 minute constructive speeches, where each team presents their main arguments
• Two 4 minute rebuttal speeches, where teams respond to their opponent’s arguments
• Two 3 minute summary speeches, where teams narrow the debate to the most important issues
• Two 2 minute final focus speeches, where each team explains why they should win
• Three 3 minute “crossfire” segments that are sandwiched in-between the speeches, where students directly question one another to clarify arguments and challenge logic
  
  

By the end of the round, the judge must decide which team made the stronger overall case and determine them as the winning team.