Team Debate Format

Turn 1: Affirmative Argument Time: 5-8 minutes

Job: Present your argument and the first Major Reason why you believe your argument is right.

Be sure to include:

A good introduction that attracts the audiences’ attention and interest in the topic

A clearly stated position (what you believe and want the audience to believe)

Clearly stated support (why your reason is true)

Strong conclusion

Turn 2: Negative Cross Examination Time: 5 minutes

Job: Pose good questions that call into question the “correctness” of the affirmative argument

You ask your questions about the affirmative argument (based on this first reason)

Be sure to have a strategy, or at very least a direction to your questioning

Be courteous-face the audience

Affirmative may/may not answer these questions; give the audience something to think about

Turn 3: Negative Argument Time: 5-8 minutes

Job: Present your argument and the first Major Reason why you believe your argument is right.

Be sure to include:

A good introduction that attracts the audiences’ attention and interest in the topic

A clearly stated position (what you believe and want the audience to believe)

Clearly stated support (why your reason is true)

Strong conclusion

Turn 4: Affirmative Cross Examination Time: 5 minutes

Job: Pose good questions that call into question the “correctness” of the negative argument

You ask your questions about the affirmative argument (based on this first reason)

Be sure to have a strategy, or at very least a direction to your questioning

Be courteous-face the audience

Affirmative may/may not answer these questions; give the audience something to think about

Turn 5(Turn 1): Affirmative Argument Time: 5-8 minutes

Job: Present your argument and the second Major Reason why you believe your argument is right.

Turn 6(Turn 2): Negative Cross Examination Time: 5 minutes

Job: Pose good questions that call into question the “correctness” of the affirmative argument

Turn 7(Turn 3): Negative Argument Time: 5-8 minutes

Job: Present your argument and the second Major Reason why you believe your argument is right.

Turn 8(Turn 5): Affirmative Cross Examination Time: 5 minutes

Job: Pose good questions that call into question the “correctness” of the negative argument

Rebuttal Speeches – no new arguments; new evidence and support are ok

Turn 9: First Negative Rebuttal Time: 5 minutes

Job: Review your case

Be sure to include:

A restatement of the Negative case (why you believe what you believe)

A summary of how the Negative position is superior and the Affirmative case has not proven they are right

Ask for the audience to agree with your position

Effective conclusion

Turn 10: First Affirmative Rebuttal Time: 5 minutes

Job: Review your case

Be sure to include:

A restatement of the Affirmative case (why you believe what you believe)

A summary of how the Affirmative position is superior and the Negative case has not proven they are right

Ask for the audience to agree with your position

Effective conclusion

Remember – this debate does not ask for you to directly “argue” with each other (although that might be fun!)  Just be professional and present your arguments and questions to the audience.