Public Forum

Public Forum Debate is a two-versus-two team debate about current events. It is a fast paced format, where each debater is responsible for presenting one four minute and one two minute speech, as well as two three minute periods of cross-examination without a right of way. 

Public Forum is an excellent format for both brand new and seasoned debaters as the structure of the debate allows students to develop discrete critical thinking and public speaking skills at each stage of the debate. Like all debate formats, there is a heavy emphasis on research and preparation prior to the debate, and students participating in this event quickly develop strong news literacy skills. 

Topics range from broad and easily accessible to highly specific and specialized. Here is the list of potential topics for the 2019-2020 season:

  • China

    • The European Union should join the Belt and Road Initiative.

    • On balance, Xi Jinping’s power consolidation is beneficial to the People’s Republic of China.

  • Africa

    • The economic development benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement outweigh the harms.

    • The African Union should officially recognize Somaliland’s independence.

    Sustainable Development

    • The United States should prioritize the production of nuclear power plants over other forms of renewable energy generation.

    • The benefits of intensive agricultural practices in developing countries outweigh the harms.

    Cybersecurity

    • The benefits of the United States’ use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms.

    • The implementation of blockchain technology in emerging economies produces more benefits than harms.

    Economy

    • The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income.

    • The United States should increase collective bargaining rights for public sector labor unions.

    Education

    • The United States should eliminate K-12 teacher tenure.

    • On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States.

    Federal Judiciary

    • Qualified immunity for law enforcement officers should be ruled unconstitutional.

    • Plea bargaining should be ruled unconstitutional.

    Latin America

    • Western countries’ recognition of Juan Guaidó was in the best interest of the Venezuelan people.

    • On balance, the rise of Russian influence in Latin America increases regional instability.

    Greater Middle East

    • The United States should withdraw from the Afghanistan peace process.

    • The United States should decrease its military presence in the Persian Gulf region to prevent Iranian aggression.

Topics will be released a month prior to being actively debated and can be found on the National Speech and Debate Association's website at speechanddebate.org/topics. There will be a different topic for September/October, November/December, January, February, March, April/May, and June.

Lincoln-Douglas

Lincoln-Douglas Debate is a one-versus-one solo debate that focuses on issues of policy or philosophy. It is slower and more thoughtful format that features an asymmetrical allocation of speaking time where debaters are challenged to use a combination of debate skills in each speech. Each debater also leads a three minute period of cross-examination. 

Lincoln-Douglas is recommended for experienced middle school debaters, as it requires a strong understanding of the mechanics of debate and the ability to quickly adapt them to changing circumstances. Lincoln-Douglas shares a strong emphasis on research and preparation with other debate events, but particularly emphasizes being able to articulate a philosophical rationale for action.

 Topics generally deal with broad matters of principle as applied to specific policy concerns. The entire list of potential Lincoln-Douglas topics, with the exception of the September-October topic, is available at speechanddebate.org/topics and is reproduced below:

  • Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust.

  • Resolved: The United States ought to grant legal personhood to natural ecosystems.

  • Resolved: Japan ought to amend Article 9 of its constitution to allow for offensive military capabilities.

  • Resolved: The United States ought to legalize adult sex work.

  • Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.

  • Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.

  • Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

  • Resolved: The United States ought to act as the employer of last resort.

  • Resolved: A just nation ought not use offensive cyber operations to target civilian infrastructure.

  • Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.

Topics are released a month prior to begin actively debated and are changed every other month beginning in September. Our team does not debate the September/October Novice topic. 

Congressional Debate

Congressional Debate is a communal debate event, featuring groups of approximately twenty students. Debaters are responsible for presenting one three minute speech and answering one minute of questions from the chamber on each topic. Each round of debate typically spans two to four topics. 

Congressional Debate is an outstanding event for new debaters as it provides a place for debaters to develop their logical and rhetorical skills while limiting direct confrontation. While this event still entails a strong research component, presentation is a much larger part of preparation than in other debate events. 

Topics generally deal with specific issues of policy and change from tournament to tournament and are frequently adapted from legislation considered by the current Congressional session. Tournaments generally cover upwards of fifteen topics, with multiple topics debated in each round of competition. Here is a sample topic from the National Speech and Debate Association's 2017 National Tournament: 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT:

SECTION 1. All middle and high schools are now required to have a mental health program that adequately addresses and treats the mental illnesses of their students.

SECTION 2. Middle and high schools that receive federal government funding are subject under this legislation. Mental illnesses include, but are not limited to, anxiety, behavioral, eating, mood, and personality disorders. A school is considered to have fulfilled the requirement of Section 1 when they provide treatment to at least 70% of its student body that requests the program’s services each year and report positive personal satisfaction regarding their experience.

SECTION 3. The Department of Education and the National Institute of Mental Health will oversee this piece of legislation.

A. If a school so chooses, they may receive help in the form of resources or programs from community organizations that have a focus on mental health.

B. Any school in compliance with this piece of legislation, shall not lose any federal funding they may already receive.

SECTION 4. This law shall go into effect in the year 2018.

SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.