DSDA 2 ROUNDER
2020 — https://zoom.us/j/91935867322?p, PA/US
Public Forum
Event Description:
PUblic Forum is 2:2 debate; each team is comprised of two people. The first two speeches are pre-written (aff case and neg case). After that, all speeches are responsive to the material presented.
Format:
1st Affirmative (1AC)- 4 minutes
1st Negative (1NC)- 4 minutes
Crossfire between 1AC and 1NC- 3 minutes. Aff. gets the first question.
2nd Affirmative (2AC)- 4 minutes
2nd Negative (2NC)_- 4 minutes
Crossfire (2AC and 2NC)- 3 minutes.
1st Aff summary- 3 minutes
1st Neg summary- 3 minutes
Grand Cross Fire- all four debaters- 3 minutes
2nd Aff - 2 minutes Final Focus
2nd Neg - 2 minutes Final Focus
Prep time: 3 minutes per team spread across the debate.
The debate topics focus on facts, versus values or policy.
Public Forum Debate
1. Definition: Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. Each team shall be comprised of two debaters, each representing the same member school. The focus of the debate is a clash of ideas in a persuasive manner that can be understood by a "lay" judge. Good debaters should display logic and analysis. They should use evidence when needed. They should win their case and refute that of their opponents. They should communicate effectively, using fundamentals of good speaking. There are no burdens on either side.
2. Resolution: Examples of resolutions used in previous years include:
a. Resolved: Committing United States ground combat troops to fight ISIL is in the best interest of the United States.
b. Resolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.
3. Scheduling: The determination of scheduling for debate events will be overseen by the Tournament Director. The schedule may vary from one tournament to another dependent on the number of schools and teams registered.
a. Small tournaments may require teams from the same school to compete against each other or to be judged by a judge from their school.
b. The priority will be to debate rather than to have byes and scheduling will be as "random" as possible.
4. Format: The format and time limits in Public Forum debate are as follows. It should be noted that there is no set grace period: debaters may finish their sentence or paragraph and judges should use their discretion. There is no coin flip in the DSDA. We have adopted the Pilot NSDA rules for 2020-21
· First Speaker - Team A- 4 minutes
· First Speaker - Team B- 4 minutes
· Crossfire -3 minutes
· Second Speaker - Team A- 4 minutes
· Second Speaker - Team B- 4 minutes
· Crossfire- 3 minutes
· Summary - First Speaker - Team A -3 minutes
· Summary - First Speaker - Team B- 3 minutes
· Grand Crossfire- 3 minutes
· Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team A- 2 minutes
· Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team B -2 minutes
· Prep Time 3 minutes per team
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5. PreparationTime:
a. Each team should receive a total of 3 minutes of preparation time, which can be used in whole or in part before any speech or questioning period.
b. The timekeeper or judge shall record the amount of preparation time cumulatively used by each time, announcing the passage of such time in one-minute intervals, with a warning when 30 seconds remain.
c. Debaters may time themselves or each other as long as the judge is timing as well.
6. Judges:
a. Ordinarily, a single judge will decide rounds. At the Varsity level, this must be an adult.
b. Though judges may be experienced, judges with little, or no previous experience, will not be discouraged.
c. It is expected that judges not intervene in the round. "Intervention" occurs when a judge votes on an argument or issue that neither team has presented in the round. The judge is limited only to the arguments that are presented before them.
d. At the JV level, experienced high school seniors may also judge.
7. Ballots: ONLINE BALLOTS ARE REQUIRED. Each individual debate round exists in a vacuum. It is expected that every judge leave their personal beliefs outside of their decision making process.
a. Competent judging includes an effort to take notes (flow) on the arguments each team presents and to weigh the merits of those arguments against one another before rendering a decision.
b. Judges should write comments on a ballot that will help the debaters (and coach) understand the basis for the judge's decision. Positive feedback and constructive criticism are encouraged.
c. Each debater should be awarded points, which fit within the scale established on the ballot.
d. There are no "low point" wins in the DSDA.
e. There are no ties in Public Forum debate. The points should match the decision.
f. Judges of Junior Varsity debaters are encouraged to be sensitive with their comments.
g. Judges must follow the speaker point scale provided by the tab room.