Utah Speech Arts
2022 — NSDA Campus, UT/US
Champion Public Forum
Event Description:
In Public forum teams are not assigned sides. They flip at the beginning of the round and the winner of the flip gets to choose whether they want to go AFF or Neg or 1st or 2nd. Then the loser of the coin flip then choose whatever the winner doesn’t. This means that you must correctly put in the online ballot which side a team is on and whether they go first or second. Take time to clarify this with the teams and also write it into their comments which side and speaker they are along with a descriptor of the team. IE: Wearing blue ties, etc…(these should be respectful and gender neutral identifiers)
As a team event, students who compete in Public Forum need to be able to work well with a partner. Balanced teams, both in terms of preparation before debates and contributions within a debate, helps provide a competitive advantage during tournaments. PF is the newest form of debate in the Association and looks at current event topics. Students who do Public Forum must be prepared to debate in front of judges without any formal debate training. Being able to persuade a range of judges is a central component to this event. Additionally, PF is focused upon debating varying resolutions that change frequently, which exposes students to a variety of topics during a singular competitive season.
Time Limits Speech Time Limit Purpose Team A Speaker 1 – Constructive 4 minutes Present the team’s case Team B Speaker 1 – Constructive 4 minutes Present the team’s case Crossfire 3 minutes Speaker 1 from Team A & B alternate asking and answering questions Team A Speaker 2 – Rebuttal 4 minutes Refute the opposing side’s arguments Team B Speaker 2 – Rebuttal 4 minutes Refute the opposing side’s arguments Crossfire 3 minutes Speaker 2 from Team A & B alternate asking and answering questions Team A Speaker 1 – Summary 3 minutes Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round Team B Speaker 1 – Summary 3 minutes Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round Grand Crossfire 3 minutes All four debaters involved in a crossfire at once Team A Speaker 2 – Final Focus 2 minutes Explain reasons that you win the round Team B Speaker 2 – Final Focus 2 minutes Explain reasons that you win the round
*Each team is entitled to three minutes of prep time during the round.
In debate, each round will have two debaters, or two teams, depending on the event. Prior to the start of the round, the judge will pick up a ballot from the tournament organizer. The ballot is where judges will record their thoughts on each performance, suggestions for improvement, and general feedback for the performer. At the end of the tournament, each school will receive all the ballots written about their competitors so contestants can use your feedback to improve!
There are two sides to every debate, one side supports the resolution being debated, the other side negates the resolution. In Policy Debate and Lincoln-Douglas Debate, the sides will have been decided before the round. In Public Forum Debate sides are determined by a coin flip at the beginning of the round.
All debate events have a unique order to the round, divided into three parts: speeches, cross-examination, and prep time. Speeches are where the bulk of the debating is done, with each team presenting and reinforcing their arguments while refuting their opponents. It is common for judges to flow a debate, which means the judges will take notes about the speeches in order to keep track of the debate.
Cross-Examination is a period of time where debater’s can ask each other questions. There are some differences between kinds of debate, but, the purpose of cross-examination remains the same; asking questions that will allow the debater to make stronger arguments. It is up to you whether or not to flow this part. Typically, this is not a time for debaters to be making arguments, instead, it is to clarify their opponents position’s.
Each event gives debaters a set amount of prep time, where competitors can take a moment to prepare for the next part of the debate. Competitors can take prep time between speeches and should notify the judges when they begin and end prep.
The judge will watch the entirety of the debate and then decide which side won.