Middle School March Madness
2024 — Online, NJ/US
Pro Con Async Challenge
Event Description:
Rules from the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) for the Pro Con Challenge
In the Pro Con Challenge, students write a 3-5 minute affirmative case and a 3-5 minute negative case on one of theNational Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) topics from the current month for Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, or Policy Debate. Judges will evaluate the structure, arguments, evidence, and speaking abilities of each competitor and rank them against each other. The total recording time limit is 10 minutes and 30 seconds. This is a hard limit, and time spent walking to and from the camera counts toward the recording time if the performance is recorded. Both the affirmative and the negative speeches will be read within this time limit. If the performance is recorded, students may take recorded “prep time” in between speeches to pull up files or take a short break, but their two speeches must be submitted as one recording that is no longer than 10 minutes and 30 seconds. If there are multiple judges in the round, all must agree that the student has gone beyond the grace period. Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Judges who choose to time are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated. Students may read from pre-written text during the speech as if they were presenting a constructive speech in a round. Speeches should not be memorized.
Click here for a Pro Con Sample Ballot
Click here for a video on competing in the Pro Con Challenge