Belton JV 1st and 2nd Years

2025 — Belton, MO/US

• Invite
• Entries
• Judges
• Pairings
• Live Updates
• Results
• Judge Signup

Public Forum Debate

Event Description:

Event: Public Forum Debate
Welcome to Public Forum Debate! This event is designed to be accessible to a wide audience and focuses on current events. All rounds will be governed by the rules and procedures in the 2025-2026 MSHSAA Speech & Debate Manual.

Debate Topic
We will use the designated monthly topic chosen by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).

Format and Speech Times
Public Forum is a two-person team event.

Coin Flip: Before each round, a coin is flipped. The winning team chooses either the side (Pro or Con) or the speaking position (first or second). The losing team makes the remaining choice.

Speech Order:

Team A Speaker 1: 4 minutes

Team B Speaker 1: 4 minutes

Crossfire: 3 minutes

Team A Speaker 2: 4 minutes

Team B Speaker 2: 4 minutes

Crossfire: 3 minutes

Summary (Team A Speaker 1): 3 minutes

Summary (Team B Speaker 1): 3 minutes

Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes

Final Focus (Team A Speaker 2): 2 minutes

Final Focus (Team B Speaker 2): 2 minutes

Preparation Time: Each team will have a total of 3 minutes of preparation time to use during the debate.

Rules and Guidelines
General Rules: All rounds will adhere to the event regulations found in Section 6 of the MSHSAA manual.

Plans: No formal "plans" should be presented. The debate should focus on the resolution as a whole.

Electronic Devices: Laptops and internet use are permitted for flowing and research. Competitors may not receive outside assistance from non-competitors during a round.

Evidence Ethics: Speeches must be the original work of the competitor. While generative AI may be used for research assistance, it should not be cited as a source or used to generate speech content.

Judging Criteria
Judges will evaluate debaters on analysis, evidence, reasoning, refutation, crossfire performance, and delivery. The winning team will be the one that presents the more believable and persuasive position.