Attack on Titan

2026 — Salt Lake City, UT/US

Policy

Abbreviation CX
Format Debate
Topic:
NFHS Policy 2025-26
Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.
Entry Fee $10.00
Entry Limit Per School 4
Entry 2 competitors per entry

Event Description:

Policy (CX)

Resolution: The resolution will be one requiring a policy judgment. The current national question will be used. Refer towww.speechanddebate.org/topics for the current topic.

The judge will watch the entirety of the debate and then decide which side won. NO ORAL CRITIQUE OR DISCLOSURE!

RFD: REASON FOR DECISION--Must be at least 10 words on why the team that won won the round based on the Rubric/Skills.

Policy debate is a two-on-two debate where an affirmative team proposes a plan and the negative team argues why that plan should not be adopted. The topic for policy debate changes annually, so debaters throughout the course of the year will debate the same topic.

One member of each team will perform the ‘first’ speeches, the other the ‘second’ speeches. So the person who reads the 1AC will also perform the 1AR, for example. Note that the debate begins with the affirmative speaking first, and then switches midway through the debate where the negative speaks first, thus giving the affirmative the ability to speak last.

The Negative position can argue strictly against the affirmative, and/or offer a counterplan.

1st Affirmative Constructive 1AC 8 minutes

Negative Cross-Examination of Affirmative 3 minutes

1st Negative Constructive 1NC 8 minutes

Affirmative Cross-Examination of Negative 3 minutes

2nd Affirmative Constructive 2AC 8 minutes

Negative Cross-Examination of Affirmative 3 minutes

2nd Negative Constructive 2NC 8 minutes

Affirmative Cross-Examination of Negative 3 minutes

1st Negative Rebuttal 1NR 5 minutes

1st Affirmative Rebuttal 1AR 5 minutes

2nd Negative Rebuttal 2NR 5 minutes

2nd Affirmative Rebuttal 2AR 5 minutes Prep Time (each team) 8 minutes

USE THE RUBRIC FOR SPEAKER POINTS AND DECISION. A LOW POINT WIN MAY BE GIVEN, BUT YOU MUST CLEARLY INDICATE WHY IN THE RFD.

Rubric
Skill Score Explanation
Clarity/Organization: (4 5 6) Arguments are presented in a manner that is clear and understandable to the judge.
Delivery: (4 5 6) Presentation, style, poise, articulation/enunciation, and inflection are effective in delivering the arguments and responding to the opponent.
Evidence and Logic: (4 5 6) Cites credible sources and warrants claims that are relevant and support their position. The nature of proof should be in the logic and the ethos of a student's analysis and/or authoritative opinion.
Cross Examination: (4 5 6) Cross-examination should clarify, challenge, and/or advance arguments.
Overall Presentation: (4 5 6) Behavior is ethical, respectful of topic, opponent, and judge in manners and tone.
Choosing a Winner - Throughout the debate, Aff team more effectively uses evidence and claims to argue that their plan would be most beneficial OR Neg team more effectively uses evidence and claims to argue that the aff plan would not work or be beneficial.
Submit ballots on tabroom immediately after round to keep things moving. You can enter comments later