Rich Mountain Speech and Debate Festival

2018 — Elkins, WV/US

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Big Questions Debate

Event Description:

a.     Big Questions Debate: We are excited to offer Big Questions Debate for those students who have a desire to wrestle with ideas that are more ethereal in nature. Big Questions is a one-on-one debate (but partnerships are welcome) that focuses on topics that concern the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. Students are assigned a side of the topic before each round and present cases, engage in rebuttal and refutation, and participate in a question period. The National Speech & Debate Association supports this format of debate through a grant from John Templeton Foundation.

This year’s topic is as follows:

Resolved: Humans are primarily driven by self-interest.

Speaking times are as follows:

Affirmative Constructive || 5 minutes || Present case

Negative Constructive || 5 minutes || Present case

Question Segment || 3 minutes || Alternate asking and answering questions

Affirmative Rebuttal || 4 minutes || Refute the opposing side’s arguments

Negative Rebuttal || 4 minutes || Refute the opposing side’s arguments

Question Segment || 3 minutes || Alternate asking and answering questions

Affirmative Consolidation || 3 minutes || Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round

Negative Consolidation || 3 minutes || Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round

Affirmative Rationale || 2 minutes || Explain reasons that you win the round

Negative Rationale || 2 minutes || Explain reasons that you win the round

*Each team is entitled to five minutes of prep time during the round.

(Adapted from NSDA)