Media City Invitational

2021 — Online / Burbank, CA/US

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Open Big Questions Debate

Event Description:

Big Questions debating format involves opposing contestants debating a topic concerning the

intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. Students can compete as individuals or as a

team, this means rounds can be 1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, or 1 vs. 2. Topics will address deeply held

beliefs that often go unexamined. 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. Often,

average members of the public are recruited to judge and observe this event.

Considerations for Big Questions Debates

Big Questions debating format is supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Students,

judges, and audience members will be asked to submit a brief, post-tournament survey to help

the Association demonstrate and quantify the positive impact of switch-side debate. Because of

the research design, there are more competitive limits than debaters may be familiar with in

other debating formats, particularly on the negative.

Structure of the Debate

Each debater will make an opening presentation, laying out the arguments and reasons to

prefer their side of the resolution. These are called the Constructive speeches, and they are five

minutes long. The Affirmative side will always speak first. Following these speeches, there is a

three-minute question segment. During the questioning segment, the Affirmative side will ask

the first question. Following the first question, the questioning period is a free-flowing question

and answer period where both speakers may ask each other questions.

Affirmative Constructive – 5 minutes

Negative Constructive – 5 minutes

Question Segment – 3 minutes

Following the Constructive speeches and the first question segment, each debater will deliver a

speech addressing the key claims and contentions of their opponents. This speech will address

where there are weaknesses or opposing evidence, identify main areas of clash and how

arguments interact with one another, rebuild their own contentions, and offer additional

evidence for their position. These speeches are known as the Rebuttal speeches, though their

content may not be entirely made up of rebuttal. The Rebuttal speeches are four minutes long

and followed by a second question segment, which is identical in form to the first.

Affirmative Rebuttal – 4 minutes

Negative Rebuttal – 4 minutes

Question Segment – 3 minutes

The Rebuttals and question segment is followed by the Consolidation speeches. These

speeches are three minutes long and serve to reduce the debate to its core elements. Debaters

will focus on identifying the areas they are garnering the best advantage and strengthening the

analysis and argumentation in those areas; the form will not resemble a strict “line-by-line”

treatment of the debate. Additional evidence or analysis on existing points of contention will be

given, but new arguments are discouraged.

Affirmative Consolidation – 3 minutes

Negative Consolidation – 3 minutes

Debaters will give a Rationale speech – a three-minute summation of the central argument(s)

that prove their side and the reasons they have proven them in this debate. No new arguments

are offered in the Rationale speech; the speeches focus entirely on the activity that has taken

place earlier in the debate.

Affirmative Rationale – 3 minutes

Negative Rationale – 3 minutes

Both teams will receive a three minute period of prep time to be used at any time (excepting in

the middle of a speech which has begun) to prepare their speeches.

Prep Time – 3 minutes / side