Jack Howe Memorial Tournament
2021 — Online, CA/US
MS Public Forum Event
Description of event
This is being offered for the first time at this tournament. This is a very experimental test run to see how it will do if regularly held.
Public Forum Debate (PFD) is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the monthly resolution topic. The clash of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or “lay judge”, i.e. a member of the American jury. The debate should:
- Display solid logic, lucid reasoning, and depth of analysis
- Utilize evidence without being driven by it
- Present a clash of ideas by countering/refuting arguments of the opposing team (rebuttal)
- Communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum
Times
Speaker 1 (Team A, 1st speaker ).........................4 min.
Speaker 2 (Team B, 1st speaker)...........................4 min.
Crossfire (between speakers 1 & 2).................3 min.
Speaker 3 (Team A, 2nd speaker ) .......................4 min.
Speaker 4 (Team B, 2nd speaker )........................4 min.
Crossfire (between speakers 3 & 4).................3 min.
Speaker 1 Summary..................................................3 min.
Speaker 2 Summary..................................................3 min.
Grand Crossfire (all speakers) ........................3 min.
Speaker 3 Final Focus...............................................2 min.
Speaker 4 Final Focus...............................................2 min.
Each team may use up to three minutes of prep time.
Topic: Public Forum Debate – 2021 September/October Topic Area: Europe
Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states.
The topic will be posted once finalized by the NSDA.
Rules and Policies
Students in preliminary rounds will advance based on the following method or tiebreakers:
1. Total wins in preliminary rounds,
2. Opposition seed based on preliminary rounds,
3. Team speaker points from all preliminary rounds except the highest and lowest preliminary round,
4. Total team speaker points,
5. Head to head decision (if the teams previously met in preliminary rounds), and
6. Coinflip.
Schedule
Saturday (9/18)
7:00 AM Registration
8:00 AM Round 1
10:00 AM Round 2
1:00 PM Round 3 All PF
3:00 PM Round 4 All PF
5:00 PM Round 5 All PF
Sunday (9/19)
9:45 AM 1st elim Middle School PF
1:45 PM Second Elim Middle School PF
3:00 PM Third Elim Middle School PF
5:00 PM Forth elim Middle School PF (If needed)
Entry fee / uncovered /fines
Middle School Public Forum $50
Uncovered Judge Fee Debate $350
Uncovered Judge Fee I.E. $350
Fines for Late Drops $15
Prelim Judge No show $50
Elim Judge No Show $75