Great Communicator Debates Online
2017 — US
Format
ROUND FORMAT
| AFFIRMATIVE | 5 minutes | Opening Statement |
| NEGATIVE | 5 minutes | Opening Statement |
| AFFIRMATIVE | 4 minutes | Rebuttal |
| NEGATIVE | 4 minutes | Rebuttal |
| CROSSFIRE | 3 minutes | Both debaters will stand, ask each other questions as well as answer questions from their opponent. |
| MODERATOR | 3 minutes | Pose questions to each side* |
| AFFIRMATIVE | 3 minutes | Closing Statement |
| NEGATIVE | 3 minutes | Closing Statement |
| TOTAL DEBATE TIME | 30 minutes | |
| FEEDBACK & COMMENTS | 4 minutes | Depending on the region and round, feedback and comments from the judge(s) will either be given verbally or written on the ballot. |
| PREP TIME | 2 minutes | Each side is given 2 minutes of prep time. The opposing debater may also use prep time when their opponent has called for prep time. |
*Like a presidential debate, the moderator(s) will at this point have an opportunity to pose a question to each debater. This should be to clarify or help the competitor expand on a point from earlier.