Intro to public forum: A layman’s debate Novice Debate Intro to public forum: A layman’s debate 

Announcements/Quote (Print Defining PF document)

Current event Would anyone like to share how they connected to their current event?

congress We haven’t gone over it yet… How many of you are considering participating in Congressional Debate? The fall Legislation packet has been released. It is on my website under Congress, but I will make a copy of the legislation for you.

topics Lincoln Douglas: Resolved: Wealthy nations have an obligation to provide development assistance to other nations. Public Forum: Resolved: The United States should require universal background checks for all gun sales and transfer of ownership.

Finding info What resource do you have available, right now, to help you understand these topics better?

Public forum

What is it? Team event Advocates or rejects a position Display logic and analysis Use evidence, but that isn’t the central point Counter arguments Most of all: communication!

Coin toss!

Times Team A first speaker: 4 min Team B first speaker: 4 min Shared crossfire: 3 min Team A second speaker: 4 min Team B second speaker: 4 min Team A Summary: 2 min Team B Summary 2 min Grand Crossfire: 3 min Team A final focus: 2 min Team B final focus: 2 min

First speakers Introduce issue Define terms Analyze terms Crossfires: Clarify terms, develop clash

Second speakers Refute opponent's case Build up own case Team A may want to pre-empt attacks Team B needs to do both Crossfire: Clarification of arguments, expose contradictions

Summary First speakers on both teams Overview of the debate so far by laying out the key issues Emphasis on the impact of the arguments

Grand Crossfire All team members May sit, if OK with judge Find areas of clash, expose weaknesses of opponent

Final Focus Why your team won Focus on key issues in the debate Answer arguments you may be losing Impact on why it is important for judge to vote your way

Previous topics April 2014 - Resolved: Prioritizing economic development over environmental protection is in the best interest of the people of India. March 2014 - Resolved: Single-gender classrooms would improve the quality of education in American public schools. January 2014 - Resolved: Development assistance should be prioritized over military aid in the Sahel region of Africa. December 2013 - Resolved: Immigration reform should include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. November 2013 - Resolved: The benefits of domestic surveillance by the NSA outweigh the harms. February 2013 - Resolved: On balance, the rise of China is beneficial to the interests of the United States. January 2013 - Resolved: On balance, the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission harms the election process. December 2012 - Resolved: The United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts.  

PF round 2015 Lets flow!