1. What is Debate?

2. Debate is a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers. Each team debates twice at each of our debates.  In one debate, you will present your affirmative plan.  In the other debate, you will argue the negative side.

3. This Year’sTopic: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China.

4. The Five Pillars of Debate 1. Necessity/Inherency 2. Topicality 3. Feasibility 4. Fundability 5. Efficacy/Solvency

5. All five pillars must be addressed in your plan.

6. Preparation: Writing a Plan

7. What is a Plan??? A plan is what you and your partner will be presenting as your affirmative case. Each partnership will have their own plan.

8. There are two parts to a plan. Each part must be five minutes long. The Affirmative 1 The Affirmative 2

9. The Affirmative 1 demonstrates that there is a problem and that you have a plan to solve it. Inherency/Necessity: Does a problem really exist? What is it? Topicality: Does your plan meet the requirements of the resolution?

10. The Affirmative 2 restates your plan and gives the details of how it will be executed. Feasibility: Can the plan be reasonably executed? Fundability: How will it be paid for? Efficacy/Solvency: Will the problem be solved by your plan? How?

11. The Nitty-Gritty of the Affirmative 1 Speech: State the resolution Define each word in the resolution. Tell the source of all definitions you give. Explain the current situation in the world as it pertains to the resolution State your specific plan and that it will change the current situation Use the words inherency and topicality in your speech

12.  Every point you make must be backed up with evidence.  You must be able to cite your sources. This includes the sources for your definitions, quotes, facts and figures, and basically, any statements you make.  Print out a hard copy of your evidence so you can present it if your opponents ask for proof.

13. The Nitty-Gritty of the Affirmative 2 Speech: A one-sentence summary of the current situation A one-sentence summary of why your plan would help Explain how it’s going to happen. This is where all of the details of the plan are presented. Use the words feasibility, fundability, and efficacy/solvency in your speech

14. How is the debate conducted? The first speaker is the team member on the affirmative team who is giving the Affirmative 1 speech. (5 min.) The next speaker is from the negative team. He/she gives the First Negative speech. This speech attempts to refute all or part of the Affirmative 1 speech. (4 – 5 min.) The next speaker is from the affirmative team. He/she conducts the First Affirmative cross-examination. (two minutes)

15. How is the debate conducted? (Continued) The next speaker is from the affirmative team. He/she gives the Affirmative 2 speech. This is the detailed description of the plan and how it will work. Next, the other member of the negative team conducts a two-minute cross-examination. After that, the second negative speech is presented. This speech attempts to refute the affirmative team’s plan by arguing that it is deficient in one or more of the five pillars of debate. (4 – 5 minutes)

16. How is the debate conducted? (Continued) It isn’t over yet! The next speaker is from the affirmative team. He/she conducts the second affirmative cross-examination, asking questions of the second negative speaker. (2 min.) Finally, each team has a few minutes prep time to prepare a final rebuttal. The negative team goes first. Either team member may present this.

17. How is the debate conducted? (Continued) It isn’t over yet! The 3- minute rebuttal might: Restate or elaborate on the arguments previously made by their team Present further evidence against the affirmative team’s plan Present a new line of attack against the affirmative team’s plan

18. How is the debate conducted? (Continued) It isn’t over yet! The final speaker speaks for 3 minutes, and presents the Affirmative rebuttal. This can be presented by either affirmative team member. This speaker may: Restate and/or elaborate on previously stated arguments Present further evidence to support their plan Present a new line of attack against the negative team’s arguments.

19. So… How do we come up with a plan??? The Baylor Briefs 2016 book gives some possible problems to address as you debate. It gives information for each idea to help you prepare your plan. We have two copies for you to use, and we can make copies of pages for you to use and highlight.

20. Ideas in the Baylor Briefs 2016 book include, but are not limited to:  Species Extinction  Human Rights Abuses  Space Exploration  Climate Change  Trade Relations  Nuclear Disarmament

21. But how do we prepare to argue the negative side?? The negative speeches cannot be prepared in advance because you don’t know what affirmative plan you will be arguing against. So, listen carefully to your opponents, and come up with your questions are arguments as they speak.

22. We have purchased and prepared resources to help guide you as you listen to the affirmative speeches. Relax, it’s not as tough as it sounds!

23. Our first debate is on Wednesday, October 26. It will be here at Harrington Park School. For a schedule of all debates, check out the Debate Team tab on the hpsd.org home page. We will have four work meetings before the first debate: Wednesday, Sept. 28, Wednesday, Oct. 5, Thursday, Oct.13, and Wednesday, Oct. 19. We will meet in the Computer Room and help you write your plans.

24. Is Debate Team for You? We hope so! Ask yourself: Do I have a partner who I think I’ll enjoy working with, who I think I can count on to do his/her share of work and who will attend all or most of the debates with me? Am I willing to do the work it will take to prepare a plan to use throughout the debate season? Do I want to challenge myself, travel to other schools, and get great writing and public speaking experience that will benefit me in high school and beyond? We sincerely hope you will join us!