2. Format Affirmative Constructive - 5 minutes
Negative Constructive - 5 minutes
Question Segment - 3 minutes
Affirmative Rebuttal - 4 minutes
Negative Rebuttal - 4 minutes

3. Format (cont.) Affirmative Consolidation - 3 minutes
Negative Consolidation - 3 minutes
Affirmative Rationale - 2 minutes
Negative Rationale - 2 minutes

4. Differences from Other Debates
Both the affirmative and the negative have the burden of proof. Negative has equal burden to prove the inverse resolution.
No line-by-line debate in the final four speeches
Evidence is not all-important. Analytical and logical arguments are just as important.
Non-topical arguments are ground for forfeit
No “burden of rejoinder” - dropping an argument does not inherently mean it is true
Judges are always lay people, and judges for our tournament will act as lay people

5. Cases
Usually, cases have an overall thesis about the resolution at the beginning
Big Questions recommends a two-point case with in depth analysis
Each contention must have claim, warrant, and impact

6. The New Speeches
Consolidation Speeches: These speeches reduce the debate to its core elements. Debaters focus on their strongest arguments in the round, and there is no strict line- by-line. New evidence is allowed, but not new arguments.
Rationale Speeches: Like Final Focus in Public Forum, this two minute speech summarizes the round and why you or your team has proven them. Also no line-by- line.

7. Teams You can debate on your own or as a partnership
If you debate alone, you give every speech
If you debate in a partnership, the first speaker will give the constructive, participate in the first question segment, and give the consolidation. The second speaker will give the rebuttal, participate in the second question segment, and give the rationale.

8. Resources For sample cases, ballots, and other additional information: