Debate Format ~ADMIN~

World Schools Style Debating

Each debate comprises eight speeches delivered by two teams of three members, representing the Proposition and Opposition sides. The first six speeches are eight minutes in duration, with each team then finishing up by giving a four-minute concluding reply speech.

During any speech except the reply speeches, members of the opposing team may offer points of information to briefly interject a point that the speaker must immediately respond to. The speaker holding the Floor is not obliged to accept all the points of information offered to them, but is likely to be marked down by adjudicators if they do not accept any. Speakers delivering points of information are expected to keep them to 15 seconds or less.The first and last minute of each main speech, as well as the entire duration of reply speeches, are "protected time", meaning that no points of information may be offered.

Role of each speaker

First speaker of the Proposition

The role of the first speaker is to open up the case of the proposition. That means he/she presents his/her side's opinion and arguments. Furthermore, he/she gives a definition of that motion, in order to prevent any confusion caused by the motion, which might lack clarity.

First speaker of the Opposition

His/her duty is to rebut the arguments given by the Proposition, meaning to show why it isn't or can't be true what "they" claimed. He/she can either give a counter-case regarding that motion or just decide to try to argue against the motion. When arguing against the motion, it is optional to give own arguments, as it would be sufficient to just rebut the arguments or the case well enough.

Second speaker of the Proposition

His/her role is to rebut the arguments given by the other side. Eventually, he/she can continue with his team's case and gives more arguments.

Third Speaker

The third speaker has to re-structure the whole debate, filter the key issues of the debate and give a rebuttal. As this position is also called the "rebuttal-speaker". his/her main objective is to prove the other team wrong. He should preferably deepen the analysis of the rebuttal. A good speaker also does case rebuild in the end. There they go into the rebuttal of the other side and show why the rebuttal was wrong or didn't touch their own arguments.