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What Is Public Forum Debate?

Public Forum is a team debate event in which two sides argue about a topic called the Resolution. Public Forum debates often covers monthly topics voted on by coaches across the country, yet the topics are designed to be judged by non-specialists. In other words, easily accessible for the “public” so that anyone can serve as a “citizen judge” to judge a Public Forum debate and any student can be a debater. Debaters should:

• Persuade audience by displaying solid logic, lucid reasoning, and depth of analysis

• Utilize evidence without being driven by it

• Present a clash of ideas by countering/refuting arguments of the opposing team

• Communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum

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