Debate Formats

Through the course of the year, you will become familiar with a variety of different debate formats. Each of these formats, while broadly similar in some regards, will test a different set of skills and is reflective of the culture of the circuits which utilize it the most heavily.

When preparing a case, you should always ask certain questions about which skills the format is trying to encourage and which strategies are the most effective for it:

Does the format emphasize having logical, coherent arguments?
Does the format emphasize the use of evidence? Philosophy? Rhetoric?
Does the format emphasize simpler arguments, or more complex ones?
Does the format emphasize direct interaction between the teams?
What role for the audience, if any, is provided by the format?
Who determines the winner?
- A panel of experts?
- A panel of skilled debaters?
- Or the audience?

Asking these questions will allow you to understand what the audience and judges are looking for – and, by extension, how to best persuade them to vote for you.

Furthermore, as part of your development of intercultural competence, you should also consider how these formats reflect aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture including:

The nature of the Anglo-Saxon classroom and education system;
The operation of Anglo-Saxon legislative bodies; and
The operation of Anglo-Saxon judiciaries.

Comparing these with their French equivalents will give you a better understanding of Anglo-American society, governance, culture, and persuasion.

British & UK-style formats

English Union

1st proposition speech - 5 minutes
1st opposition speech - 5 minutes
2nd proposition speech - 5 minutes
2nd opposition speech - 5 minutes
Question & answer period - ~30 minutes
3rd opposition speech - 5 minutes
3rd proposition speech - 5 minutes

Impromptu

1st proposition speech - 5 minutes
1st opposition speech - 5 minutes
2nd proposition speech - 5 minutes
2nd opposition speech - 5 minutes
Question & answer period - ~30 minutes
3rd proposition speech - 5 minutes
3rd opposition speech - 5 minutes

Oxford Style

Introductory speech from the chair
1st proposition speech
1st opposition speech
Intra-panel discussion
2nd proposition speech
2nd opposition speech
"Debate from the floor" (question & answer period)
3rd opposition speech
3rd proposition speech

British Parliamentary

Prep time of 15 minutes
Opening government - 7 minutes
- 1st gov't speaker ("prime minister")
- 2nd gov't speaker ("deputy prime minister")
Opening opposition - 7 minutes
- 1st opp speaker ("leader of the opposition")
- 2nd opp speaker ("deputy leader of the opposition")
Closing government - 7 minutes
- 3rd gov't speaker ("member of government")
- 4th gov't speaker ("government whip")
Closing opposition - 7 minutes
- 3rd opp speaker ("member of opposition")
- 4th opp speaker ("opposition whip")

American & US-style formats

Venn

1st team A speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team B, 60 seconds by team C
1st team B speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team A, 60 seconds by team C
1st team C speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team A, 60 seconds by team B
1st judge Q&A - judging panel asks questions to team A
2nd team A speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team B, 60 seconds by team C
2nd team B speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team A, 60 seconds by team C
2nd team C speech - 5 minutes
Cross-examination - 60 seconds by team A, 60 seconds by team B
2nd judge Q&A - judging panel asks questions to team A
3rd team A speech - 5 minutes
3rd team B speech - 5 minutes
3rd team C speech - 5 minutes

Present & Defend (2022-23, 2024-25)

Team A presentation - 6 minutes
1st team CX - team B asks 3 questions of no more than 30 seconds each to team A, each response should be no more than 90 seconds
Team B response to team A's presentation - 6 minutes
1st judge CX - judging panel asks questions to team A
Concluding statement by team A - 3 minutes
Team B presentation - 6 minutes
2nd team CX - team A asks 3 questions of no more than 30 seconds each to team B, each response should be no more than 90 seconds
Team A response to team B's presentation - 6 minutes
2nd judge CX - judging panel asks questions to team B
Concluding statement by team B - 3 minutes

Policy (standard)

1st affirmation speech - 8 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
1st negation speech - 8 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
2nd affirmation speech - 8 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
2nd negation speech - 8 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
3rd negation speech - 5 minutes
3rd affirmation speech - 5 minutes
4th negation speech - 5 minutes
4th affirmation speech - 5 minutes

Both teams provided with an 8-minute pool of prep time.

Policy (modified)

1st affirmation speech - 6 minutes
Cross-examination - 4 minutes
1st negation speech - 6 minutes
Cross-examination - 4 minutes
2nd affirmation speech - 6 minutes
Cross-examination - 5 minutes
2nd negation speech - 6 minutes
Cross-examination - 4 minutes
Prep time of 2 minutes
3rd affirmation speech - 6 minutes
Prep time of 2 minutes
3rd negation speech - 6 minutes

American Parliamentary

Prep time of 15-30 minutes, as motions are handed out impromptu
1st proposition speech - 7 minutes 30 seconds
1st opposition speech - 8 minutes 30 seconds
2nd proposition speech - 8 minutes 30 seconds
2nd opposition speech - 8 minutes 30 seconds
3rd opposition speech - 4 minutes 30 seconds
3rd proposition speech - 5 minutes 30 seconds
(note that American parliamentary debate, in deliberately imitating the British parliamentary format, uses the British prop-opp terminology rather than the American aff-neg!)

Present & Defend (2023-24)

Team A presentation - 5 minutes
1st team Q&A - team B asks 3 questions of no more than 30 seconds each to team A, each response should be no more than 90 seconds
Team B response - 5 minutes
1st judge Q&A - judging panel asks questions to team A
Between-teams grand CX - 3 minutes, teams alternate asking questions
Team A concluding statement - 5 minutes
Team B presentation - 5 minutes
2nd team Q&A - team A asks 3 questions of no more than 30 seconds each to team B, each response should be no more than 90 seconds
Team A response - 5 minutes
2nd judge Q&A - judging panel asks questions to team B
Between-teams grand CX - 3 minutes, teams alternate asking questions
Team B concluding statement - 5 minutes

Public Forum

1st affirmation speech - 4 minutes
1st negation speech - 4 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
2nd affirmation speech - 4 minutes
2nd negation speech - 4 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
3rd affirmation speech - 2 minutes
3rd negation speech - 2 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
4th affirmation speech - 2 minutes
4th negation speech - 2 minutes

Both teams provided with a 4-minute pool of prep time.

Lincoln-Douglas

1st affirmation speech - 6 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
1st negation speech - 7 minutes
Cross-examination - 3 minutes
2nd affirmation speech - 4 minutes
2nd negation speech - 6 minutes
3rd affirmation speech - 3 minutes

Both teams provided with a 4-minute pool of prep time.

Congressional

Generally lasts for around three hours, with 18 to 20 participants.
Rounds begin with the election of a presiding officer, who then oversees the approval of a "docket" - an arrangement of topics, framed as proposed legislation, in a particular order.
Once a docket is approved, the presiding officer opens debate on the first topic on the docket. Speeches alternate affirmation-negation, can last up to three minutes, and are followed by a brief question-and-answer period. Once there are no more students wishing to speak on the topic, the house moves to hold a vote on the topic to determine if the "bill" passes.
After this vote, they then move on to the next topic on the docket.
Debate continues until all motions on the docket have been debated and voted upon, or until time runs out.

Other formats

Australia-Asia Style

1st proposition speech - 5-8 minutes
1st opposition speech - 5-8 minutes
2nd proposition speech - 5-8 minutes
2nd opposition speech - 5-8 minutes
3rd proposition speech - 5-8 minutes
3rd opposition speech - 5-8 minutes
4th opposition speech - 3-4 minutes
4th proposition speech - 3-4 minutes

Canadian Parliamentary

1st proposition speech - 7 minutes
1st opposition speech - 7 minutes
2nd proposition speech - 7 minutes
2nd opposition speech - 10 minutes
3rd proposition speech - 3 minutes

World Schools

1st proposition speech - 8 minutes
1st opposition speech - 8 minutes
2nd proposition speech - 8 minutes
2nd opposition speech - 8 minutes
3rd proposition speech - 8 minutes
3rd opposition speech - 8 minutes
4th opposition speech - 4 minutes
4th proposition speech - 4 minutes

For further details on which formats are to be utilized at certain events, please refer to the Travel & Event Schedule.

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