POIs and CX

Some of the debate formats contain Points of Information (POIs). This is a short interruption during a speech in which a debater from the opposite team may ask a question or give a short statement. If accepted, a POI should be no longer than fifteen minutes and should be a positive contribution to the flow of the debate.

The procedure for this is as follows:

• The debater wishing to ask a POI rises from their seat, raises their arm and says “On that” or “Information”. They then wait to be called upon to speak.

• It is at the discretion of the speaker to choose whether to wave the questioner down (i.e. decline the POI, at which point the questioner should sit down and wait a while before offering again) or to accept it (by saying “yes, I’ll accept the POI” or something similar).

• The speaker is not obliged to do this immediately and can leave the speaker standing until it is convenient for them to respond, if they choose.

Additionally, some formats contain a special type of POI called a Point of Clarification. These can be asked during the very first speech if a team has questions about a model being proposed by the Proposition or exactly what they believe in the debate (it must serve to genuinely clarify an issue rather than serving as a POI in disguise).

The aim of these points is to clarify the issue for all teams and ensure a confusion-free round. Whilst it is up to the speaker to decide whether or not to accept a Point of Clarification, they should generally try to do so in order to ensure clarity in the debate.

Formats such as policy debate contain a period known as cross-examination (CX), a practice shaped by US legislative and judiciary proceedings. This is a period after each substantive speech where the debater who has just spoken is asked questions by a member of the opposing team. The responder should aim to ask questions clearly and concisely, and can be penalized by the judge if they are perceived to be deliberately lengthening the cross-examination.

The questioner may prepare their questions in advance if they choose (and it can be advisable to do so), but they should ask questions which pertain to what has been said in the debate. Questioners must ask questions, rather than make statements, and should give the responder sufficient time to respond to the question.

Question for Reflection: What cultural distinctions might be implied by the distinction between POIs in British-style debate and CX in American-style debate?