Debates and Thought Talks

Debates(formal):

People In The Room:

Moderator - The person in charge of the debate, voting, and managing time.

Time Keeper- The person who keeps the time and actively informs the speaker of how much time they have left. The time keeper does this with set hand motions.

Main Pro Speaker- The pre-determined(most of the time) person who is speaking in favor of the resolution.

Main Con Speaker- The pre-determined(most of the time) person who is speaking against the resolution.

Subsequent Pro Speaker- A person who is in favor of the resolution and speaks for a shorter time, and is usually decided when the moderator asks for a subsequent speaker.

Subsequent Con Speaker- A person who is in against the resolution and speaks for a shorter time, and is usually decided when the moderator asks for a subsequent speaker.

Audience- People who listen to the speakers and have the ability to ask questions, request motions, and vote.

What Usually Happens In The Debates

1. The moderator calls for decorum to silence the room
2. The moderator reads resolution out loud, ask for timekeeper, and introduces pro and con speakers. They also ask the timekeeper if they know hand signals
3. The main pro speaker gives a six minute speech in favor of the resolution
4. At the end the speaker decides if they want to yield time to the chair (not answer questions) or answer questions.
5. The moderator asks the audience if they have any questions.
6. The moderator picks the people who want to ask the questions.
7. The speaker has their remaining time to answer the questions.
8. The main con speaker gives a six minute speech against the resolution
9. At the end the speaker decides if they want to yield time to the chair (not answer questions) or answer questions.
10. The moderator asks the audience if they have any questions. Then the moderator picks the people who want to ask the questions.
11. The speaker has their remaining time to answer the questions.
12. The subsequent pro speakers gives a three minute speech. Then they can choose to answer questions(they have their remaining time and the moderator picks people to answer questions) or yield to chair(not answer questions).
13. The subsequent con speakers gives a three minute speech. Then they can choose to answer questions(they have their remaining time and the moderator picks people to answer questions) or yield to chair(not answer questions).
14. The con speaker gives their closing speech and no questions are asked.
15. The pro speaker gives their closing speech and no questions are asked.
16. The moderator passes out ballots and people fill them out with who they thought spoke best. Then they give it back to the moderator
17. The moderator conducts a vote to see if the resolution passes or fails. The moderator says all in favor raise your hand, all opposing, any abstentions.
18. People raise their hands to vote for what resolution they want to win.
19. The moderator counts up the votes, records the votes, and then announces whether the resolution passed or failed.
20. Debate ends

Thought Talks

• A resolution is proposed
• The DOD (Director of Debate) calls on people (who have their hand raised) and they are allowed to give their opinion about the resolution
• The thought talk ends when the topic has been exhausted or if time runs out