FAQ [Archive] - National Forensic League Community

theatrix04

07-02-2006, 10:16 AM

Here is a place for frequently asked questions. I'm afraid I won't be much help in contributing, but I figured I'd set up an area for it.

GENERALLY ... MUCH SLOWER AND EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THAN MANY POLICY DEBATE ROUNDS.....

7. Public Forum Debate Rules

1. Question: Specific topics for district tournaments held during

certain months and the National Tournament topic will be published

in the Rostrum and at www.nflonline.org. Public Forum Debate

focuses on advocacy of a position derived from the issues

presented in the resolution, not a prescribed set of burdens.

2. Entries: Each school may enter one, two, three or four teams

of two students; each (potentially) debating both sides of the

question and advancing on its own record. No substitution is permitted

once the tournament has begun.

3. Debate Registration:

a. As schools arrive, the coaches are to draw their team numbers.

Numbers are not to be assigned in the order of school arrival.

Number identities are not to be publicized.

b. The number drawn is to be recorded on the registration card

as the drawing takes place.

c. To minimize schools scouting their opponents schedules

should be released 10 minutes before each round.

4. Elimination: A team will be eliminated as soon as it loses two

debates (or loses the final round in a district which qualifies one

team to nationals), unless an extra debate between twice defeated

teams is required by pairing rule 7. III F3 on TD-14. The District

Committee may request permission from the National Office to

implement single elimination when 8 or fewer teams remain.

5. Procedure: Prior to EVERY round and in the presence of the

judge(s), a coin is tossed by one team and called by the other

team. The team that wins the flip may choose one of two options:

EITHER the SIDE of the topic they wish to defend (pro or con) OR

the SPEAKING POSITION they wish to have (begin the debate

or end the debate).The remaining option (SIDE OR SPEAKING POSITION)

is the choice of the team that loses the flip. Once speaking

positions and sides have been determined, the debate can

begin. Each speaker shall have four minutes for constructive argument,

alternating between pro and con. (Please keep in mind that

the debate may begin with a con speech.) Following the first two

constructive speeches, the two debaters who have just given

speeches will stand and participate in a three minute "crossfire".

[In "crossfire" both debaters "hold the floor"] However, the first

question must be asked by the speaker who spoke first. After that

question, either debater may question and/or answer at will.] At

the end of the first "crossfire", the four-minute constructive arguments

are continued by the students yet to speak. At the conclusion

of the last two constructive arguments, another three-minute

"crossfire" takes place between the two debaters who just spoke

using the crossfire procedure discussed above.

Following the four constructive speeches and two "crossfire" segments, the 1st speakers

for each team will each give a 2-minute summary continuing

established alternation. The summary speeches should include

the arguments his or her team is winning and refuting of arguments

it is losing. At the conclusion of the summary speeches, all

four debaters will remain seated and participate in a three-minute

"Grand Crossfire" in which all four debaters are allowed to crossexamine

one another. The first question must be asked by the

speaker who gave the first summary speech. At the conclusion of

the "Grand Crossfire", the second speakers will each give a 1-

minute "Final Focus" speech. The "Final Focus" is a persuasive

final restatement of why a team has won the debate.

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE TIMING SCHEDULE

First Speaker - Team A = 4 Minutes

First Speaker - Team B = 4 Minutes

Crossfire = 3 Minutes

Second Speaker - Team A = 4 Minutes

Second Speaker - Team B = 4 Minutes

Crossfire = 3 Minutes

Summary - First Speaker - Team A = 2 Minutes

Summary - First Speaker - Team B = 2 Minutes

Grand Crossfire = 3 Minutes

Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team A = 1 Minute

Final Focus - Second Speaker - Team B = 1 Minute

Prep Time (per team) = 2 Minutes

6. Plans/Counterplans: In Public Forum Debate, a plan or

counterplan is defined by the NFL as a formalized, comprehensive

proposal for implementation. Neither the pro or con side is permitted

to offer a plan or counterplan; rather, they should offer reasoning

to support a position of advocacy. Debaters may offer generalized,

practical solutions.

7. Prompting Philosophy: Oral prompting, except time signals,

either by the speaker's colleague or by any other person while the

debater has the floor, is discouraged though not prohibited and

may be penalized by some judges. Debaters may, however, refer to

their notes and materials and may consult with their teammate

while they do not have the floor and during the Grand Crossfire.

8. Timing: Timekeepers are an option but not required. If no

timekeeper is used, debaters may time for their partners or the

judge may keep time. Prep time for each team is two minutes.

9. Reading case: A team may decide, when asked by the opponent

team for a copy of their case, whether or not to provide it; if

the team refuses they shall not be penalized in any way.

_________________

National Forensic League ROSTRUM ARTICLES Archive on PFD
theatrix04

http://www.nflonline.org/Rostrum/PublicForumDebate

http://www.sunyrockland.edu/~ajacobs/chaptsfrom.html

http://www.sunyrockland.edu/~ajacobs/links.html

http://www.victorybriefs.net/webs/daily/archives/cat_public_forum_debate.html

http://www.victorybriefs.net/webs/daily/archives/cat_public_forum_debate.html

http://www.starrsmilldebate.com/id3.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/public-forum-debate

http://idw.idebate.org/ideastandards/rulespublicforumdebate.php

http://www.wellingtondebate.com/pfd.htm