Debate Etiquette
A debater's attitude should be one of confidence but not "cockiness." You should be friendly, firm, polite, and very eager to be understood. A sense of humor is helpful if well applied. Conversations between teammates should be whispered so as not to interrupt or distract the speaker or audience.
Bodily actions, gestures, and use of notes should be without awkwardness. Posture should be one of ease and alertness whether you are speaking at your table.
The voice should be conversational n quality, earnest, and sincere. Everyone should hear it easily. Shouting, rudeness, or emotional displays have no place in debate - or any good speaking. If a speaker is sincere and means what he or she says, generally, the voice will tell the story.
To start a debate, the chairperson reads the debate resolution to the audience, introduces the speakers, the judges, and the time-keeper. The chairperson then announces the first speaker, who opens the debate. After the first speaker, the debaters simply rise in their proper order and present their cases.
When a debater rises to speak he or she should greet the audience and opponents saying, "Friends." Debaters may refer to their teammates by name, such as "Mr. Jones," or "my colleague." Opponents may be referred to by name or as "my opponent" or "the first speaker for the affirmative" or "the second speaker for the negative." The debater may refer to themselves as "we," or "my colleague and I,"
Bodily actions, gestures, and use of notes should be without awkwardness. Posture should be one of ease and alertness whether you are speaking at your table.
The voice should be conversational n quality, earnest, and sincere. Everyone should hear it easily. Shouting, rudeness, or emotional displays have no place in debate - or any good speaking. If a speaker is sincere and means what he or she says, generally, the voice will tell the story.
To start a debate, the chairperson reads the debate resolution to the audience, introduces the speakers, the judges, and the time-keeper. The chairperson then announces the first speaker, who opens the debate. After the first speaker, the debaters simply rise in their proper order and present their cases.
When a debater rises to speak he or she should greet the audience and opponents saying, "Friends." Debaters may refer to their teammates by name, such as "Mr. Jones," or "my colleague." Opponents may be referred to by name or as "my opponent" or "the first speaker for the affirmative" or "the second speaker for the negative." The debater may refer to themselves as "we," or "my colleague and I,"
During the Debate Step by Step
This information will be available as a handout that you can use during planning and can refer to during the debate.
Speech #1 - 1st Affirmative Constructive (1AC)Time Limit: 4 minutes
Purpose: The affirmative team presents their arguments in favor of the resolution. Introduction, Definition of Terms, Need (Stock Issue) Speaker: The First Affirmative Speaker (1AC) |
DescriptionThis is a pre-prepared speech which provides the primary affirmative arguments in favor of the resolution. It is important that the constructive speech be carefully planned. The speech should contain the very best arguments in favor of the resolution. These are the arguments the affirmative will defend throughout the debate.
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Speech #2 - 1st Negative Constructive (1NC)Time Limit: 4 minutes
Purpose: The negative team presents their arguments in opposition to the resolution. Introduction, Definition of Terms, Need - Stock Issue Speaker: The First Negative Speaker (1NC) |
DescriptionThis is a pre-prepared speech which outlines the main arguments in opposition to the resolution. It is not expected to directly answer the arguments made in the 1st Affirmative Constructive.
The speech should contain the very best arguments in opposition of the resolution. These are the arguments the negative will defend throughout the debate.
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Speech #3 - 2nd Affirmative Constructive (2AC)Time Limit: 4 minutes
Purpose: The affirmative team concludes the presentation of their arguments in favor of the resolution. Recap Need (Stock Issue), Practicality (Stock Issue), Desirability (Stock Issue), Conclusion Speaker: The Second Affirmative Speaker (2AC) |
DescriptionThis is also a pre-prepared speech which presents that second half of the affirmative team's case in support of the resolution. It is not expected to directly answer the arguments made in the 1st Negative Constructive. The speech should contain the very best arguments in favor of the resolution. These are arguments the affirmative will defend throughout the debate.
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Speech #4 - 2nd Negative Constructive (2NC)Time Limit: 4 minutes
Purpose: The negative team concludes the presentation of their arguments in opposition to the resolution. Recap Need (Stock Issue), Practicality (Stock Issue), Desirability (Stock Issue), Conclusion Speaker: The Second Negative Speaker (2NC) |
DescriptionThe last pre-prepared speech of the debate, this speech presents the second half of the negative's team case in opposition to the resolution and in support of the status quo. It is not expected to directly answer the arguments made by the Affirmative team. The speech should contain the very best arguments in opposition of the resolution. These are the arguments the negative will defend throughout the debate.
The next logical step is for the two teams to begin to directly attack the arguments made by their opponents and reinforce their own. |
Speech #5 - 1st Negative Rebuttal (1NR)Time Limit: 2 minutes
Purpose: The negative team refutes (argues against) the affirmative constructive case and rebuts (rebuilds) their own. Speaker: The First Negative Speaker (1NC) |
DescriptionWhile the 2NC speaker gets to deliver the 2nd Negative Constructive, the 1NC gets to make the negative teams's first attack. In this speech, which is not pre-planned, the negative team begins to "run the debate" by reiterating (in order) as many of the stock issues (Needs, Practicality, Desirability) made by the negative, telling what the opposition did to disprove it, then giving more evidence to re-establish it.
The number of stock issues that are addressed will depend on the speaker's use of time. Any issues not addressed are the responsibility of the 2NC speaker. |
Speech #6 - 1st Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR)Time Limit: 2 minutes
Purpose: The affirmative team refutes (argues against) the negative constructive case and rebuts (rebuilds) their own. Speaker: The Second Affirmative Speaker (2AC) |
DescriptionThe first affirmative rebuttal, delivered by the 2AC speaker, begins to "run the debate" for the affirmative case. The 2AC speaker starts with the Need Stock Issue, reiterating the affirmative's argument, telling what the opposition did to disprove it, and then giving more evidence to reestablish it. The 2AC speaker may continue on to the next stock issue, Practicality, if time allows. Any issues not addressed are the responsibility of the 1AC speaker.
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Speech #7 - 2nd Negative Rebuttal (2NR)Time Limit: 3 minutes
Purpose: The negative team continues to refute (argue against) the affirmative constructive case and rebut (rebuild) their own, picking up where the 1NC speaker left off. The speaker also provides a summary of the debate from the negative team's point of view. Speaker: The Second Negative Speaker (2NC) |
DescriptionThe second negative rebuttal, delivered by the 2NC speaker, continues to run the debate for the negative case. This is the last chance for the negative team to address their opponent's claims and rebuild their own. The 2NC speaker should begin with the stock issues not addressed in the 1st Negative Rebuttal, refuting the affirmative's arguments and rebutting their own.
The 2NC speaker should save time at the end to provide a summary of the case. Rather than going issue by issue through both cases, the summary should crystallize the debate into several arguments for the judge to consider, pointing out what the affirmative failed to address or prove. |
Speech #8 - 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal (2NR)Time Limit: 3 minutes
Purpose: The affirmative team continues to refute (argue against) the negative constructive case and rebut (rebuild) their own, picking up where the 2AC speaker left off. The speaker also provides a summary of the the debate from the affirmative team's point of view. Speaker: The First Affirmative Speaker (1AC) |
DescriptionThe final speech of the debate, the second affirmative rebuttal, delivered by the 1AC speaker, continues to run the debate for the affirmative case. This is the last chance for either team to address their opponent's claims and rebuild their own. The 1AC speaker should begin with the stock issues not addressed in the 1st Negative Rebuttal, refuting the negative's arguments and rebutting their own.
The 1AC speaker should save time at the end to provide a summary of the case. Rather than going issue by issue through both cases, the summary should crystallize the debate into several arguments for the judge to consider, pointing out what the negative team failed to address or disprove. |