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OVERVIEW Classic debate is similar to Public Forum or Policy debate in that participants debate an issue of national importance. As in Policy debate and Public forum, the rounds are conducted by teams of two people, alternating speeches for their side. It is a debate format that emphasizes intensive research, logically sound argument, and excellent speaking skills. MECHANICS Before a Classical debate round begins, debaters are assigned to affirme or negate the resolution. This occurs using an alternating and balanced method; usually pairings are assigned at random before the round starts by a dedicated team of administrators of the tournament. The affirmative side always speaks first and last; to offset this, the negative gets two speeches back to back near the beginning of the round. Speech #1: The Affirmative Constructive
This is a prepared speech which provides the primary affirmative arguments in favor of the resolution. While the affirmative team will be able to answer negative attacks later in the debate, they can not bring up “new” main ideas or arguments in their favor. Therefore, it is very important that the affirmative team carefully plan their constructive speech Cross-Examination #1
This can be used both to expose weakness in the affirmative case or to clarify. Speech #2: The Negative Constructive
Just like the affirmative constructive, the negative constructive outlines the main arguments in opposition to the resolution. It is also a prepared speech, meaning it is not expected to directly answer the arguments made in the affirmative constructive. Cross-Examination #2
Speech #3: The 1st Negative Rebuttal
In this speech, the negative team presents their refutation to the affirmative constructive. The goal of the negatives is to disprove, or at least minimize, the affirmative arguments. Cross-Examination #3
All debaters are given 2 minutes at this time to prepare for future speeches. This is especially important for the second affirmative speaker who will give the next speech. Speech #4: The 1st Affirmative Rebuttal
Cross-Examination #4
Speech #5: The 2nd Negative Rebuttal
Speech #6: The 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal
Speech #7: The Negative Summary
The summary is, of course, the final opportunity to persuade the judge to reject the resolution. Rather than going issue by issue through both cases, the summary should crystallize the debate into several main arguments for the judge to consider. These arguments should be the key issues in determining the winner of the debate. Speakers are not allowed to bring up new evidence in this portion of the debate.
Speech #8: The Affirmative Summary
RESOLUTIONS Every season there are two resolutions, each of which is used for half of the season. The first is determined by the coaches, and the second one is determined by a group of students from the competing schools who choose to participate in the decision. This makes Classic Debate unique in that the students have a direct say in what they get to debate. Topics are intended to be balanced and may request either an action or a judgment. It is also noteworthy that there are no rules (or strictly followed protocol) dictating what kind of topics are allowed, though the resolutions tend to be similar in phrasing and scope. However, tradition usually dictates that the second topic of each season is a domestic issue. Recent resolutions:
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