Yale School of Management Public Speaking SIG

A competitive debate is one in which two teams debate opposing sides of a resolution/topic and a winner is decided by a panel of judges. This format was created for the Public Speaking SIG and has many similarities with other debate formats, but also some differences.

The debate coordinators handle the administrative work for the debate. Typically, there are two coordinators, one for each team. Their responsibilities include:

• Selecting the debate resolution/topic. The coordinators do not share the topic with the team ahead of time.
• Selecting the judges for the debate. There are three judges. Each coordinator has the opportunity to pick one judge, and the third judge must be selected and agreed upon by both coordinators jointly. Judges should be chosen for their impartiality.
• Arranging the venue.
• Promoting and marketing the debate.

There are two teams of four debaters each. One team will debate in favor of the stated resolution/topic (Pro), and the other against the stated resolution/topic (Con). Each member of the team has a specific role to play, either Opening, Rebuttal, Cross-Examine or Closing. During the Opening, the team makes its initial remarks. The Rebuttal is an opportunity for the team to rebut the remarks made during the other team’s opening. The Cross-Examine is an opportunity to ask any of the opposing team’s members (even those that have not yet spoken) a question which they must answer. Closing is the final wrap-up and summation.

All of the rules are enforced by the judges. Infractions of the rules may count against the teams and enough infractions could cause an otherwise winning team to lose.

1. The debaters may only reference material in their debate that the average well educated person would be expected to know.
2. The Cross-Examiner may only ask questions, or request clarifications from the opposing team members. He/she may not make statements which do not ultimately lead to questions or clarifications.
3. The resolution/topic is announced to the teams the evening of the debate. At that time, there is a coin toss which the visiting team calls. The team which wins the coin toss decides which side of the resolution/topic they would like to debate.
4. Immediately after receiving the resolution/topic and deciding sides, the teams each have one hour to prepare their strategy and arguments. No outside resources may be consulted during this hour.

• 10 minutes Debaters are introduced, come up to the stage
• 5 minutes Pro: Opening
• 5 minutes Con: Opening
• 5 minutes Pro: Rebuttal
• 5 minutes Con: Rebuttal
• 5 minutes Pro: Cross-Examine
• 5 minutes Con: Cross-Examine
• 5 minutes Con: Closing
• 5 minutes Pro: Closing
• 15 minutes Judges deliberate
• 5 minutes Winner announced