Second Annual BFL AUBG Tournament

General information	Files for download	Tournament schedule	Final results

Debate Rules

Karl Popper Debate Guidelines

• Helpful Vocabulary

  • Affirmative: In favor of the resolution.

  • Argument: A claim supported by evidence and linkage to the value which each side uses to show that the resolution is correct or incorrect.

  • Case: The main arguments of each side.

  • Closing: A summary of the debate that presents the main clash-points of each side and clearly explains which arguments a side won during the round.

  • Cross-Examination: —Part between speeches in which debaters ask the opposing team questions in order to poke holes in their arguments.

  • Definition: Explanations of most important words in the resolution, typically given by the Affirmative and clarified, agreed to, or rejected (if definitions are out of scope, also called “abusive definitions”) by the Negative, which clarifies the scope of the debate.

  • Double-Entered: Students doing two events in a flight. If double-entered with Karl Popper, students MUST go to their speech event first. Students may come late to their rounds, so judges must be patient.

  • Dropped Argument: When an argument started by one side is not expanded upon fully throughout the entire debate, or not responded to by the other side. Judges consider dropped arguments in deciding which side has made a stronger case in the debate.  

    • If Speaker 1 introduces an argument, which is not mentioned and/or extended at all by speaker 2 of the same team, regardless of whether it was mentioned by speaker 3 or not, it is “dropped.”

    • If Speakers 1 and 2 introduce and extend an argument, which is not mentioned by the third speaker, it is also “dropped.” In that case, the argument was dropped by their team as it was not carried out throughout the whole team line.

    • If Speaker 1 on the Affirmative introduces an argument which is not responded to by Speaker 1 on the Negative, the argument is “dropped.”

  • Finals: Round in which students, typically the top 6 from the semifinal rounds, compete for the top places at the tournament. In debate, the top two teams face each other.

  • Negative (also called “Opposition”): Against the resolution.

  • Opening: The first speeches, which present the main arguments of each side, set the definitions of the round, and make the value of each side clear.

  • Points of Clash: Summary of arguments, given by A3 and N3, which caused the most disagreement between the Affirmative and Negative sides during the debate.

  • Preliminary (“Prelims”): Rounds that take place prior to the semi-finals or finals. Typically, BFL tournaments have two prelim rounds in interp events and three prelim rounds in debate.

  • Prep Time: Can refer to one of the following:

    • The initial 15-minute preparation time immediately after teams receive the topic but before the Affirmative Opening.

    • Preparation time between each speech and cross-examination (up to 8 minutes total; see “Timing” below).

  • Resolution/Motion: The topic which the affirmative and negative team are debating.

  • Semi-Finals (“Semis”): Round to which students, typically the top 10-12 from prelims, advance in order to compete for a spot in the final round. In debate, the top four teams advance. Semi-final breaks are determined by your scores from your prelim rounds.

  • Speaker Points: Points, from 0-30, given to individual.

  • Speech: A chance for the affirmative or negative to express their viewpoints using outlines and evidence, without using fully pre-written paragraphs.

  • Tab Room: Where staff and volunteers input student scores after each round.

  • Value: A broad concept, typically given by the Affirmative and clarified or agreed to by the Negative, to which all the arguments must be connected (E.g. “The greatest good,” quality of life, security, etc.). Both teams should be able to explain why the value they chose is well-tied and related to the resolution. The judge decides which side does a better job of arguing that their case will lead to the fulfillment of this value in the world.

• Speakers/Order

  • There are six speakers in a debate, three on each side.

    • Each debate team member gives one speech.

    • Affirmative Speakers: A1, A2, and A3.

    • Negative Speakers: N1, N2, and N3.

  • The order and time limits of each speech are as follows:

    • Affirmative Opening: A1 (6 minutes)

    • Negative Cross Examination #1: N3 asks questions to A1 (3 minutes)

    • Negative Opening: N1 (3 minutes)

    • Affirmative Cross Examination #1: A3 asks questions to N1 (3 minutes)

    • Affirmative Rebuttal: A2 (5 minutes)

    • Negative Cross Examination #2: N1 asks questions to A2 (3 minutes)

    • Negative Rebuttal: N2 (5 minutes)

    • Affirmative Cross Examination #2: A1 asks questions to N2 (3 minutes)

    • Affirmative Closing: A3 (5 minutes)

    • Negative Closing: N3 (5 minutes)

• —Roles of Each Speaker During Speeches

  • All Speakers:

    • Should stand in the center-front of the room and face judges when speaking.

    • Should address everybody, not just the opposing team.

    • During a speech, other team members should remain quiet or take notes. If it is necessary to communicate with one another, teams should be as quiet and as respectful as possible.

    • If there is a need for a team member to communicate with the current speaker, they may silently pass notes to the current speaker. However, they can neither verbally interrupt nor help the current speaker during a speech.

    • Judges have the right to punish disrespectful teams or interrupting teams by giving a verbal warning, then by lowering speaker points.

  • Affirmative Opening, Speaker 1 (A1): 6 minutes

    • —Sets out the case for the Affirmative.

    • —Defines terms of the resolution.

    • —Sets up a value for the judge to weigh a round.

    • Gives 2-4 arguments for why resolution is true. ALL of the team’s arguments MUST at least be introduced by A1!

  • Negative Opening, Speaker 1 (N1): 6 minutes

    • —Agrees or disagrees with the definitions provided by A1.

      • Typically disagrees with definitions ONLY if they are nonsensical, irrelevant, or not debatable. In this case Negative must provide new definitions.

    • —Agrees or disagrees with the value provided by A1.

      • If the Negative accepts the Affirmative’s value, they should connect all of their arguments to it.

      • If the negative introduce a new value, they should base their arguments on that, and prove that their value is more relevant to the resolution and has more weight in this particular case.

    • —MUST respond to all of A1’s arguments.

    • —May give 2-3 reasons for their side of the resolution. All of the team’s new arguments must at least be introduced by N1.

  • Affirmative Speech, Speaker 2 (A2): 5 minutes

    • —Reiterates Affirmative team’s case by expanding upon arguments started by A1.

    • Responds to new arguments put forth by the Negative team.

  • Negative Speech, Speaker 2 (N2): 5 minutes

    • —Must first respond to A2’s expansion of Affirmative arguments.

    • Should expand upon any of the arguments introduced by N1.

  • Affirmative Closing, Speaker 3 (A3): 5 minutes

    • —May respond to any arguments made by N2.

    • Summarizes Points of Clash.

    • Reiterates the main reasons why the Affirmative team should win.

    • —No new arguments may be presented.

  • Negative Closing, Speaker 3 (N3): 5 minutes

    • Summarizes Points of Clash.

    • Reiterates the main reasons why the Negative team should win (and may include why their counter-value is better).—

    • —No new arguments may be presented.

• Roles of Each Speaker During Cross-Examination

  • The person conducting the cross-examination is expected only to ask questions rather than to make statements or introduce arguments.

  • The responder is expected only to answer questions rather than to ask questions in return or introduce arguments.

  • The responder may make concessions during cross-exam, but it is up to the asker’s team to capitalize on these concessions during the speech immediately following the cross-exam.

  • Students may use a variety of questioning tactics that are meant to force answers out of opponents (such as yes or no questions or cutting their answers short), but would not be called abusive. See “Abusive Behavior.”

  • During a cross-exam, other non-participating team members should remain quiet or take notes. If it is necessary to communicate with one another, teams should be as quiet and as respectful as possible.

  • If there is a need for a team member to communicate with the cross-examiner or responder, they may silently pass notes to either. However, they can neither verbally interrupt nor help the current speaker during a speech.

  • Judges have the right to punish disrespectful teams or interrupting teams by giving a verbal warning, then by lowering speaker points.

• Timing Before and During the Debate

  • —Initial Prep Time: After informing teams of their topic, debaters have a total of 15 minutes to prepare arguments. See rules about outside help and Internet use in section “Research/Internet Use/Outside Help” below.

  • “8-minute Pool”: Debaters have a total of 8 minutes of prep time that can be used anytime between speeches until it is all gone.

  • —Hand-Signals: Debaters are given hand signals telling them how much time they have left to speak.

    • Judges or timekeepers must use their fingers to show how much time is left after every minute, at 30 seconds remaining, and 5 seconds remaining.

  • Due to double-entries, some students may be up to 20 minutes late for their debate round. If a team is still not present after 20 minutes, the judge should alert the tab room staff. The no-show team will either have to forfeit the round or be granted a bye, depending on the situation.

• Unacceptable Tactics

  • The following tactics that are used in other forms of debate are NOT allowed:

    • Point of Order

    • Point of Information/Inquiry

    • Interrupting a speaker to ask him or her questions DURING a speech (this may only be done during cross-examination)

• Judging

  • The judge will vote for the winning side based on the following:

    • Completeness of arguments (statement, evidence, explanation, linkage to the value and the resolution)

    • Importance of the argument with regard to the resolution

    • Uninterruptedness of the team line of argument

    • The Affirmative team should be judged upon how well they proved their case and defended it.

    • The Negative team should be judged upon how well they refuted the Affirmative team.

    • Overall, the judge has to view the debate in its entirety, build a big picture based entirely and solely on what was said during the debate and decide who won, considering the above points.

  • Speaker Points:

    • —Independently of who won the debate, the judge will assign each debater speaker points based on their individual communication and argumentation skills displayed in the round.

    • —Scores are out of 30:

      • 29-30: Outstanding

      • 27-28: Above Average

      • 24-26: Average

      • 20-23: Below average

    • Speaker Points are NOT given during semi-final or final rounds.

    • Tournament “Top Speaker” Awards will be given based on individual performance during preliminary rounds.

  • Judges should NOT pick the winning team based on personal opinion or bias about the given topic, but on the strength of the arguments presented during the debate.

  • — Judges may NOT give oral feedback to teams.

• Abusive Behavior During a Debate Round

BFL wants both students and judges to be comfortable during a debate. Students should be assertive and challenge opponents’ arguments, but avoid doing so in a malicious or overly arrogant manner. Remember, the end goal is to promote a lively debate! If a judge believes that a debater is being abusive, the judge has the right to lower speaker points or give the debater’s team a losing ballot. The following constitute abusive and unacceptable behavior:

• • Laughing at, mocking, or taunting opponents for ANY reason.

  • Use of excessive profanity or coarse language.

  • Ad hominem attacks (i.e. labeling opponents as racist, sexist, etc.).  

• Acceptable Team Structure

  • Debate teams must consist of only three students.

  • Teams may not exchange team members or alternate students from a team during a tournament. After a registered team has completed a debate round, no changes to that team may be made.

• Acceptable Observer Behavior During Rounds

  • Observers include coaches, students, chaperones, and other non-competing audience members.

  • Other students and coaches may come and watch the round, but they are not allowed to help with research or participate in the debate in any form (other than timekeeping if no others can be found for the job).

  • Observers should not make hand motions, facial expressions, rude noises, or any other distracting gestures that may affect a debater’s performance. These behaviors will not be tolerated, and judges have the right to ask an observer to leave, if it is felt the observer is hindering the debate.

  • Students and coaches from one of the schools of the teams competing in a round MAY serve as timekeepers, but only as a last resort. Any distracting or disconcerting behaviors should be addressed promptly and firmly by judges.

• Research/Internet Use/Outside Help  

  • Students may not consult non-team members for guidance, including other students, coaches, judges, chaperones, or debate observers at any point during the 15-minute prep time or the debate itself.

  • Students MAY consult the Internet during the 15-minute prep time through laptops or tablets (but NOT through smart phones). However, BFL does not guarantee that WiFi access will be available at the tournament site.

  • Teams may be allowed to go in the hall right outside of their competition room to discuss arguments and strategy during the 15-minute prep time, but they are not allowed to talk to non-team members during this time. Students may be given an automatic loss if found breaking this rule.

  • Students may not access the Internet after the end of the 15-minute prep time.

  • Teams accused of breaking the Internet-use rule are subject to disqualification or automatic loss in a round. While judges may present the issue, the tab room staff reserves the right to make the final call regarding accusations of rule-breaking.

  • Teams may bring notebooks, books, or other pre-printed or downloaded material on a laptop as part of their research. In order to avoid accusations of rule-breaking, students should show the judges any materials on laptops at the beginning of a round.

  • Pre-written outlines are acceptable. However, pre-written FULL speeches will be docked points.

  • Students may NEVER use phones for anything other than keeping time, including during prep time.