Public Forum

1. Public Forum Debate!! K. Derry Public Speaking, Rhetoric, & Debate

2. You will be able to… • Display solid logic, lucid reasoning, and depth of analysis • Utilize evidence without being driven by it • Present a clash of ideas by countering/refuting arguments of the opposing team • Communicate ideas with clarity, organization, eloquence, and professional decorum

3. What is it? • Clear and understandable to a “common” or community audience • Current issues • Convince people your side is the best side of the debate • Requires • Research topics • Prepare compelling arguments • Skillfully present case • Thinking on your feet

4. Rules • Team event • Starts with a resolution • What you will be debating • Pro and Con team • Pro is in favor of • Con is against • Coin toss • Winner decides: • Take the pro or con side of the resolution • Or go first or second in the round

5. Speaking Order • Speaker 1 (Team A): 4 minutes • Give arguments for or against the resolution • Speaker 2 (Team B): 4 minutes • Give arguments for opposite side of Team A’s arguments • Speak against arguments presented by Speaker 1 • Crossfire: 3 minutes • Argue directly with each other • Ask & answer questions of each other

6. Speaking Order cont’d • Speaker 3 (Team A): 4 minutes • Speaker 4 (Team B): 4 minutes • Crossfire: 3 minutes

7. Speaking Order cont’d • Speaker 1 (Team A) Summary: 2 minutes • Speaker 2 (Team B) Summary: 2 minutes • Restatement of case • Arguments against what opponent presented

8. Speaking Order cont’d • Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes • All 4 debaters • Ask & answer questions • Begins with Speaker 1 (Team A) • Final Focus Speeches: 1 minute • Speaker 3, then Speaker 4 • No new arguments • All teams have 2 minutes of prep time

9. Guidelines • Do not comment or distract your opponents while they are speaking • Keep your voice low during prep time • Be polite • Never make up evidence • Be on time (or early) for your rounds • Follow all posted tournament rules

10. Debate Partner • More listening than responding • Think as you listen, creating responses to an opponent’s arguments, and predicting what an opponent might say next • Skills that complement each other • Clear speaker • Focused thinker • Hard worker • Organized • Open to critical evaluation

11. Team Responsibilities • Speaker 1: • Present the 1st speech • Conduct the 1st crossfire • Summarize the debate • Participate in the Grand Crossfire • Aid partner in rebuttal and Final Focus • Speaker 2: • Aid the 1st speaker in the first crossfire • Present the 1st rebuttal • Conduct the 2nd crossfire • Participate in the Grand Crossfire • Deliver the Final Focus

12. Team Responsibilities • First Speaker • Must present very good first case • Second Speaker • Able to argue persuasively at end of debate • Should be better at speaking without preparation • Divide research duties

13. Resolution Analysis • Topics of national concern • A just government should provide health care to its citizens. • In matters of collecting military intelligence, the ends justify the means. • The pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be limited by a concern for societal good.

14. Types of Resolutions • Factual • reality • Policy • reality • Philosophical • Comparing ideal situations

15. How to Approach a Resolution Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. • Who is the actor or agent of the action? • What is the action? • What are the conditions of the resolution?

16. Who is the actor or agent? Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. • Person, group, or government that must act • Government • Ease of enforcing issue can be discussed

17. What is the action? Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. • Prohibition (or ban) on cell phone use while driving • What are the arguments that can be made? • Requires a means of enforcement

18. What are the conditions of the resolution? Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. • Examine the “measuring words” • Words that control the situation • “should” = ideal • “should” implies improvement • Broad interpretations • “motor vehicle” • Affects all drivers

19. Minitopic: Topic Analysis Resolved: Use of a cell phone should be prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. • Have a problem-solving session with your partner. • Read the resolution and break it down into words and phrases. • Brainstorm what the words and phrases mean. • Record your thoughts

20. Minitopic Analysis example • Use of a cell phone • Talking • (add 4 more) • Prohibited • Legally forbidden • (add 2 more) • Operating a motor vehicle • Driving a passenger vehicle (car, van, bus, etc.) • (add 3 more)

21. Topic Analysis:Prepare Main Arguments • Begin with pro side of the resolution • What will draw a judge into supporting the resolution? • Safety! • Using cell phones reduces automobile safety by shifting attention from driving • Banning the use of cell phones will reduce driver distractions • (4 more)

22. Topic Analysis: Prepare Main Arguments • Pro arguments that do not deal with safety issues • Banning the use of cell phones will decrease people’s reliance on them. • (add 2 more)

23. Topic Analysis: Prepare Main Argument • Con side can deal with issues of freedom and the problems the resolution might cause • Possible arguments: • There is no evidence that using cell phones while driving causes accidents. • Cell phones allow for quicker contact of emergency workers in case of an accident. • (add 3 more)

24. Research and Evidence • Supports your positions • Makes it more than just your opinion • Primarily on the internet • Wikipedia • A starting point • Sweetsearch.com • Use specific details in the search engine • Policy and factual issues

25. Using Research • Read it carefully • Understand significance for argument • Print out copies of the material • Highlight or underline key information that is important to your arguments • Organize the material • Summary sheet: fact sheet • List supporting evidence • Include complete citation • Use file folders with pro and con

26. Writing Your Case • Opening speech • Arguments in defense of your side of the debate • Definitions of important terms • Main contention (claim) • Arguments • Evidence to support • Establish what debate is about • Prove your position is the correct one

27. Writing Your Case • Three parts • Introduction • States position on the resolution • Briefly presents the arguments • Body • Main contentions • Conclusion • Reviews points and arguments • Refers back to introduction • Enables you to stand your ground

28. Writing Your Case: Framing the Debate • First impression • Goal: convince judge your point of view is the correct one • Task: establish your case and present evidence that cannot be refuted by your opponent • What is important in the round • Key: establish burdens of proof at the beginning of the round • Requirement to prove an argued claim or charge is true

29. Example of Burden of Proof Resolved: That the federal government should be solely responsible for reconstruction in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. • Pro: in support of resolution • Finances • Local and state government, on their own, could not afford to rebuild • Con needs to show why the federal government should not offer its funds • Con: place burden of proof on the pro to show why the federal government should be solely responsible for the rebuilding • Each side tells the judge what he should be paying attention to

30. Proving Your Case • If burden of proof is placed on you by opponent.. • Prove the burden! • Present the contentions and arguments that support your case • Pro Side: state and local governments cannot handle the reconstruction • Not enough money in budgets • Be sure this is true: use research & evidence • Budget of LA for reconstruction compared to estimated costs of rebuilding (cite your source)

31. Proving Your Case cont’d • Two-three contentions • Only 4 minutes to deliver initial case • Build case in logical order • Tie in with each other • Remember: convince the judge • Strong, logical case

32. Minitopic: Case Structure • Introduction • attention-getting story, quotation, or short joke related to topic • Statement of your position on the resolution • Brief statement of contention • Contentions • Contention one • Argument A with evidence • Argument B with evidence • Contention two • Argument A with evidence • Argument B with evidence • Contention three • Argument A with evidence • Argument B with evidence • Conclusion • Review contentions • Restatement of position • Reconnect to introduction

33. In the Round • The coin toss • Consider: • Is one side of the topic more acceptable to citizen judges? • On which side is the team stronger? • On which side of the topic are the opponents stronger? • Is the 1st speaker position critical to “sell” the case by making a good first impression? • Is the final focus speech critical for the last word to the judge(s)? • Are the opponents so effective in either the 1st or last speaker position that your team needs to select speaker position rather than side?

34. Delivering the First Speech • Not read or spoken mechanically • Convey knowledge and understanding • Judged on content and delivery P--Poised: Stand up tall, and look relaxed and comfortable E—Eye contact: look the judge in the eye from time to time. This gives you a visual connection P—Plant your feet: continuous movement can look like nervousness

35. The Crossfire • Can be enjoyable • First question comes from first speaker • Focused • Control the direction by adding questions to your statements • Goal: get answers about opponent’s case, get them to admit you are correct, and provide judge with reasons to vote for you • Attack the ideas, not the opponent

36. Rebuttals, Summaries, Grand Crossfire, and Final Focus • Rebuttal: 4 minutes, 2nd speech each team gives • Part can be prepared in advance • State exactly what you are refuting in your opponent’s case (signposting). • Describes each idea in your speech; make clear your ideas • Summary: arguments broken down to most important and relevant ones • Examine only most important issues

37. Rebuttals, Summaries, Grand Crossfire, and Final Focus • Grand Crossfire: similar to previous crossfires • Partners work cooperatively • Share time to ask and answer questions • Final Focus: last speech in round • Choose issues most important to round • Present reasons for judge to select their team as winner • Last chance to convince judge

38. Note Taking and Prep Time • Keep organized notes • Can flow: tracking specific arguments and make connections • Prep time • Two minutes total • Use as needed • Before crossfires, 2nd speech, summaries • Helps focus mind

39. Practice • Clear-cut interpretations of resolution • Well-explained, • Related, and • Established arguments • Clarity • Organization • Courteous and appropriate conduct • Arguments are clear, brief, provable, and to the point

40. Works Cited Kline, Jason. Public Form Debate. New York: Rosen Publishing.