DEBATE FORMATS

Different styles of debate offer their own distinct format and focus. The most widely used format at the
university level is Parliamentary Debate, although certain regions of the world have their own, slightly
different version of it. IDEA predominantly employs the Karl Popper Debate format with secondary school
students and the Parliamentary format with secondary and university students.
New debate formats are created all the time; some of them stay, some of them do not. If you feel the
following is not comprehensive or there are improvements you could make, please Contact Us.
Online Debate
Online debating formats are meant to allow debaters to engage in short debates using instant messaging
or video conferencing software. These debates will have one debater representing the "affirmative" and
another debater presenting the "negative". While online debates are not meant to replace face-to-face
communication, they are a way to bridge geographic distances and to allow for discussion between
people who might not otherwise have a chance to meet.
IDEA expects the opportunities for debating on the Internet to improve as technology improves and
believes this format will be dynamic and open to change. Starting in January 2012, IDEA will host video
and text debating competitions visit DEBATE NOW to sign up and join in.
Team Debate

Karl Popper Debate

The Karl-Popper format focuses on relevant and often deeply divisive propositions, emphasizing the
development of critical thinking skills and tolerance for differing viewpoints. Debaters work together in
teams of three and must research both sides of each issue. Each team is given the opportunity to offer
arguments and direct questions to the opposing team. Judges then offer constructive feedback,
commenting on logical flaws, insufficient evidence or arguments that debaters may have overlooked.
This format was developed for use in secondary school programs and competitions. It is popular in
Central and Eastern Europe and in Russia. In Africa it is becoming increasingly popular in Uganda, Kenya,
Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Liberia and Nigeria. It is the format employed at the annual IDEA Youth Forum a
two week debate event for secondary school students from all over the world.
The distinguishing features of the format are: cross-examination, when four of the six debaters ask their
opponents questions; and preparation time, when debaters can prepare before their speeches. This
format emphasizes team work and is a good format for beginner debaters, because each speaker in this
debate speaks once only and members of the team need to communicate with each other during the
designated preparation time.

Parliamentary Debate
Many formats of debate are described as 'parliamentary'. This is really a catch-all term which simply
means that they are loosely modeled on the practices of the British parliamentary system and other
parliaments around the world that adopted those practices. In practice it means that the motion for
debate is treated in much the same way as a legislative Bill placed before the UK House of Commons.
The motion always stands in the name of the Government (also called 'the Proposition') and it is the job
of the Opposition to demonstrate that the motion is either impractical or immoral.
The distinguishing factor of parliamentary formats, of which there are many, is the use of Points of
Information (PoI). These points allow debaters to interrupts a speaker to ask a question or offer
information which favors their side of the debate. Both Proposition and Opposition speakers can offer
PoIs, but only to the other side. It is not compulsory to accept a PoI, but in competitive debate speakers
are penalized if they fail to take any. Usually the first and last sections of a speech are 'protected time'
during which PoIs may not be offered.

In many parliamentary formats the terminology of the House of Commons has also been adopted with
the first proposition speaker being referred to as the Prime Minister and the first opposition speaker being
known as the Leader of the Opposition. The chair or presiding adjudicator is usually referred to as Mister
or Madam Speaker and all remarks are addressed to them not the other debaters.

British Parliamentary (BP)

This is the name of the format used for the World Universities Debating Championship and has, as a
result, become the default format for many university societies, especially in the English speaking world.
It is probably the most commonly used format in the World. In much the same way as many university
societies debate in their native language as well as English, so they tend to use a regional or local format
and also BP.
Debates comprise eight speakers: four speaking in favor of a motion and four against. Each side is made
up of two teams of two individuals. They debate a motion (the idea to be discussed) which is usually
framed with the wordingThis House Believes... or This House Would.... For example if the motion isThis
House Would Support Assisted Suicide, it is the role of the Proposition (or 'Government') speakers to
explain why assisted suicide is a good idea and the opposition should demonstrate that it is not. As a
form of parliamentary debate, in BP the government should propose a course of action and support it
with philosophical, practical and consequential arguments. The burden of proof is on the government, but
the opposition must also demonstrate the strength of their arguments.
Typically in BP, a motion is announced 15 minutes before the debate starts. Speeches are seven minutes
in length, with the first and last minute protected (Points of Information cannot be offered in 'protected'
time). The first proposition speaker is required to present a definition of the motion that places an idea in
a real-world setting. Once a motion has been defined, all speakers are required to address the definition,
not some other variant that might be easier for them.

Legislative Debate
Legislative Debate is based upon the notion of having representative student leaders consider some of
the problems that actually confront lawmakers. In doing so, Legislative Debate provides unparalleled
insight into the way legislation is drafted and establishes leadership and deliberation skills crucial to
effective participation in democratic processes. Legislative Debate also offers a vehicle for teaching
parliamentary procedure and helps students internalize the value of decision-making processes that draw
on consensus building and majority rule.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate
In Lincoln-Douglas Debate, the motion is a statement, phrased as a sentence that focuses on an issue of
philosophical or political concern and which will be analyzed from a moral perspective. Lincoln-Douglas
Debate places primacy on the ability of debaters to make original, coherent and philosophically
persuasive arguments on issues of ethics. Debaters should present a persuasive moral position that they
can defend from criticism and use to argue against an opposing case, without falling into selfcontradiction or denying the complexity of the issues at stake. Students should familiarize themselves
with the work of major ethical philosophers and should inform their cases with real-world examples and
analysis.

Middle School Debate

Fostering debate and speech activities on the middle school level is consistent with IDEA's commitment to
empower young people as participants of the democratic processes. Middle school students can benefit
uniquely from exposure to speech and debate. They are at an age, psychologically and socially, where
they can make considerable strides in acquiring research competence, media and argument literacy,
reading comprehension, evidence evaluation, and public speaking and civic skills. Finally, through
cultivating middle school speech and debate activities, not only are young people and teachers
empowered, but an appreciation of speech and debate is instilled in students who may well pursue it to
higher levels.

Mock Trial
Mock Trial is an exercise in argumentation and legal procedure and the only educational trial format
based on the International Criminal Court established by the Treaty of Rome. The IDEA Mock Trial hones
both legal reasoning and courtroom technique, while it familiarizes participants with a vital arena of
public debate. Teams representing the prosecution and defense take on the roles of all attorneys and
witnesses. A judge, or judging panel, oversees the round, provides educational criticism and makes a
decision based on each team's performance. Each case argued is an original scenario that the
participants must master. Facts are presented through a variety of legal documents and through the
testimony of witnesses. Although the underlying facts are the same, each round unfolds differently
according to the actions, decisions and interactions of the participants. Teams contest the facts of the
case through direct examination, cross-examination, re-direct and re-cross of both prosecution and
defense witnesses.

Cross-Examination (Policy) Debate

Like other forms of debate, Cross-Examination Debate focuses on the core elements of a controversial
issue. Cross-Examination Debate develops important skills, such as critical thinking, listening, argument
construction, research, note-taking and advocacy skills. Cross-Examination Debate is distinct from other
formats (with the exception of two team Parliamentary Debate) in is use of a two person team, along
with an emphasis on cross-examination between constructive speeches. While specific practices vary,
Cross Examination Debate typically rewards intensive use of evidence and is more focused on content
than delivery.

Public Forum Debate

Public Forum Debate offers students a unique opportunity to develop on-their-feet critical thinking skills
by situating them in contexts not unlike US political talk shows. Public Forum debaters must anticipate
numerous contingencies in planning their cases and must learn to adapt to rapidly changing
circumstances as discussions progress. Public Forum's open-ended cross-examination format encourages
the development of unique rhetorical strategies. Public Forum debates should be transparent to lay
audiences, while providing students with real-world public speaking skills, through the discussion of
contentious ideas.

Public Debate
IDEA believes that debate should not be limited to the setting of competitive debate tournaments in
which only students take part, but instead feels that debate should operate within a broader context of
public participation and should embrace different segments of a community. IDEA strongly encourages its
members to promote and support public access to debate through the organization of public debates and
by inviting the public to debate competitions.
Speech Events

Limited Preparation Events

(i) Impromptu Speaking
In Impromptu Speaking, students learn to prepare and deliver an original speech immediately and
without preparation. Impromptu Speaking topics range from the meaning of proverbs and abstract words
to the significance of events and quotations by famous speakers.
(ii) Extemporaneous Speaking
In Extemporaneous Speaking, students must prepare and deliver an original speech on a current event,
with a limited amount of preparation time. Extemporaneous topics are presented in the form of questions
and contestants are expected to take a position on the question as well as to justify their stance.

Platform Speaking Events

(i) Informative Speaking
In Informative Speaking, students prepare and deliver an original speech whose primary purpose is to
inform or educate the audience. The speech should describe, clarify, illustrate or define an object, idea,
concept or process.

(ii) Persuasive Speaking/Original Oratory

In Persuasive Speaking/Original Oratory, students prepare and deliver an original speech designed to
inspire, reinforce or change the beliefs, attitudes, values or actions of the audience.

Interpretative Events
(i) Prose Interpretation
In Prose Interpretation, students must select, analyze and share a cutting from literature (other than
verse or plays) through the art of reading aloud. Prose Interpretation expresses thought through
language recorded in sentences and paragraphs. Prose Interpretation includes fiction (short stories,
novels) and non-fiction (articles, essays, journals, biographies). An effective Prose Interpretation consists
of a selection or selections of materials with literary merit.
(ii) Poetry Interpretation
In Poetry Interpretation, students must find, analyze and share a cutting or rhyme through the art of
reading aloud. Poetry selections express ideas, experiences or emotions through the creative
arrangement of words according to their sound, rhythm and meaning. An effective Poetry Interpretation
consists of a selection or selections of material with literary merit.
(iii) Dramatic Interpretation
In Dramatic Interpretation, a student must select, analyze and share a cutting from a play through the
art of reading aloud. A Dramatic Interpretation consists of a selection or selections of literary merit that
may be drawn from more than one source.
(iv) Duo Dramatic Interpretation
In Duo Dramatic Interpretation, two students must find, analyze and share a cutting from a play through
the art of reading aloud. A Duo Dramatic Interpretation can be either humorous or serious. The cutting
should represent the portrayal of one or more characters presented by the two individuals.
(v) Programmed Oral Interpretation
In Programmed Oral Interpretation students must find, analyze and share a program of thematically
linked selections through the art of reading aloud. The selections should be of literary merit, and must be
chosen from at least two of the three recognized genres (prose/poetry/drama). 'Different genres' here
means that the material must appear in separate pieces of literature and that, for example, a poem
included in a short story that appears only in that short story does not constitute a poetry genre.