Atlanta Urban Debate League Public Forum Curriculum Find us online at: youtube.com/atlantadebate facebook.com/atlantadebate instagram.com/atlantadebate twitter.com/atlantadebate Public Forum Curriculum Atlanta Urban Debate League Table of Contents Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................. 2 What Is Public Forum? ...................................................................................................................................... 3 What’s New?: An Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3 What Is Public Forum? ................................................................................................................................ 3 Who Should Debate In Public Forum? ........................................................................................................ 3 Which Is Better: Policy or Public Forum? .................................................................................................... 3 What’s Different?: Policy v. Public Forum ....................................................................................................... 4 Topic Release (Calendar) ........................................................................................................................... 5 Sample Resolution ...................................................................................................................................... 5 How Do I Debate?: Speech Times & Speaker Positions ................................................................................. 6 What Is My Role?: Sides & Speaker Positions ............................................................................................... 7 Choosing Sides ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Choosing A Speaker Position ...................................................................................................................... 7 Asking & Answering Questions: What Is Crossfire? .................................................................................... 8 What Is Crossfire? ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Which Debater(s) Participate In Crossfire?.................................................................................................. 8 What Is A Good Crossfire? How Does It Help Me Win? .............................................................................. 8 Writing A Case .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Case Structure ............................................................................................................................................... 9 The Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Framework .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Contentions ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Sample Case ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Framework ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Contentions ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Research & Evidence ................................................................................................................................... 12 Evidence & Public Forum .......................................................................................................................... 12 Getting Started .......................................................................................................................................... 12 2 Public Forum Curriculum Atlanta Urban Debate League What Is Public Forum? What’s New?: An Introduction Beginning in SY 2021 – 2022, the Atlanta Urban Debate League will offer Public Forum (PF), a new event for High School competitors. The goal is to provide an accessible, audience-friendly alternative to policy debate! What Is Public Forum? Public Forum is an audience-friendly, partner event where participants debate a series of month(s)- long topics (resolutions) focused on current events. Unlike Policy Debate, where competitors debate the merits of a plan, Public Forum debates whether the resolution is on-balance a good or bad idea. Competitors in Public Forum should expect: ➢ Month(s)-Long Topics (Resolutions) ➢ Partner Debate (2 v. 2) ➢ Shorter Speech Times ➢ Audience-Friendly Style ➢ Lay (Less Experienced) Judging Who Should Debate in Public Forum? Any high school student participating in a high school debate tournament can debate in Public Forum! Since Public Forum has monthly topics and lay (less experienced) judging, it is an ideal event for students who: ➢ Want To Try Debate ➢ Are Novices / Learning Debate ➢ Have Seasonal / Outside Commitments (e.g. Student Athletes) ➢ Prefer An Audience-Friendly Public Speaking Style ➢ Prefer A Less Formal Argument Structure Which Is Better: Policy or Public Forum? Neither! All debate is good debate. Public Forum and Policy Debate are different events with different goals. ➢ Public Forum mimics a public debate on current events. The goal is to persuade an average person to support (or not support) a given topic. ➢ Policy Debate mimics the technical, evidence-based approach of government decision- making. The goal is to persuade a policy expert to support (or not support) a government policy. 3 Public Forum Curriculum Atlanta Urban Debate League What’s Different?: Policy v. Public Forum Policy Debate v. Public Forum Both Events Policy Debate Public Forum Debate an assigned topic Policy has a year-long Public Forum topics change. (resolution). resolution. ➢ Fall Semester topics change every 2 months. ➢ Spring Semester topics change every month. Have assigned sides. Policy focuses on government Public Forum focuses on current policy. events. ➢ One team affirms (supports) the resolution. ➢ The Affirmative proposes a ➢ The “Pro” side defends the ➢ One team negates plan. resolution as a whole. (opposes) the resolution. ➢ The Negative defends ➢ The “Con” side opposes either the status quo or a the resolution. competitive policy. Have a judge vote for which team ➢ Judges in policy debate ➢ Judges in Public Forum did the better debating. vote “for” or “against” the decide if the topic is plan. generally a good or bad ➢ They tend to be more idea. experienced and ➢ They tend to be less technical. experienced (lay) and focus on the big picture. Use research to support Policy debate uses a formal Public Forum uses a less formal arguments. evidence structure (“cards”). evidence structure. Require a FULL CITATION for all ➢ “Cards” are extended block ➢ Sources may be quoted or sources. quotes with a formal paraphrased (like a school citation. essay or research paper). ➢ Most speeches heavily rely ➢ Students do their OWN on reading, extending, or research. comparing “cards.” ➢ A “packet” is NOT provided. Follow an assigned speech Policy debate has longer speech Public Forum has shorter speech structure. times. times. Have the “Pro” / Affirmative speak ➢ Both sides have two ➢ Both sides have one first. constructives and two constructive and one rebuttals. rebuttal. ➢ The Negative speaks ➢ The Summary & Final back-to-back (the “Block”). Focus speeches focus on the “big picture.” Have debaters ask and answer Policy Debate has cross- Public Forum has crossfire questions. examination. (mutual cross-examination). ➢ After a constructive, ONLY ➢ After certain speeches, the opposing team asks BOTH teams ask and questions. answer questions. 4 Public Forum Curriculum Atlanta Urban Debate League What’s The Topic?: Topic Areas & Rotation Unlike Policy Debate, Public Forum has a series of month(s)-long resolutions (topics). Each topic can be divided into two parts: ➢ Topic Area: A general research area released prior to the school year. o In the Fall Semester, topic areas cover a two-month cycle. o In the Spring Semester, topic areas cover a one-month cycle. o Each resolution during the cycle will fall within the assigned Topic Area. o This IS NOT the resolution debaters affirm or negate. ➢ Resolution: A specific premise that debaters affirm or negate. o In the Fall Semester, resolutions are on a two-month