Classic debate

Classic Debate is a relatively new format for high school debate. It is an alternative to Public Forum and Policy debate, and is primarily practiced in competitions in the state of Minnesota. Classic was first instituted as an alternative to Policy debate, which some felt had become too insular, technical, and specialized. Classic debate was meant as an easier (but still rigorous) form of debate that would be more appealing to the casual debater.

Overview

Classic debate is similar to Public Forum or Policy debate in that participants debate an issue of national importance. As in Policy debate and Public forum, the rounds are conducted by teams of two people, alternating speeches for their side.

Mechanics

Before a Classical debate round begins, debaters are assigned to affirm or negate the resolution. This occurs using an alternating and balanced method; usually pairings are assigned at random before the round starts by a dedicated team of administrators of the tournament. The affirmative side always speaks first and last; to offset this, the negative gets two speeches back to back near the beginning of the round.

peech #1: The Affirmative Constructive

*Time Limit: 6 Minutes
*Purpose: The affirmative team presents their arguments in favor of the resolution.
*Speaker: The First Affirmative (1A)

This is the only prepared speech which provides the primary affirmative arguments in favor of the resolution. While the affirmative team will be able to answer negative attacks later in the debate they can also Bring up new arguments in the 2AC.

Cross-Examination #1

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: Question and answer
*Participants: The first negative speaker asks questions of the first affirmative speaker

This can be used both to expose weakness in the affirmative case or to clarify.

peech #2: The Negative Constructive

*Time Limit: 6 Minutes
*Purpose: The negative team presents their arguments in opposition to the resolution.
*Speaker: The First Negative (1N)

Just like the affirmative constructive, the negative constructive outlines the main arguments in opposition to the resolution. It is also a prepared speech, meaning it is not expected to directly answer the arguments made in the affirmative constructive.

Cross-Examination #2

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: Question and answer
*Participants: The second affirmative speaker asks questions of the first negative speaker

peech #3: The 1st Negative Rebuttal

*Time Limit: 5 Minutes
*Purpose: The negative team refutes the affirmative constructive.
*Speaker: The Second Negative (2N)

In this speech, the negative team presents their refutation to the affirmative constructive. The goal of the negatives is to disprove, or at least minimize, the affirmative arguments.

Cross-Examination #3

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: Question and answer
*Participants: The first affirmative speaker asks questions of the second negative speaker
*Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

All debaters are given 2 minutes at this time to prepare for future speeches. This is especially important for the second affirmative speaker who will give the next speech.

peech #4: The 1st Affirmative Rebuttal

*Time Limit: 7 Minutes
*Purpose: The affirmative team refutes the negative constructive and rebuilds their case.
*Speaker: The Second Affirmative (2A)

Cross-Examination #4

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: Question and answer
*Participants: The second Negative Speaker cross-examines the second Affirmative Speaker
*Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

peech #5: The 2nd Negative Rebuttal

*Time Limit: 6 Minutes
*Purpose: To rebuild the attacks on the affirmative case and to rebuild the negative case.
*Speaker: The First Negative (1N)
*Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

peech #6: The 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal

*Time Limit: 4 Minutes
*Purpose: To rebuild the attacks on the negative case and to rebuild the affirmative case.
*Speaker: The First Affirmative (1A)
*Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

peech #7: The Negative Summary

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: To summarize the reasons why the negative team has won the debate.
*Speaker: The Second Negative (2N)

The summary is, of course, the final opportunity to persuade the judge to reject the resolution. Rather than going issue by issue through both cases, the summary should crystallize the debate into several main arguments for the judge to consider. These arguments should be the key issues in determining the winner of the debate. Speakers are not allowed to bring up new evidence in this portion of the debate.

*Preparation Time: 2 Minutes

peech #8: The Affirmative Summary

*Time Limit: 3 Minutes
*Purpose: To summarize the reasons why the affirmative team has won the debate.
*Speaker: The Second Affirmative (2A)

Resolutions

Every season there are two resolutions, each of which is used for half of the season. The first is determined by the coaches, and the second one is determined by a group of students from the competing schools who choose to participate in the decision. This makes Classic Debate unique in that the students have a direct say in what they get to debate. Topics are intended to be balanced and may request either an action or a judgment. It is also noteworthy that there are no rules (or strictly followed protocol) dictating what kind of topics are allowed, though the resolutions tend to be similar in phrasing and scope. However, tradition usually dictates that the second topic of each season is a domestic issue.

Recent resolutions:
*Resolved: In the United States, the production, sale, possession, and use of marijuana for those 18 years of age and older should be legalized
*Resolved: That states should ban the sale of violent video games to minors (in a method similar to the 2005 California Law, California Civil Code §§ 1746-1746.5).
*Resolved: That Wal-Mart is good for America.
*Resolved: The United States should remove all military forces from Iraq by the end of 2007.
*Resolved: The United States should amend the United States Constitution to ban the civilian possession of handguns.
*Resolved: The United States government's war on terror is making America safer.
*Resolved: The United States should immediately undertake unilateral military action to end the crisis in Sudan.
*Resolved: The United States' use of the atomic bombs on Japan was justified.
*Resolved: Increased standardized testing will lead to improvement in the quality of Minnesota schools.
*Resolved: The United States government should end funding and research for the development of its national missile defense system.
*Resolved: The United States should ratify and implement the Kyoto Protocol.

Current resolution:
*Resolved: Congress was correct in repealing the moratorium on the Outer Continent Shelf.

(Note: It is assumed that existing methods for control of legal drugs (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, etc.) would serve as models for a marijuana regulation system.)

External links

* [http://www.mdta.org/CGI-BIN/File/classicdb.pdf Student's guide (pdf)]