2 Pro: 4 minutes
2 Con: 4 minutes
Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes
____________1 Pro Constructive 4 minutes
1 Con Constructive 4 minutes
2 Con Constructive 4 minutes
____________Crossfire(Pro ask first question) 3 minutes
First Con Summary: 2 minutes
__________Grand Crossfire: (can sit) 3 minutes
_________Second Pro Final Focus: 1 minute
Second Con Final Focus: 1 minute
1 Pro Constructive 4 minutes
____________1 Con Constructive 4 minutes
2 Pro: 4 minutes
____________Crossfire(Pro ask first question) 3 minutes
1 Pro Summary: 2 minutes
__________Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes
Second Pro Final Focus: 2 minute
_________Second Con Final Focus: : 2 minute
Massaponax Debate Team - Public Forum 101
Public Forum Debate is a:
• Team Event
• Advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution
Good Debaters:
• Clash of ideas in persuasive manner
• display logic & analysis
• use evidence when needed
• counter the arguments of the opponents (rebuttal)
• Communicate effectively – organization, professionalism
Structure of Round:
1 Pro Constructive 4 minutes
(present support for resolution)
1 Con Constructive 4 minutes
¾ present support against resolution
¾ counter opponents arguments
Crossfire (Pro asks first question) 3 minutes
2 Pro: 4 minutes
¾ restate main points supporting the resolution
¾ counter opponents arguments
2 Con: 4 minutes
¾ restate main points against resolution
¾ counter opponents arguments
Crossfire(Pro ask first question) 3 minutes
First Pro Summary: 2 minutes
¾ summaries key arguments it is winning
¾ refute important arguments it is losing
First Con Summary: 2 minutes
¾ summaries key arguments it is winning
¾ refute important arguments it is losing
Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes
(One member of the Pro team asks first question)
Second Pro Final Focus: 1 minute
¾ Why have won the debate
“Judge this is why you should vote for our team”
Second Con Final Focus: : 1 minute
¾ Why have won the debate
“Judge this is why you should vote for our team”
Prep Time: Each Team has 2 minutes prep time during debate
CROSSFIRE TIPS
Need to stand during crossfire
Need to sit during Grand crossfire
Be professional
Do NOT be RUDE
¾ don’t interrupt or talk over another debater
¾ don’t ever interrupt your partner
Questions should be “brief”
Answers should be “on point”
PREP TIME USE:
Only get 2 minutes per team for whole round
Use crossfire time as prep time
Use most of prep time before summary and final focus
PRO CHEAT SHEET
____________1 Pro Constructive 4 minutes
(Read case)
1 Con Constructive 4 minutes
____________Crossfire(Pro asks first question) 3 minutes
(need to stand- facing judge)
_____________2 Pro constructive (use summary sheet) 4 minutes
¾ restate & explain main points supporting the resolution
¾ refute opponents arguments
2 Con Constructive 4 minutes
____________Crossfire(Pro ask first question) 3 minutes
(need to stand facing judge)
____________First Pro Summary: (use summary sheet) 2 minutes
¾ summaries key arguments it is winning
¾ refute important arguments it is losing
First Con Summary: 2 minutes
__________Grand Crossfire: (can sit) 3 minutes
(One member of the Pro team asks first question)
_________Second Pro Final Focus: 1 minute
¾ Why have won the debate
“Judge this is why you should vote for our team”
Second Con Final Focus: 1 minute
Prep Time: Each Team has 2 minutes prep time during debate
CON CHEAT SHEET
1 Pro Constructive 4 minutes
____________1 Con Constructive 4 minutes
(read case)
____________Crossfire(Pro asks first question) 3 minutes
(need to stand facing the judge)
2 Pro: 4 minutes
____________2 Con: (Use summary sheet)
¾ restate & explain main points supporting the resolution
¾ refute opponents arguments 4 minutes
____________Crossfire(Pro ask first question) 3 minutes
(need to stand facing the judge)
1 Pro Summary: 2 minutes
__________1 Con Summary(use summary sheet) 2 minutes
¾ summaries key arguments it is winning
¾ refute important arguments it is losing
__________Grand Crossfire: 3 minutes
(One member of the Pro team asks first question)
(can sit)
Second Pro Final Focus: 1 minute
_________Second Con Final Focus: : 1 minute
¾ Why have won the debate
“Judge this is why you should vote for our team”
Prep Time: Each Team has 2 minutes prep time during debate
Public Forum Debate 
