General Definition: How damaging or harmful an impact is. Public Forum: Not a common phrase in PF, where “Magnitude” is used more often. World Schools Debate: see general definition. British Parliamentary: see general definition. Canadian National Debate Format: see general definition.
General Definition: The use of numbers and letters to organize arguments in the debate. During refutation, signposting also includes referencing your opponent’s arguments before addressing them (e.g. “My opponent’s first argument is _______, but we disagree for three reasons.”) Public Forum: see general definition. World Schools Debate: see general definition. …
General Definition: The person, persons, or organization responsible for writing evidence used in debate. Source analysis includes discussion of their credibility, bias, and epistemology. Public Forum: see general definition. World Schools Debate: In WSD, sources may only be used for prepared motions and should be used largely to provide examples …
General Definition: A score given to debaters that assesses their style, delivery, and organization for a particular debate. See also “Ballot”. Public Forum: Commonly used. In PF, speaker points typically range from 25 to 30, with 27.5 representing an average speech, 25 representing a failure to engage with the debate …
General Definition: The current state of affairs; the present system. Arguments should usually begin with analysis of the status quo so the audience understands what is happening now before the motion is passed. Public Forum: Commonly used. See also “Uniqueness“. World Schools Debate: see general definition. British Parliamentary: see general …
General Definition: Decisions made in the debate to optimize your likelihood of winning. Strategy can include argument choice, time allocation, the balance of offense and defense, rate of speech, and questioning approaches. Public Forum: see general definition. World Schools Debate: In WSD, this is 20% of a judge’s ballot. Strategy …
General Definition: How one delivers speeches, including techniques like tone, pitch, rate, facial expressions, gestures, volume, eye contact, word choice, etc. Public Forum: Commonly used. In PF, style is typically evaluated as part of a debater’s “Speaker Points“, although it may influence the judge’s perception of their arguments as well. …
General Definition: A main area of clash set up for the debate. Two substantives are typically presented in the first speech for each side, with a third contention in the second. Substantives should include a premise or claim for an argument, followed by multiple lines of analysis, examples, and subpoints, …
General Definition: A method for synthesizing the debate and resolve disagreements by explaining why one argument should win over another. May also refer to the third speech of a debate that accomplishes a similar goal. Public Forum: In PF, a three-minute speech used to extend key arguments/clash and weighing, as …
General Definition: Preparing to debate both sides of a motion. Public Forum: see general definition. World Schools Debate: In WSD, students must be prepared to switch sides for a Prepared Motion. British Parliamentary: Not used in BP, except as a training activity. Canadian National Debate Format: In CNDF, students must …
General Definition: The main areas of clash in a debate. Public Forum: Not commonly used in PF, although teams may develop themes to frame key arguments. World Schools Debate: see general definition. British Parliamentary: see general definition. Canadian National Debate Format: see general definition.
General Definition: The amount of time a speaker has to deliver their speech or ask questions. Public Forum: In PF, time limits for each speech are as follows: 1) Constructive Speeches: 4 minutes; 2) Rebuttal Speeches: 4 minutes; 3) Summary Speeches: 3 minutes; 4) Final Focus: 2 minutes; 5) Crossfire …