Progressive Debate
PD · Special
- Time
- 2½ and 5 minspeeches, with 2 min prep and 2 min cross-ex each
- Performs
- 1 student4 to 6 debaters to a room
- You bring
- Evidencecited by author or source and date
- Prep room
- No
An MSCI event, first run at the Mackinac tournament. Any meet on the site can offer it.
Official forms
In Progressive Debate individuals, as opposed to teams, debate, using the April NSDA Public Forum topic. There are 4 to 6 debaters in each round, who draw for order at the beginning of the round. Speaker one presents a short PRO constructive speech (2½ minutes). Speaker two, and each speaker after, may EITHER take 2 minutes of prep and then cross-examine the speaker before them for 2 minutes, OR cross-examine first and then take the prep — it is their choice. They then give a 5-minute speech: a CON rebuttal to the previous speaker's PRO (about 2½ minutes), then their own PRO constructive (about 2½ minutes). This continues until the last speaker has given their PRO. The first speaker then takes prep and cross-examines the last speaker, in either order, and closes with a CON rebuttal against them (2½ minutes). During prep, debaters may use notes, research and the internet, but may not contact any person. Evidence must be cited with at least its author or source and its date. Speakers are scored like an individual event: 1/100, 2/99, 3/98, 4/97. Judges are often lay judges with no special debate training.
What judges look for
- Cross-examination
- Answering the speaker before you
- Building your own case
- Evidence and reasoning
- Delivery
The full ballot text
Speaker A opens with a 2½-minute Pro. Every speaker after takes 2 minutes of prep and 2 minutes of cross-examination of the speaker before them, in whichever order they choose, then speaks for 5 minutes: about 2½ minutes of Con against that speaker’s Pro, then about 2½ minutes of their own Pro. When the last speaker has given their Pro, Speaker A takes their prep and cross-examination against them and closes with a 2½-minute Con.
Debaters should flow every round. They may cross-apply arguments and evidence other debaters have presented. Most come with one well-developed Pro contention and several prepared Con contentions.
Other Special events: Poetry SlamPublic Forum