Debate Rules of Engagement

Debate Format

Each debate will consist of two teams:

  • Government (Affirmative)
  • Opposition (Negative)

Each team should ensure that all members actively participate during the debate.

Speaking Time

  • Each speaker will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes.
  • Please observe the time limit. A timekeeper will notify speakers when their time has expired.

Suggested Speaking Order

Speaker 1 – Opening Statement

  • Introduce the team’s position.
  • Define key terms (if necessary).
  • Present the team’s overall stance and roadmap.

Speaker 2 – Main Arguments

  • Present the strongest supporting arguments.
  • Cite relevant facts, statistics, research findings, laws, or case examples.

Speaker 3 – Rebuttal

  • Address and challenge the opposing team’s arguments.
  • Clarify misconceptions.
  • Strengthen your team’s position using evidence.

Speaker 4 – Additional Arguments / Defense

  • Present any remaining prepared arguments.
  • Respond to major issues raised during the debate.
  • Reinforce the team’s overall position.

Final Speaker – Closing Statement

  • Summarize the team’s strongest arguments.
  • Highlight why your team’s position is more persuasive.
  • Deliver the final appeal to the audience and judges.
  • No new primary arguments should be introduced during the closing statement.

Questions and Interjections

To maintain order and respect during the debate:

  • Members of the opposing team may request to ask a question by raising their hand.
  • The current speaker has the sole discretion to:
    • Accept the question, or
    • Politely decline and continue with the prepared speech.
  • If accepted, the question should be concise (approximately 30 seconds) and directly related to the argument being discussed.
  • The speaker may use part of the remaining speaking time to answer.

Rules of Engagement

All participants are expected to maintain professionalism throughout the debate.

Participants should:

  • Address ideas—not individuals.
  • Support claims with credible evidence.
  • Listen respectfully while others are speaking.
  • Practice active listening and constructive engagement.
  • Respect the moderator’s decisions and time limits.

Participants should NOT:

  • Interrupt another speaker.
  • Speak without recognition from the moderator.
  • Use insulting, offensive, or discriminatory language.
  • Engage in personal attacks (ad hominem).
  • Misrepresent or fabricate evidence.
  • Introduce new primary arguments that were not included in the submitted PDF.

Evidence-Based Discussion

This is an academic policy debate.

Arguments should be supported by:

  • Research studies
  • Government reports
  • Official statistics
  • Academic literature
  • Legal or policy references
  • Credible news sources (where appropriate)

Personal opinions, anecdotes, or beliefs may be used only to illustrate a point and should not serve as the primary basis of an argument.

Moderator’s Authority

The moderator (Instructor) reserves the right to:

  • Enforce time limits.
  • Stop inappropriate conduct.
  • Redirect discussions that become off-topic.
  • Request clarification of arguments.
  • End a speaker’s turn when time has elapsed.

The moderator’s decisions during the debate are final.

Goal of the Debate

The objective is not simply to “win”, but to demonstrate critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, respectful discourse, and the ability to analyze complex societal security issues from multiple perspectives.

 

Side Assignment

To ensure fairness and impartiality, each debate will begin with a coin toss conducted by the moderator.

  • The winning team of the coin toss will be assigned either the Government (Affirmative) or the Opposition (Negative) side, as determined by the moderator’s announced procedure.
  • The remaining team will automatically assume the opposite side.
  • The coin toss will take place immediately before the debate begins.
  • Once assigned, the decision is final and may not be appealed or exchanged between teams.

Since neither team will know its assigned side beforehand, all groups are expected to prepare thoroughly for both the Government and Opposition positions as outlined in the preparation instructions.

 

Debate Motions

Each group will be assigned ONE of the following motions during class:

  1. Governments should prohibit minors (under 18) from accessing violent video games. (Grp 1 and 10)
  2. Children under 18 should not be allowed to have social media accounts. (Grp 2 and 9)
  3. Primary and secondary school students should not own smartphones. (Grp 3 and 8)
  4. Parents should have unrestricted access to monitor all digital activities of their minor children. (Grp 4 and 7)
  5. Schools should require students to surrender their smartphones during school hours. (Grp 5 and 6)
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