- Debate: a game in which two opposing teams make speeches to support their arguments and disagree with those of the other team.
- Resolution: the opinion about which two teams argue.
- Affirmative team: agrees with the resolution.
- Negative team: disagrees with the resolution.
- Rebuttal: explains why one team disagrees with the other team.
- Judges: decide the winner.
A resolution is an opinion about which there can be valid disagreement. The students either agree or disagree with the resolution regardless of what they personally believe.
Format for Interactive Debate
Seating Arrangement: two or more teams.
- Affirmative team: argument 1
- Negative team’s rebuttal
- Affirmative team’s response to rebuttal
- Open Discussion
- Negative team: argument 1
- Affirmative team’s rebuttal
- Negative team’s response to rebuttal
- Open Discussion
- Affirmative team: argument 2
- Negative team’s rebuttal
- Affirmative team’s response to rebuttal
- Open Discussion
- Negative team: argument 2
- Affirmative team’s rebuttal
- Negative team’s response to rebuttal
- Open Discussion
- Affirmative team’s closing comments
- Negative team’s closing comments
Debate with three teams: one group acts as judges of the debate. They must ask questions to both parts before “Open discussion”.
Judges may ask opposing teams for their main arguments before the debate so as to prepare their questions.