START HERE: HOW TO DEBATE

LISTEN HERE IF YOU’VE NEVER DEBATED BEFORE. The run-down: 5a 2cx 6n 2cx 3a 5n 3a IPDA works like a tennis match. Every time you get a chance to speak, your opponent will get the chance to respond. Because this cannot go on indefinitely, the times allotted for each round of speech are different, depending on the side you’re representing. The side you represent is random or figured by coin-toss. In a real academic debate, each speaker gets a 30 minute window of preparation time before the round to build their case. For the purpose of this podcast, that prep is done off-mic, and after the close of the round, the facts get discussed and dissected. The person who is representing the affirmative side of the argument, or the side that agrees with the resolution or topic, speaks first. They have 5 minutes to present their case. Cases usually have several strong points, or contentions, that outline the roadmap of their debate. After their 5 minutes elapse, they answer questions in a two-minute round of cross examination from their opponent. Think of this as the time to pretend that you’re a lawyer trying to confirm someone’s testimony. The Negation, or the side that disagrees with the resolution or topic, then gets 6 minutes to give both their case, and provide rebuttal to the case presented by their opponent. After this time has elapsed, they also have a 2 minute period of cross examination from the Affirmative side. After the cross examinations are done, the affirmative gets the chance to respond to their opponents’ full case and their responses to the first speech the affirmative gave for 3 minutes. This is NOT followed up by a period for questions. The negation then gets one final time to respond that lasts 5 minutes, where they restate their case, reflect on the clash they’ve provided to the affirmative case, and argue how a judge should vote at the end of the round. After this 5 minutes has elapsed, the affirmative gets one final time to speak, lasting 3 minutes. The case gets decided by voters, which determine why one side of the case is better than the other, based on a weighing mechanism, which is established at the beginning of a round. A weighing mechanism can be on balance, which looks like one side just having more reasons than another, more true than false, more harm than good, or on standards established elsewhere by necessity in the resolution. Listen here for the rest of the crash course.