Round structure (with roles)
Public Forum is a partnered debate on current events. Teams alternate speeches with shared responsibilities: case building, evidence control, and weighing. The judge pool varies widely, so clarity and organization are paramount.
| Speech | Time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Constructives (Team A/B) | 4 + 4 | Read cases; set weighing |
| Crossfire 1 | 3 | Clarify, trap, set extensions |
| Rebuttals | 4 + 4 | Frontline, collapse options |
| Crossfire 2 | 3 | Set up summary weighing |
| Summaries | 3 + 3 | Collapse to 2–3 voters |
| Grand Crossfire | 3 | Resolve the key clash |
| Final Focus | 2 + 2 | Last word; clear ballot story |
Judge-friendly weighing
- Make weighing criteria explicit (magnitude, probability, timeframe, reversibility).
- Frontline in rebuttal; extend exactly once with warrants and impacts.
- Use crossfire to set up your summary/final focus voters, not to win instantly.