DEBATE FLOW & SPEAKER ROLES SUMMARY

Affirmative 1 (A1) Negative 1 (N1)

1. Debate Set-up 1. Respond to A1’s set-up

+) Definition(s) +) Definition(s)
+) Stakeholder(s) +) Stakeholders(s)
+) Team’s Stance & Goal(s) 2. State Negative’s set-up
+) Team’s Split +) Team’s Stance & Goal(s)
2. Argument(s) +) Team’s Split
3. Rebuttal(s)
4. Argument(s)

Affirmative 1 (A1) Negative 1 (N1)

1. Rebuttal(s) 1. Rebuttal(s)
2. Argument(s) 2. Argument(s)
3. Team's Case Recap 3. Team's Case Recap

Affirmative 1 (A1) Negative 1 (N1)

1. Rebuttal(s) 1. Rebuttal(s)
2. Summarization & 2. Summarization &
Comparison Comparison
By: Minh-Tam Dao Le
By: Minh-Tam Dao Le
ROLES OF FIRST SPEAKERS
A1 & N1
Affirmative 1 (A1)
1. DEBATE SET-UP
The set-up in A1 has 4 parts:
+ Definition: Identify and define the
important keywords in the motion (upto
3 keywords).
+ Stakeholder: Point out the burden of
the debate = Identify important
stakeholders related to the motion and
explain why they matter to the topic at
hand.
+ Team’s Goal: State your team’s goal =
Answer “What do we want to achieve?”
+ Team’s Split: Introduce your team’s
split = Tell the judge who says what in
your team.
2. CONSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS
Introducing the team’s argument(s)
+ Present the argument(s) that have
been assigned to you in the Team’s
split.
Negative 1 (N1)
1. RESPOND TO A1’s SET-UP
Consider if A1 has done a good job in
definition and burden or not. If not,
respond to A1 by:
+ In definition: Choose different
keywords to define or redefine A1’s
keyword.
+ In burden: Point out other
stakeholders that are more important
than A1’s.
2. STATE YOUR TEAM’S SET-UP
+ Team’s Goal: State your team’s goal =
Answer “What do we want to achieve?”
+ Team’s Split: Introduce your team’s
split = Tell the judge who says what in
your team.
3. REBUT A1
+ Identify 1-2 most important claims
from A1 and rebut.
4. CONSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS
Introducing the team’s argument(s)
+ Present the argument(s) that have
been assigned to you in the Team’s
split.
By: Minh-Tam Dao Le
ROLES OF SECOND SPEAKERS
A2 & N2
Affirmative 2 (A1)
1. REBUILD
+ Identify the rebuttal(s) from N1 that
have damaged your team’s case.
Rebut the their rebuttals to solidify
your case.
2. REBUT
+ Identify 1-2 most important claims
from N1 and rebut.
3. CONSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS
+ Prove the remaining arguments that
your team has outlined.
4. SHORT RECAP OF YOUR TEAM’S CASE
+ Briefly mention all the impacts that
you and your first speaker has
proven
Negative 2 (N2)
1. REBUILD
+ Identify the rebuttal(s) from A1 & A2
that have damaged your team’s case.
Rebut the their rebuttals to solidify
your case.
2. REBUT
+ Identify 1-2 most important claims
from A1 & A2 and rebut.
3. CONSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS
+ Prove the remaining arguments that
your team has outlined.
4. SHORT RECAP OF YOUR TEAM’S CASE
+ Briefly mention all the impacts that
you and your first speaker has
proven
By: Minh-Tam Dao Le

ROLES OF THIRD SPEAKERS

A3 & N3

Affirmative 3 (A3) Negative 3 (N3)

1. REBUT THE STANDING CLAIMS FROM
NEGATIVE
+ Go through Negative’s case and
identify the standing claims – i.e.
the claims that have been
successfully proven but not fully
rebutted.
+ Rebut said claims.
1. REBUT THE STANDING CLAIMS FROM
NEGATIVE
+ Go through Negative’s case and
identify the standing claims – i.e.
the claims that have been
successfully proven but not fully
rebutted.
+ Rebut said claims.

2. SUMMARIZE & COMPARE 2. SUMMARIZE & COMPARE

+ Track all arguments from both
sides and form them into clashes.
+ Compare your argument with
theirs to prove why your impact is
better, and overall, why that wins
you the debate.
+ Track all arguments from both
sides and form them into clashes.
+ Compare your argument with
theirs to prove why your impact is
better, and overall, why that wins
you the debate.

HOW TO COMPARE: When comparing arguments and their impacts for a clash, you might want to
use “metrics” – i.e. the different ways we assess the value of something. The commonly used metrics
are:
1. Scale of the impact – How many people will be affected? Is it a good or a bad thing?
2. Depth of the impact – How significant is the impact to the stakeholders? Is it a good or a bad
thing?
3. Long-term vs. Short-term – Is the impact likely to be long-term or short-term?