From Debater To Debater
Insider knowledge to make debate more accessible
PF Examples
Browse a curated list of our own and publicly available examples, such as full length round video, samples of research documents, case and outline doc, blockfile, flows, reason for decision (RFD) and a calendar for lesson plans. For full versions of the documents or access to photos, click the button. For editable versions, please contact us at fromdebatertodebater@gmail.com.
Calendar for Lesson Plans
Linked below is an example calendar with noted school holidays and monthly tournaments from the 2020 online competitive season. This document can be used as a recommendation of when each lessons should be introduced and reviewed in relation to the first, second, etc. tournament of a debater. Coaches can use this calendar to structure and plan practices and individual debaters can use this calendar to decide when to review certain powerpoints or drills.
Flows
Linked below are several examples of flows from real Public Forum rounds. There are many different types of flows and debaters should be encouraged to find a system that works for them, but these flows demonstrate two general principles - 1) AFF and NEG should be distinguished using different colors and 2) arguments and responses should be written next to each other. This document can be shown to debaters to teach them how to flow or help them develop their own method.
Blockfile
Linked below is an example of how a full blockfile - a document specifically for rebuttals - should be formatted. The blockfile should contain prewritten responses to most of the common arguments on the round, along with cut cards. For ease, second speakers can even prewrite phrases to say in round. It is also recommended to include prewritten weighing on the blockfile. It can be shown to debaters or parents to demonstrate how to organize prewritten rebuttals. For an editable version of the document, contact us.
Case and Outline
Linked below is a color-coded example of a case and the outline it was written from. The color-coded sections correspond to the different parts of a contention (assertion, impact, etc.) and demonstrate how the outline is reformatted into a full speech. Although not all contentions are structured the same way, this document can be shown to debaters to teach them how to structure contentions/cases. For an editable version of the document, contact us.
Research Document
Linked below is an example of how a debater's full research/round document should be formatted. As Public Forum debaters are allowed to use laptops or other electronics during round, this document can be open during the debate and should contain most of the necessary research. This example, and a proper research doc, includes the full case for a given side, cut cards from the case, and common frontlines. It can be shown to debaters or parents to demonstrate how to organize research. For an editable version of the document, contact us.
Full Length Round
Linked below is a full-length round on the topic "On balance, the benefits of US participation in the NAFTA outweigh the consequences", debated by Mission San Jose's Devesh Kodnani and Ishan Maunder vs Flanagan's Eden Medina and Christian Sheerer and publicly available on YouTube. The round is a well-debated but relatively simple example of a competitive Public Forum debate. This video can be shown to new debaters to familiarize them with the structure of Public Forum or individual speeches can be shown to and discussed with returning debaters.