Debate · Formats
Debate Formats
The main ways people debate in schools, homeschool leagues, colleges and public events: who debates, how long each speech is, how much prep time you get, and what each format rewards. Times are checked against each league’s published rules; things that vary by league or state are marked.
Side by side
| Format | Who | Teams | Speeches | Prep | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Debate | High school | 2 vs 2 | 8, 3, 5 min | 8 min per side | One policy topic all year |
| Lincoln-Douglas Debate | High school | 1 vs 1 | 6, 3, 7, 4 min | 4 min per side | Value topics, changed every two months (NSDA) |
| Public Forum Debate | High school | 2 vs 2 | 4, 3, 2 min | 3 min per side | Current events, changed every month or two |
| Congressional Debate | High school | Individuals in a chamber of about 10 to 25 | 3, 2, 1 min | None in the round | A docket of bills and resolutions |
| World Schools Debate | High school | 3 vs 3 (teams of 3 to 5) | 8, 4 min | 60 min before the round | Prepared and impromptu motions |
| British Parliamentary Debate | College | 4 teams of 2 | 7 min | 15 min before the round | A new impromptu motion each round |
| American Parliamentary Debate (APDA and NPDA) | College | 2 vs 2 | 7, 8, 4, 5 min | 20 min before the round | A new motion each round (APDA: often the government’s own case) |
| Oxford-Style Public Debate | Anyone | Usually 2 vs 2 (any number works) | 6, 2 min (sample) | None in the round | A motion chosen by the organizers |
High school and homeschool leagues
Policy Debate
Two teams of two argue for a year about whether the government should adopt a specific plan, using a lot of carefully researched evidence.
Details →Lincoln-Douglas Debate
One debater against one on a question of values: what is just, right or good, and what standard should decide it.
Details →Public Forum Debate
Two teams of two debate a current-events question in speeches any thoughtful member of the public can follow.
Details →Congressional Debate
A chamber of ten to twenty-five students debates bills and resolutions under parliamentary procedure, like a session of the U.S. Congress.
Details →World Schools Debate
Teams of three debate prepared and surprise motions in long speeches, with points of information, judged on style, content and strategy.
Details →College
British Parliamentary Debate
Four teams of two in one room, two on each side, debate a motion after fifteen minutes of preparation, and the judges rank the teams first to fourth.
Details →American Parliamentary Debate (APDA and NPDA)
Two teams of two, Government and Opposition, debate a motion with short preparation and no published evidence in the round, relying on reasoning, general knowledge and wit.
Details →Public and classroom
Related events
Which format should I try first?
- Public Forum if you like current events and want a partner: speeches are short and written for any listener.
- Lincoln-Douglas if you like big questions of right and wrong and want to debate on your own.
- Policy if you love research and want one topic all year.
- Congress if you like making speeches and want to try many topics in one day.
- Oxford-style for a classroom, co-op or family night: no league needed.
Run any of them with the debate timer, which knows every speech in order.