Competitive Debate Teams
An Overview of Popular High School Debate Leagues
Starting or joining a debate team is an important decision. Learn more about policy, classic, and Lincoln-Douglas debate.
“Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of democracy.” Jesse Jackson
The free exchange of ideas is a hallmark of a democracy. One way to foster these ideas is through competitive debate. Competitive debate elevates the exchange of ideas from just arguing at each other, to deliberative and informed analysis of a variety of topics.
This article looks at different debate formats for those who want to start a high school competitive debate team or join an already formed team.
Policy Debate
There are many different types of debate leagues. One popular form is called policy debate. In policy debate, two teams of two, debate against each other over a pre-set resolution. Debaters use this resolution for the entire debate season. Examples of recent resolutions include:
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially decrease its authority either to detain without charge or to search without probable cause.
The debate is comprised of a series of timed speeches called constructive and rebuttal speeches. Preparation time and cross examination are also part of the round.
Speeches are made up of researched evidence that each side has gathered beforehand. Sometimes the debate spins off to theoretical arguments about the debate itself.
Moreover, policy debate is sometimes compromised by rapid speaking which is meant to overwhelm the other team with arguments and garner a win for the team that speaks the fastest.
Classic Debate
In recent years, a backlash against the intricacies, fast talk, and theoretical arguing of policy debate led some members of the Minnesota debate community to create a new competitive debate league called classic debate. Classic debate also puts two teams of two against each other. It centers on a pre-set resolution, but instead of debating one resolution the entire season, they debate two resolutions. Some examples of recent resolutions include:
Resolved: That Wal-Mart is good for America.
Resolved: The United States should amend the United States Constitution to ban the civilian possession of handguns.
Classic debate is also made up of timed rebuttal and constructive speeches and allows for preparation and cross examination. And just like in policy debate, the speeches are made up of well researched evidence and analysis.
But, there are many differences between policy and classic debate. Classic debate discourages rapid speaking, and teams can even lose a round for talking too fast. Classic debate also discourages theoretical debates that detract from the pre-set resolution. There are other minor differences but classic debate claims to be more user friendly while adhering to the rigorous standards of competitive debate.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Another debate format is called Lincoln- Douglas debate (LD). Lincoln-Douglas debate finds its origin in the famous series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858.
Unlike the two previously discussed debate formats, this one does not involve teams of debaters. Instead, one person debates against one other person. They do debate using a pre-set resolution. Their resolution and the debate itself are over a set of philosophical values. For detailed directions on learning how to do Lincoln-Douglas debate you can view a series of instructional streaming videos produced by the National Forensic League.
Debate Resources
There are many other debate formats including public forum debate and parliamentary debate. Some good resources that contain information on how to start a debate team or how to join one include the National Forensics League (NFL), the International Debate Education Association, or, if you are interested in learning about classic debate specifically, the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association.
