Public Forum Debate
As a team event, PF requires strong collaboration between partners. Balanced preparation and shared in-round contributions give teams a competitive edge. Students must be able to adapt their arguments for a wide range of audiences, including judges who may not have formal debate training. Persuasion, clarity, and accessibility are key.
Students who succeed in PF are logical, organized, and professional. They are skilled at simplifying complex issues, thinking big-picture, and connecting with diverse audiences through confident and engaging delivery.
Time Limits
| Speech | Time Limit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Team A Speaker 1 – Constructive | 4 minutes | Present the team’s case |
| Team B Speaker 1 – Constructive | 4 minutes | Present the team’s case |
| Crossfire | 3 minutes | Speaker 1 from Team A & B alternate asking and answering questions |
| Team A Speaker 2 – Rebuttal | 4 minutes | Refute the opposing side’s arguments |
| Team B Speaker 2 – Rebuttal | 4 minutes | Refute the opposing side’s arguments |
| Crossfire | 3 minutes | Speaker 2 from Team A & B alternate asking and answering questions |
| Team A Speaker 1 – Summary | 3 minutes | Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round |
| Team B Speaker 1 – Summary | 3 minutes | Begin crystallizing the main issues in the round |
| Grand Crossfire | 3 minutes | All four debaters involved in a crossfire at once |
| Team A Speaker 2 – Final Focus | 2 minutes | Explain reasons that you win the round |
| Team B Speaker 2 – Final Focus | 2 minutes | Explain reasons that you win the round |
Compete
- What to Expect Competing in Public Forum Debate
- Public Forum and Congressional Debate Textbook
- Public Forum Debate: Strategies in Persuasion and Adaptation
- Six Tips for Effective Crossfire
- Public Forum Performance Breakdown
- Outline of a Public Forum Constructive
- Intro to Flowing Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas Debate
- Public Forum Debate Round Intro
Judge
Final Round Videos
- 2024 - 2025
- 2023 - 2024
- 2022 - 2023
- 2021 - 2022
- 2020 - 2021
- 2019 - 2020
- 2018 - 2019
- 2017 - 2018
- 2016 - 2017
- 2015 - 2016
- Misc
2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – September/October 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – September/October 2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – November/December 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – November/December 2023
2024
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – January 2024
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – January 2024
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – February 2024
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – February 2024
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – March 2024
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – March 2024
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – April 2024
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – April 2024
2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 September/October
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – September/October 2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 November/December
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – November/December 2022
2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – January 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – January 2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – February 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – February 2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – March 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – March 2023
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – April 2023
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – April 2023
2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2021 September/October
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – September/October 2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2021 November/December
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – November/December 2021
2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 January
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – January 2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 February
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – February 2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 March
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – March 2022
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2022 April
2020
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – September/October 2020
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – November/December 2020
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2020 September/October
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – April 2021
2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – January 2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – February 2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – March 2021
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2021 April
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2021 January
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2021 February
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2021 March
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2021 April
2019
2020
- Public Forum Video Analysis – 2020 January
- Public Forum Video Analysis – 2020 February
- Public Forum Video Analysis – 2020 March
- Public Forum Video Analysis – 2020 April
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2020 January
- ublic Forum Advanced Evidence – 2020 February
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2020 March
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2020 April
2017
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 September/October
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 November
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 December
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 September/October
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 November
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 December
- Public Forum Topic Updates – 2017 September-October
2018
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2018 January
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2018 February
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2018 March
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2018 April
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2018 Nationals
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2018 January
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2018 February
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence for Pro – 2018 January
2016
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 September-October
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 November
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 December
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2016 September-October
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2016 November
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2016 December
2017
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 January
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 February
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 March
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 April
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2017 Nationals
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 January
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 February
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 March
- Public Forum Advanced Evidence – 2017 April
2015
2016
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 January
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 March
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 April
- Public Forum Topic Analysis – 2016 June
- Public Forum Evidence – 2016 January
- Public Forum Evidence – 2016 March
- Public Forum Evidence – 2016 April
- Public Forum Evidence – 2016 June
Public Forum played a large role in who I am today. It taught me to be persuasive. At its core, the event’s structure and audience forced me to shape and mold my thoughts into concise, simple, yet elegant arguments.
Public Forum Debate
PF • High School Main Event • Middle School Main Event
Public Forum Debate (PF) is a two-on-two debate that focuses on current event topics. Resolutions change frequently throughout the season, exposing students to a wide range of timely issues. Each round begins with the team that won the coin toss selecting either their side (Pro or Con) or speaker position (first or second), and the opposing team selects the remaining option. Debaters present constructive cases, engage in refutation and rebuttals, and participate in “crossfire,” a questioning period similar to cross-examination. Internet access is permitted unless otherwise specified by the tournament.