The Oregon Oxford Debate Format

2. • also called Cross-Examination/Forensic Debate
• traditional debate format used in elementary,
governors debate, house debate rules,
parliamentary debate rules, high school debate,
Youtube debate, presidential debate, colleges and
all over the country.

3. • There are 2 sides in this format :
the Affirmative side and the Negative side.
• The Affirmative proves the validity of the issue or topic
called the Proposition while the Negative disproves it.
• Each team has 2-3 speakers and one scribe.
• A Debate Moderator enforces the rules to ensure the
debate’s smooth conduct.

4. 1. First Affirmative - Constructive Speech
1. First Negative - Interpellation of the first affirmative Speaker
2. First Negative - Constructive Speech
2. First Affirmative - Interpellation of the first negative speaker
3. Second Affirmative - Constructive Speech
3. Second Negative - Interpellation of the second affirmative
4. Second Negative - Constructive
4. Second Affirmative - Interpellation of the second negative
5. Third Affirmative - Constructive Speech
5. Third Negative - Interpellation of the third affirmative
6. Third Negative - Constructive Speech
6. Third Affirmative - Interpellation of the third negative
7. Rebuttal of the Team Captain of the Negative Side
7. Rebuttal of the Team Captain of the Affirmative Side

5. DURATION
Constructive Speech: Minimum of three (3) and
maximum of five (5) minutes
Interpellation: Five (5) minutes
Rebuttal Speech: Three (3) minutes
ISSUES FOR DEBATE
A. Whether or not it is Necessary? (Necessity)
B. Whether or not it is Beneficial? (Beneficiality)
C. Whether or not it is Practicable? (Practicability)

6. WRITING A POSITION PAPER FOR A DEBATE
A. Whether or not it is Necessary?
(Necessity)
B. Whether or not it is Beneficial?
(Beneficiality)
C. Whether or not it is practical?
(Practicability)

7. FIRST SPEAKER CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH
1. Write up on NECESSITY of the proposition. (3-5 mins)
• This is about creating the needs to and not to adopt the
program/plan/idea/concept.
• Set the parameters of the proposition/argument.
• It answers the question:
a. What is the current status of the world; the country?
b. Why is there a need or no need to adopt the concept?
c. Cite the history, evolution, cultural background
d. Create the sense or urgency on the matter

8. SECOND SPEAKER CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH
2. Write up on BENEFICIALITY. (3-5 mins)
• This covers the advantages and disadvantages of adopting or not
the concept.
• Provide case study, lived experiences, actual researches, results
and factual cause and effects of adopting the concept
• The speaker must built on the argument of reasons of benefits or
the opposite
Common questions:
a. Will it be beneficial to some or to majority?
b. Will it only built destruction to humanity or goodness?
c. Is there an actual case that you can cite that were benefited/harmed?
d. Enumerate the grounds (physical, psychological, social, moral,
spiritual)?

9. THIRD SPEAKER CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH
3. Write up on PRACTICABILITY (3-5 mins)
• This is about taking the logical sense of adopting or not
adopting the concept.
• It commonly answers the questions:
• Will it be cost effective? Will it be easy to
implement?
• Will there be manpower or expert to handle it?
• Will it make our life easier or comfortable?
• Is it adaptable? Is it doable?
• Do we have materials? Resources? Money? Manpower

10. GUIDES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH
Speech types of Constructive Speech may be:
1. Reading Method
2. Memory Method
3. Extemporaneous
4. Mix method of memory and conversational or
dramatic
• Poise, gestures, audience contact and voice
projection are highly recommended.

11. RULES ON INTERPELLATION
1. Questions should primarily focused on arguments
developed in the speech of your opponent. However,
matters relevant and material to the proposition are
admissible.
2. Questioner and opponent should treat each other with
courtesy.
3. Both speakers stand and face the audience during the
question or Interpellation period.
4. Once the questioning has begun, neither the questioner nor
nor his opponent may consult a colleague. Consultation
should be done before but as quietly as possible.

12. RULES ON INTERPELLATION
5. Questioners should ask brief and easily understandable
question. Answers should equally be brief. Categorical
questions answerable by yes or no is allowed, however,
opponent if he choose, may qualify his answer why yes or why
why no.
6. Questioner may not cut off a reasonable and qualifying
answer, but he may cut off a verbous response with a
statement such as a “thank you” “that is enough information”
information” or “your point is quite clear” or “I’m satisfied.”
satisfied.”
7. Your opponent may refuse to answer ambiguous, irrelevant or
or loaded questions by asking the questioner to rephrase or

13.  Are you aware of….
 Do you agree that..
 So, ……..
 Are you familiar of …..
 Do you know that ….
 Therefore, ……, isn’t it?

14. RULES ON REBUTTAL SPEECH
1. Rebuttal speaker should point out clearly the fallacies
fallacies committed by his opponent stating clearly
what particularly statement or argument constitute said
said fallacy.
2. If not familiar with the fallacies of logic, the debater
debater may counter arguments directly by stating what
what arguments or statement is incorrect or false.

15. ROLE OF THE MODERATOR
The moderator of the debate has the following duties:
1. To reveal the issue involve the debate;
2. To rule on points of clarification about the issues or questions and answers
answers made during the Interpellation; and
3. To see to it that the debate is orderly and follows the rules of parliamentary
parliamentary procedures.
ROLE OF THE TIMER
1. To time the speakers and debaters accurately;
2. To give the speakers a one-minute warning with the ringing of the bell once
once before his/her time is up.
3. To prevent the debaters from exceeding the time allotted to them by ringing
ringing the bell twice.

16. EAPP FINAL PERFORMANCE TASK

17. GRADE 12 INTER-CLASS DEBATE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023