Public FOrum

Public Forum is a type of current events debate where teams debate on previously selected resolutions, usually dealing with recent events. Teams of two prepare cases for both Affirmative and Negative sides. In each team, each individual has different roles: First Speaker and Second Speaker. Evidence is crucial in Public Forum debate and needed for logical arguments that can win a judge over. There are no distinct right or wrong answer to the debate as the same evidence for Affirmative can easily be used to prove another point in Negative. Public Forum forces debaters to widen their perspectives and utilize certain evidence for different points. 

Lincoln - Douglas

Lincoln Douglas debate is a 1 vs. 1 debate in which two debaters argue on a resolution previously chosen and given about three - four weeks in advance. Lincoln Douglas mainly focuses on sociological and philosophical issues in present day society. Evidence is extremely important in Lincoln Douglas Debate and is always used to back your claim. Typically, Lincoln Douglas debates revolve around deciding whether something is morally right or not. To prepare for Lincoln Douglas debate, it is important to prepare for both affirmative and negative because you will not know which side you need to argue until the round starts. 

Parliamentary

Parliamentary is a two on two, on-the-spot debate format which stresses rigorous argumentation, logical analysis, and quick thinking. Debaters are presented with their round topic and side twenty minutes prior to the start of the debate, encouraging competitors to have a breadth and depth of knowledge. Parliamentary debaters focus on argumentation and rhetoric rather than technical rule based strategies. Debates are structured to not only argue against the validity of a team's contentions, but also against a team's mindset and assumptions of the status quo, making parliamentary an adaptable and intellectually demanding format.