Debate Formats

World Schools Debate is the flagship international format used in the World Schools Debating Championships and many cross-cultural events. It offers a blend of British Parliamentary and American debate styles. World Schools Debate emphasizes well-rounded speaking—blending logic, style, and global awareness. It values persuasive delivery, logical consistency, and the ability to respond respectfully and quickly.

World Schools is particularly well-suited for international programs because it levels the playing field across educational systems and allows for both content depth and stylistic flexibility.

Structure of a WSD Round:

o   3 speakers per team (although the team may include up to five students), each giving an 8-minute speech concluding with four-minute speeches from both sides.

o   Alternating government and opposition speeches

o   No formal cross-examination: instead, Points of Information (POIs) may be offered during opponent speeches during which students may interrupt to ask questions. POIs are not required to be answered.

Public Forum is one of the most popular formats in the United States and is rapidly expanding globally due to its clarity, relevance, and team-based structure. Public Forum values real-world research, clear communication, teamwork, and rhetorical adaptability. It balances formal debate structure with accessibility for new students, making it ideal for programs seeking to scale quickly or reach diverse student populations.

Public Forum is well-suited for students with any level of experience or involvement because it allows for a combination of public speaking, topic research, and audience persuasion.

Structure of a Public Forum Round:

o   Two-person teams

o   Alternating constructive, rebuttal, summary, and final focus speeches

o   Crossfires (questioning periods) between speeches