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LearnIntroduction to Public Forum Debate

Introduction to Public Forum Debate

A complete, free, self-guided introduction to Public Forum that takes 4–5 hours: 22 in-depth lessons, assignments on live resolutions, quizzes, drills, and AI coach feedback, covering your first round through tournament day.

4–5 hours · 22 lessons Free AI feedback on assignments
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Unit 1

Foundations

The format, the resolution, argument anatomy, and the round from start to finish.

  1. 1. Introduction to Public ForumWhat Public Forum is, how a round works, and why the event rewards clear thinking over jargon. Video18 min
  2. 2. The ResolutionHow to read a resolution, find the clash, and understand what each side must prove. Video14 min
  3. 3. Speech by SpeechThe job of each speech in the round, from first constructive to final focus.20 min
  4. 4. Anatomy of an ArgumentThe three parts of every PF argument (claim, warrant, and impact), with a worked example on single-use plastics.14 min

Unit 2

Research & Evidence

Understand topics, cut cards, and organize your prep before you write a case.

  1. 1. Understanding the TopicHow to research a new resolution before you cut any cards: learn the terrain, find the clash, and steelman both sides.16 min
  2. 2. Finding and Cutting CardsFrom search query to tournament-ready card: sources, citations, taglines, and quotes that hold up in the evidence exchange.18 min
  3. 3. Organizing Your Prep FileFolder structure, block files, and frontlines: how varsity teams keep a topic manageable.14 min

Unit 3

Case Writing & Clash

Writing, framing, attacking and closing: the skills every round tests.

  1. 1. Case WritingBuild a constructive from the ground up: framing, contentions, links, impacts.20 min
  2. 2. Framing and ImpactsFramework, impact calculus, and frontlines: how to make the judge care about your side of the resolution.16 min
  3. 3. Rebuttal and FrontlinesAttack cases with the four-part response and rebuild your own with frontlines.22 min
  4. 4. Summary and Final FocusCollapse, extend, and weigh, then write the ballot for your judge.16 min

Unit 4

Round Craft

Crossfire, flowing and evidence: the in-round mechanics that separate varsity teams.

  1. 1. Crossfire MasteryHow to get something out of the question periods: designing questions, answering with discipline, and earning concessions you can use later.18 min
  2. 2. Flowing FundamentalsA note-taking system that holds up in fast rounds: columns, shorthand, and flowing your own speeches.20 min
  3. 3. Evidence Ethics & the ExchangeCut cards that hold up under scrutiny, handle the evidence exchange professionally, and win credibility fights.16 min

Unit 5

Speaking & Delivery

Pace, signposting, and word economy, so judges hear your arguments.

  1. 1. Delivery FundamentalsPace, signposting, and tone that make judges want to flow for you.12 min
  2. 2. Word Economy and RhetoricCut filler, keep warrants, and land your impacts in the time you have.12 min

Unit 6

Winning Habits

How good debaters become champions: weighing, practice systems and tournament execution.

  1. 1. Weighing & Impact CalculusThe comparison tools that decide close rounds: the four lenses, meta-weighing, and starting early.22 min
  2. 2. Practicing Like a ChampionSet up a weekly practice routine: deliberate drills, feedback loops, and a habit of redoing speeches that builds skill over time.15 min
  3. 3. Tournament Day PlaybookWhat happens between rounds decides rounds: paradigms, prep management, working with your partner, and bouncing back from losses.14 min

Unit 7

Your First Tournament

Judge adaptation, a full annotated round, and your capstone case.

  1. 1. Judge AdaptationLay vs. flow judges, reading paradigms, and adjusting your strategy before you walk in.14 min
  2. 2. A Full Round, AnnotatedA complete practice round on ranked-choice voting, speech by speech, with what each team is doing and why.20 min
  3. 3. Capstone: Write Your CaseBuild a complete case on a real resolution from real sources. This is your graduation assignment.25 min

Frequently asked questions

What is Public Forum debate?
Public Forum is a two-on-two debate format where teams argue for or against a monthly resolution on current events. Judges are often community volunteers, so clear communication matters as much as research.
How long does this course take?
About 4–5 hours in all: 22 lessons (~6.3 hours of reading), plus quizzes and assignments on real topics with AI feedback.
Is this course free?
Yes. Every lesson, quiz, drill link, and assignment is free, and you don’t need to log in. AI feedback on assignments is included up to a daily limit.