PF 101
Public Forum speech types
Each speech has its own job. Novices who learn what each speech is for prep faster than teams that only memorize the time limits.
A PF round starts with prepared cases and moves into clash, collapse and weighing. Each speech below has a matching lesson in PF Essentials.
Constructive
Your prepared case: contentions with evidence and impacts. The two constructives don’t have to respond to each other yet.
Crossfire
Opposing speakers question each other directly. Try to get commitments you can use in later speeches.
Rebuttal
Go down the opposing case line by line. The second-speaking team also frontlines its own case against the first rebuttal.
Summary
Collapse to your best arguments, extend them with warrants and start weighing on magnitude, probability and timeframe.
Final Focus
Two minutes to tell the judge why you win. No new arguments, just a clear story for the ballot.
For the full round order and times, see the PF debate format chart. Practice responses with our free drills.
Frequently asked questions
What is a constructive in PF?
The constructive is each team’s first speech: a prepared case with contentions, evidence and impacts. First constructives don’t have to respond to each other, and clash starts in rebuttal.
What is a rebuttal in debate?
Rebuttal is each team’s second speech, where you answer the other team’s case and rebuild your own against their attacks. The second-speaking team also frontlines its case.
What are summary and final focus?
Summary collapses the debate to your best arguments and starts the weighing. Final focus gives you two minutes to tell the judge why your team wins, with no new arguments.