Ferris State > Speech Debate Team

The Ferris State Competitive Debate Team

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Come join the Ferris State Forensics Speech Debate Team, and travel throughout the United States, networking with and competing against student debate teams from other university and college debate teams.

Some of the benefits to competing with the Ferris State Debate Team include: free travel, cultural education opportunities, networking opportunities, and the chance to vie for Scholarship Money!!

Learn more about why you should join our forensics speech debate team by contacting our college debate team coach directly:

T. J. Lakin
Johnson Hall, Room 315
Telephone: 231-591-35015
Email: lakint@ferris.edu

Ferris State University Debate Team

What Subjects Does the Debate Team Debate, Anyway?

The Ferris State Parliamentary Debate Team is most eager to discuss controversial, hot-button topics, such as global warming, foreign relations, economic policy, and even larger questions of morality and ethics.

This is not a speech debate team for wallflowers! The Ferris State Student Debate Team is looking for serious individuals who are unafraid to grapple verbally, as they refine their forensic speech skill sets debating the big issues of the day.

Give Me More Reasons to Join the Ferris State Parliamentary Debate Team!

  • The Debate Team has Traveled to Colorado to Compete at the U.S. Air force Academy

  • The Speech Debate Team Participates in On-Campus National Political Engagement Project

  • College Debate Team Welcomes Foreign Debate Teams.

Finally, you should know that our college debate team is very Successful! The Ferris State Debate Team has earned several awards in recognition of our forensic speech and debate skills.

What is Parliamentary Debate?

You may have heard about parliamentary procedure – as a member of the Ferris Speech Debate Team, you will use a very similar format. Based on the British model of government, including Robert's Rules of Order, our student debates follow a very specific format.

The idea is that when "motions" (ideas for change or concern) are brought before the "house" (the governing body) the debate should take a certain format so that the playing field is fair.

Ferris State Debate Team

FSU Debate Team Focuses on Parliamentary Goals:

The college debate team is typically divided into two teams of two people each: a "government" debate team, and an "opposition" debate team. It is the government debate team's job to support or uphold the "motion" (topic of the debate).

Usually the government college debate team discusses a problem in the topic area and has a specific proposal for change regarding that problem. It is the burden of the opposition debate team to play "devil's advocate," more or less. The opposition college debate team tries to find the weaknesses in the government debate team's arguments.

Thus, throughout the debate, the government and opposition debate teams clash on the issues regarding the problem in a back and forth fashion.

Parliamentary Debate Format:

  1. The two debate teams are given the motion at hand.

  2. Both speech debate teams have 15 minutes to prepare their respective cases.

  3. The Government debate team begins the debate by delivering the first speech - a speech that outlines and describes their support of the motion. - 7 minutes

  4. The Opposition debate team then responds to this speech with a speech constructing their critique of the Government's case. - 8 minutes

  5. The Government debate team responds to the Opposition's arguments, attempting to reassert their own position. - 8 minutes

  6. The Opposition debate team responds in the same manner. - 8 minutes

  7. The Opposition debate team concludes with a "rebuttal" speech - a speech designed to act as a summary of the important issues to think about in the debate. - 4 minutes

  8. The Government debate team finishes with its own rebuttal and summary speech -5 minutes

During the Debate:

  1. During any speech, other than rebuttals, any debate team member can stand up and ask a question/make a short statement, called a point of information - this is used to clarify any issues being discussed.

  2. During any speech any debate team member can stand up and call a point of personal privilege, if they feel that the other debate team is being offensive in any way (this calls attention to the rude behavior in the judge's mind).

  3. During any speech any debate team member can stand up and call a point of order, if they feel that some rule of the debate has been violated by the other debate team (again, bringing this to the judge's attention so that it will factor into the judge's decision).

A Typical College Debate Tournament:

  • Most speech debate tournaments have 4-6 preliminary rounds that everyone gets to compete in.

  • Then, based on win/loss records AND speaker points (a "grade" assigned to each participant based on their public speaking skills), the top debate teams will move to the elimination rounds.

  • If you win an elimination round, you advance to the next; if you lose, your debate team is finished.

  • After all elimination rounds are complete, trophies and awards are handed to the debate teams with the best win/loss records AND to individuals who have the highest speaking grade.

  • Tournaments are held on weekends and usually take two days; FSU college debate teams tends to travel to one tournament a month on average.

To Learn More About Ferris State University click here for the Mission Statement.

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