From SuspireWiki

This isn't intended to roll through as some kind of bar-none-how-to-guide, it just occurred to the writer of this document that some people have no actual idea of how you, well, debate officially. Since debate is the bread and butter of the Carthian Movement, and they take their methods from the political models of the modern world, it makes sense that most of their membership would understand how to debate "officially".

This has been taken from a relatively brief guide (heavily based on Lincoln-Douglas format, if you're in the know about styles) on debating and mutated into a form for our style of online-gaming without, hopefully, losing the important aspects pertaining to Affirmative/Negative Debate Formats (there are, for the record, a cubic mess-ton of debate formats, but this is arguably the easiest to follow, and most recognizable format).

I know this is a little long looking, but it's pretty abbreviated when you get "into" it. - nat

Contents 1 Key Notes 2 The Debate 2.1 Pick a Topic 2.2 Notify the Debating Parties 2.3 Notify Your Audience 2.4 The Debate Event 2.4.1 Intermediate's Address 2.4.1.1 Decide Rules for the Debate 2.4.1.2 Decide how the Debate is Judged 2.4.2 A Debate for a Single Affirmative and Negative 2.4.2.1 Affirmative Construction 2.4.2.2 Cross-Examination of the Affirmative by the Negative 2.4.2.3 Negative Construction 2.4.2.4 Cross-Examination of the Negative by the Affirmative 2.4.2.5 First Affirmative Rebuttal 2.4.2.6 Negative Rebuttal 2.4.2.7 Second Affirmative Rebuttal 2.4.3 Intermediate's Conclusion 2.4.4 A Debate for Group Affirmatives and Negatives

Key Notes

For further reference, use the following:

• "Affirmative" is the individual(s) who wishes to present and press for approval of a topic.
• "Negative" is the individual(s) who wishes to present a different side for denial of a topic.

The Debate

Here's a quickstep guideline to the steps leading up to, and during, a Debate. Each step is detailed further below.

• Pick a Topic
• Notify the Debating Parties
• Notify Your Audience
• The Debate Event
  • Intermediate's Address
    • Decide Rules for the Debate
    • Decide how the Debate is Judged
  • Debate!
    • A Debate for a Single Affirmative and Negative
      • Affirmative Construction (8 min)
        • Cross-Examination of the Affirmative by the Negative (5 min)
      • Negative Construction (10 min)
        • Cross-Examination of the Negative by the Affirmative (5 min)
      • First Affirmative Rebuttal (6 min)
      • Negative Rebuttal (9 min)
      • Second Affirmative Rebuttal (6 min)
  • Intermediate's Conclusion
    • A Debate for Group Affirmatives and Negatives

Pick a Topic

A topic is a whole animal itself to come across, for brevity, it is generally chosen by an intermediate; a Myrmidon, for instance, would be an excellent choice as an intermediary. Debate topics are put up for the group at large, with who or which groups will be the "Affirmative" and who will pose as the "Negative". If both are not met, it is not a viable topic for a Debate. Obviously if there are multiple topics to be debated that are "up for grabs" for the next debate, politicking to get the next topic for Carthians so interested could be just as interesting as the Debate itself.

And now that the topic is picked by the intermediary...

Notify the Debating Parties

It should be understood that a topic is given to both the Affirmative and the Negative ahead of time so that they may prepare their sides and potential angles of resistances against the opponent before a Debate is scheduled. A good estimation of "time to prepare" is a minimum of three nights. It is not unheard of to drop it to two, for a relatively simple or noncomplex issue, but one night in advance is just rude. It would be odd to give more than seven nights prep time to any debaters, since part of a debate is organization and some manner of pressure for time. The intermediate who chose the topic generally also chooses the time and place to hold the Debate.

Notify Your Audience

A full night after the topic of the Debate is decided on and the Debating sides are notified their topic was chosen, those involved in the Debate are expected to begin inviting an audience. Generally this is limited to other Carthians, for covenant-affairs, but some members of the Carthian Movement also host debates that other Kindred in the city can attend as well. It is important that this step only start occurring on the night after the parties are notified, to give the debating parties a full night to gather their thoughts to prepare.

Now we can get to the actual event itself!

The Debate Event

Everyone enters, everyone that arrives gets seated, even if emergency seats are needed to be gotten from another local.

Intermediate's Address

1. The Intermediate who picked the topic and set the local and time greets the audience and thanks them for coming.
2. The Intermediate sets the rules of the debate.
3. The Intermediate decides how the Debate is to be Judged at it's conclusion.
4. The Intermediate announces the topic of the debate to the audience and introduces the Debaters on the Affirmative and Negative side.
5. The Intermediate gives the floor to the Affirmative and begins taking time.

Decide Rules for the Debate

Rules are generally pretty standard across the board, that are more of a notification to the audience than to the actual debaters. Here are some pretty standard rules for the Debate:

• The Intermediate is the individual who calls time and interrupts if necessary to stop a Debater from going over their allotted time.
• No interrupting while a speaker is speaking. No exceptions.
• Excessive noise or jeers from audience members will result in the offending parties being asked to leave.
• Frenzied Kindred are to be restrained until they return to calmness. They may or may not be asked to leave (up to the Intermediate in question).

There are some optional rules, naturally, that show up from region to region, from Kindred to Kindred. The Intermediate is the final judge on what rules are for the Debate. It is not unheard of for there to be rules against Majesty usages or even Auspex. It really depends on the mood and the method of the Intermediate.

Decide how the Debate is Judged

Some frequently occurring methods of judging are as follows:

• A prearranged set of judges are present, always in an odd number, are given one pen and one scrap of completely identical papers which have two boxes, Affirmative and Negative, to be checked. It is folded in half and set into a collection box in front of the Intermediate at the called-for time.
  • On this version it is also feasible for the judges, when they cast their vote, to do so to the audience.
  • Similar to the previous version, it is a possibility to also say why they have done so.
    • Many Carthians argue that it can change, or have the potential to change/influence, a later voting judge's viewpoint, so it is not widely used.
• All audience members present are given one pen and one scrap of completely identical papers which have two boxes, Affirmative and Negative, to be checked. It is folded in half and set into a collection box in front of the Intermediate at the called-for time.
  • Sometimes a verbal vote is asked for, where everyone calls out their vote to be heard.
    • Many Carthians argue that it can change, or have the potential to change/influence, a later voting audience member's viewpoint, so it is not widely used.
  • Similar to the judges version, sometimes they also are permitted/asked to say why they chose to do so.
    • Many Carthians argue that it can change, or have the potential to change/influence, a later voting audience member's viewpoint, so it is not widely used.
• The Prefect decides to judge the Debate and determine the victor.
  • Generally only used in those areas where the Prefect is acting as a Dictator or similar.
• Three people are chosen at random by the Intermediate to cast their vote.
  • Some Carthians believe this is the worst of all possible choices, as it gives the most possibility for "voter fraud" through conveniently chosen "random" individuals.

A Debate for a Single Affirmative and Negative

This is a good set of rules for when there is only one person serving for the Affirmative and Negative (for a total of a two-person Debate).

Affirmative Construction

The Affirmative is given 8 minutes, OOC time (2 rounds if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following tasks:

• An introduction that should give the audience an interest in the topic and bring their attention into the Debate.
• Clearly state the intended goal/resolution
• State each of the points (Contentions) with reason and evidence towards the resolution
• Conclusion

Cross-Examination of the Affirmative by the Negative

The Negative is given 5 minutes, OOC time (1 round if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following task:

• Ask courteous questions that should be in line with a particular strategy, or direction, while facing the audience.

Negative Construction

The Negative is given 10 minutes, OOC time (3 rounds if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following tasks:

• An introduction that should give the audience an interest in the topic and bring their attention into the Debate.
• State the Negative's position on the topic to the audience, clearly.
• State the Negative's Observations on the topic and support with reason and evidence.
• Attack and Question the Affirmative's Contentions
• Conclusion

Cross-Examination of the Negative by the Affirmative

The Affirmative is given 5 minutes, OOC time (1 round if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following task:

• Ask courteous questions that should be in line with a particular strategy, or direction, while facing the audience.

First Affirmative Rebuttal

The Affirmative is given 6 minutes, OOC time (2 rounds if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following tasks:

• Respond to the Negative's Observations and point out how they are not as strong or relevant as the Affirmative's Contentions.
• Rebuild the Affirmative's case.

Note: This section for the Debate is almost universally considered to be the most difficult for a Debater.

Negative Rebuttal

The Negative is given 9 minutes, OOC time (3 rounds if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following tasks:

• Respond to the most recent Affirmative arguments.
• Make your final discussion and case to the audience that the Negative position is superior to the Affirmative's.
• Convince the audience that the Affirmative has failed to carry the burden of proof.
• Summarize the Debate as best as possible to conclude effectively, then ask for the audience to agree with the Negative's position on the topic.

Second Affirmative Rebuttal

The Affirmative is given 6 minutes, OOC time (2 rounds if for some reason it comes up), to perform the following tasks:

• Respond to the final Negative arguments.
• Summarize the Debate as best as possible to conclude effectively, then show the audience how the Affirmative's position is superior and that the Affirmative has carried the burden of proof.
• Conclusion

Intermediate's Conclusion

In general this is how the Intermediate concludes a Debate:

1. The Intermediate thanks the audience first for attending the Debate and jokes with them lightly if so desired. The joking should not come at expense of the topic or the Debaters.
2. The Intermediate requests the vote (as per determined at the beginning).
3. The Intermediate announces the victor for the Debate.
4. The Intermediate thanks the losing Debate side for their part.
5. The Intermediate thanks the victorious Debate side for their part.
6. The Intermediate thanks the judges/audience/whomever for taking part in the process.
7. The Intermediate once again thanks the audience briefly then declares the Debate over.

A Debate for Group Affirmatives and Negatives

In general, the debate format and times for each section is exactly the same, except the Intermediate in general assigns each "section" (Construction/Cross-Exam/Rebuttals, etc) to a member of each team. This is probably the most widespread Debate format, as it gets more individuals into the Debate without losing it's appeal to the structured political format.