ELEMENTARY PRO CON DEBATE

1. Elementary Debate Topics (July 2025)

Round 1 & 2: Zoos are good.

Round 3 & 4: Intelligent life exists beyond Earth.

2. Elementary Debating Times

Each and every student in the debate

presents a case,

asks and answer questions of another debater,

responds to opponent’s case, and

defends their case and weighs the arguments made in the debate.

Students get “Huddles” which is time to prepare with each other/on their own before each of their speeches.

Students may use the internet including AI but NOT after the Response Huddle Ends.

If there are only 3 on each side, skip the 4^th speaker.

If one team has less speakers—that team’s debaters have to take on 2 speaker positions.

Case Huddles 4 minutes

Then . . .

Case speeches 1.5 minutes, Questions 1 minute

1^st pro case, questions from 1^st con

2^nd pro case, questions from 2^nd con

3^rd pro case, questions from 3^rd con

4^th pro case, questions from 4^th con

1^st con case, questions from 1^st pro

2^nd con case, questions from 2^nd pro

3^rd con case, questions from 3^rd pro

4^th con case, questions from 4^th pro

Response Huddles 4 minutes

Then . . .

AFTER THE RESPONSE HUDDLE, NO INTERNET IS ALLOWED

Response speeches 1 minute

1^st con responds to 1^st pro case

2^nd con responds to 2^nd pro case

3^rd con responds to 3^rd pro case

4^th con responds to 4^th pro case

1^st pro responds to 1^st con case

2^nd pro responds to 2^nd con case

3^rd pro responds to 3^rd con case

4^th pro responds to 4^th con case

Defense and Weigh Huddles 4 minutes

Then . . .

Defense and Weigh speeches 1.5 minutes

1^st con defends their case and weighs the arguments

2^nd con defends their case and weighs the arguments

3^rd con defends their case and weighs the arguments

4^th con defends their case and weighs the arguments

1^st pro defends their case and weighs the arguments

2^nd pro defends their case and weighs the arguments

3^rd pro defends their case and weighs the arguments

4^th pro defends their case and weighs the arguments

3. Elementary Debating Rules

AT ALL TIMES—TREAT EACH OTHER RIGHT—WITH SUPPORT.

Elementary Debaters can be aged 8 to 12; should be 3^rd-5^th graders; exceptions to this require Jim Hanson’s approval.

Prep/Huddle Time Rules

• You CAN view and use materials you researched/prepared.

• You can research online including using AI during Prep Time/Huddles before the Case and Response Speeches. NO INTERNET use after the Response Huddles.

• You CAN talk with your debate partners

• You CAN hand-write/flow/type out arguments for your speeches.

• You CANNOT get debating help from coach(es) or parent(s) during prep time.

During the Debate

• You CAN pass notes or text message/chat with your debate partners.

• You CAN quietly speak with your debate partners who are not speaking (don’t interrupt the debaters speaking).

• You CANNOT get help from coach(es) or parent(s) during the debate.

• You CANNOT speak to teammates who are speaking.

• No heckling, no questions or comments out loud during another student’s speech.

• YES-YOU CAN USE LAPTOPS/TABLETS/IPADS/E-DEVICES during elementary debates.

• Yes, you can research online BUT NOT AFTER THE RESPONSE HUDDLE.