Rules
1.
All questions must be answered
All questions must be answered directly, including “I don’t know” if one doesn’t know the answer. Refusing to directly answer a question during cross-examination results in forfeiture of the debate.
2.
Prove your arguments and/or disprove your opponent’s
After opening presentations, a party must cross-examine the other party, to prove or explain their own argument better, or disprove or understand their opponent’s arguments better, or both.
3.
Work towards agreement
The purpose of this debate is to seek to understand your opponent and also try to get them to understand you, and for both parties to ultimately work towards agreements.
Guidelines
Debating parties are advised to, at all times
- Address the logic of arguments, not who the argument is coming from
- Adopt a learning attitude; be genuinely curious and open to understanding the other party
- Feel free to look up answers, if they need to, before responding
- Take their time, if they need to, before responding
- Never jubilate "wins" but rather applaud or appreciate the other party for cooperation
Download Full List of Rules and Guidelines
The Trial Debates uses the QFA Debate format. You may download the full list of debate procedure, rules and guidelines, available for free, at tfog.org. Click the following button to head to the download.