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Debate1v1
Extemporaneous Debate
Rapid one-on-one debate on a resolution announced about 30 minutes before the round. Argument generation and clarity at speed.
Time
2 min speeches · 1 min cross-examination
Prep
~30 min topic prep · 1 min mandatory prep before rebuttals
Format
1v1
Round structure
Constructives + CX
Each side gets a 2-minute constructive followed by 1 minute of cross-examination from the opponent.
Mandatory prep
One minute of prep before each rebuttal — decide what to collapse to.
Rebuttals
Two minutes each to answer offense and weigh. No time to waste; every sentence must earn its place.
What judges look for
- A complete case in two minutes — claim, warrant, impact
- Efficient, targeted refutation
- Composure in CX
- Weighing under time pressure
- Clarity over speed
Ballot criteria
ArgumentationCritical
Complete, warranted arguments despite the clock.
RefutationCritical
Direct, efficient clash.
Cross-examinationMedium
Strategic questions and controlled answers.
DeliveryMedium
Clarity and composure at pace.
Practice tips
- Drill 15-minute casebuilding on fresh news topics.
- Practice 2-minute speeches with a hard stop — no grace.
- Keep a running file of generic frameworks (cost-benefit, rights, precedent).
- Do one XDB round as warm-up before longer debate practice.
Common mistakes
- Trying to run four contentions in two minutes
- Spending CX clarifying instead of attacking
- No weighing in rebuttal
- Ignoring the mandatory prep windows
Sample topics / sparks
- Resolved: The United States should ban single-use plastics.
- Resolved: Social media companies should verify the identity of all users.
- Resolved: The federal government should adopt a four-day workweek for its employees.
Drills for this event
Rapid casebuildingCurrent eventsRefutationEfficiency