Use this ballot to track your round's arguments and give feedback. We call the red/blue graphic organizer below a "flow" because it shows how the arguments run their course from one speech to the next.

If you're new, here's an exemplary ballot that might help orient you, and here's another.

The debate also includes two 3-minute cross-examination (CX) blocks, which are open to all participants. Judges are not expected to flow the CX blocks because students are expected to land their points during the speeches themselves.

This format guide may help you identify the purpose of each speech. In a nutshell, students should be laying out their arguments in their first speech, responding to their opponents' arguments in their second speech, and summarizing the debate in their third. No new arguments or evidence are allowed in a debater's last speech.

Debaters each get 3 minutes of prep time during the round, which they can use anytime between speeches.