Hyde Invitational
2025 — NSDA Campus, CA/US
Elementary Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR)
Event Description:
Debaters will be assigned to the pro or con side by the judge prior to the assignment of the topic and prior start of the round.
Each pair will consider 3 issues/resolutions.
The Pro will strike one resolution and then the Con will strike one of the two remaining resolutions, leaving the pair with one final resolution to debate.
Both sides will have two minutes to prepare their arguments before speaking must commence.
The pro speaker will give a two-minute speech in favor of the resolution; immediately after that speech, the con speaker will refute the position in a two-minute constructive.
Strict adherence to the exact wording of the resolution is not required, but the debaters should at least regard the topic as a common frame-of-reference.
Following the opening statements, there will be a four-minute open crossfire.
The pair should question each other, and should be prepared to take at least a few questions from the audience of other competitors. The competitors should select these questions (i.e. not the judge). Only other Spar competitors listed to speak in that round are permitted to ask crossfire questions (judges and other spectators are not permitted to ask questions).
Two rebuttal speeches of the pro and con respectively complete the round. No preparation time during the debate is allowed. Spar competitors should be judged on the basis of overall presentation, wit, persuasion and quality argument construction.
Format:
Topic Announced By Judge
Prep Time...2 mins
Pro Case...2 mins
Con Case...2 mins
Crossfire...4 mins
Pro Rebuttal...2 mins
Con Rebuttal...2 mins