The goal of the Public Debate Association is to advance the values of debate in the public sphere through sponsorship of one or more public debate activities and through general promotion of public discourse to promote critical examination of public issues for diverse and general audiences.
The Sacramento State Speech & Debate Team is dedicated to sharing our knowledge and experience of argument, debate, and civic-minded public speaking, with our larger community.
Each semester the Sacramento State Debate Team, as part of its Public Debate Association, will engage in a public debate project. To this end, the members of the debate team and students enrolled in COMMS 111 will participate in a variety of assignments in support of the public debate event. While there are a number of things students can do to participate in public debate on campus and in the community, the events we sponsor will typically take two forms;
1) The Public Forum - members of the community will be invited to participate in a round-table discussion on a topic of importance to students at Sac State. The invited panelists will bring a variety of backgrounds and expertise towards a lively exchange of ideas in response to questions written by the team and presented by a moderator.
2) The Public Debate - members of the debate team with various levels of competitive experience will participate in a team public-style debate. The format typically features two teams of three debaters addressing a topic of importance students at Sac State. The focus of this debate is more of a showcase than a competition. The presenters should focus on delivery and civic exchange, rather than the intricate strategies typically employed in competition. The goal is to present a debate that is accessible to a lay audience.
The Public Debate Association is an important part of the debate team and the success of the event each semester is dependent on the participation of each student enrolled in COMMS 111.
1) The Public Forum - members of the community will be invited to participate in a round-table discussion on a topic of importance to students at Sac State. The invited panelists will bring a variety of backgrounds and expertise towards a lively exchange of ideas in response to questions written by the team and presented by a moderator.
2) The Public Debate - members of the debate team with various levels of competitive experience will participate in a team public-style debate. The format typically features two teams of three debaters addressing a topic of importance students at Sac State. The focus of this debate is more of a showcase than a competition. The presenters should focus on delivery and civic exchange, rather than the intricate strategies typically employed in competition. The goal is to present a debate that is accessible to a lay audience.
The Public Debate Association is an important part of the debate team and the success of the event each semester is dependent on the participation of each student enrolled in COMMS 111.