HSPDP Debate Format
The HSPDP round, speech by speech
| # | Speech | Side | Length | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Proposition | Proposition | 6:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 2 | 1st Opposition | Opposition | 6:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 3 | 2nd Proposition | Proposition | 6:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 4 | 2nd Opposition | Opposition | 6:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 5 | 3rd Opposition | Opposition | 5:00 | Summarises and weighs — no brand-new arguments |
| 6 | 3rd Proposition | Proposition | 5:00 | Summarises and weighs — no brand-new arguments |
| Speaking time | 34:00 | Plus 20:00 topic prep | ||
The rules that actually matter
- Three students on each side: one side agrees with the topic, one disagrees.
- The 1st speakers go, then the 2nd speakers, for 6 minutes each. The side that agrees goes first both times.
- Then the 3rd speakers go, for 5 minutes each — and here the side that disagrees goes first.
- While a 1st or 2nd speaker is talking, someone from the other side may stand and ask to make a quick point. The speaker can say yes or no.
- If the speaker says yes, that point has to be made in 15 seconds or less.
- Those interruptions are not allowed during the 3rd speakers' speeches, and never in the first or last minute of any speech.
- The 3rd speakers cannot start a brand-new argument. They can still add new facts and examples to an argument their team already made.
- The judge decides which side is more likely right than wrong. They do not have to be certain.
- Teams get about 20 minutes to plan for a topic they were told about ahead of time, or 30 minutes for a surprise topic.
- There is no planning time once the debate begins. The next speaker starts as soon as the last one finishes.
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How HSPDP rounds are judged
- High-school parliamentary-style format — expect more developed case structure than MSPDP/ESPDP.
- Points of Information are part of the strategy — factor how well they’re used and answered. Same protected-time rule as MSPDP: no POIs in the first/last minute of a constructive, and none during rebuttals.
- Decide which side’s case is "more likely to be true than false" — this is a comparative-likelihood standard, not an all-or-nothing burden of proof.
- Still an educational format — pair your decision with concrete, constructive feedback.
Check yourself
How long are HSPDP constructive speeches?
6 minutes
Which speech ends an HSPDP round?
3rd Proposition
When are Points of Information allowed?
During constructives, but never in the first or last minute
What standard do HSPDP judges use to decide the round?
Which case is "more likely to be true than false"
What may the 3rd speakers not do?
Introduce a brand-new argument
Frequently asked questions
What does HSPDP stand for?
HSPDP is the High School Public Debate Program — a 3-on-3 parliamentary-style league for students in grades 9 to 12, and the high-school tier of the same Public Debate Program family as MSPDP and ESPDP.
How is HSPDP different from MSPDP?
The structure is the same — three speakers a side, constructives then rebuttals, points of information during constructives only. HSPDP runs longer speeches (6-minute constructives and 5-minute rebuttals versus 5 and 4) and expects more developed case structure.
When are points of information allowed in HSPDP?
Only during the four constructive speeches, and never in the first or last minute of a speech. They are not allowed during either 3rd speaker’s rebuttal. If the speaker accepts, the point must be made in 15 seconds or less.
What burden of proof does HSPDP use?
A comparative one: the judge decides which side’s case is more likely to be true than false. It is not an all-or-nothing burden, and a team asserting what its opponents "must prove" does not automatically bind them — that is an argument to be defended, not a rule.
How much prep time does HSPDP give?
About 20 minutes for a topic announced ahead of time, or around 30 minutes for a surprise topic. There is no prep time between speeches once the round begins.
Can the rebuttal speaker introduce new arguments?
No. The 3rd speaker cannot open a brand-new line of argument, but may add new evidence, examples, or analysis to arguments already running in the round.
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