JSA Debate:

• First there is a resolution.
• Resolved, that random bag searches in American subway systems is an effective way of fighting terrorism.
• There is a pro and con speaker for each side.
• Pro: Stefanie Kern, Freehold Township
• Con: Spencer Gottlieb, Bergen County Academies
• There is also a moderator listed who makes sure everything runs smoothly and takes questions, hears motions, and presides over the debate.
• Moderator: Julian Hsu, Marlboro
• Each debater follows time limits, which the moderator enforces.
• The pro speaker goes first with a six-minute opening. If all of the time is not used the speaker can yield the time to the moderator who will take questions from the audience—this is recommended.
• The con speaker makes a six-minute opening and can also yield unused time to the moderator. If there are no questions or time runs out after the opening, the moderator can absorb the time and move on to the next section.
• Subsequent speakers are chosen from the audience. These people speak for three minutes for either the pro or con and can yield time to questions or another speaker if they don’t have too much to say.
• After several rounds of subsequent speakers, the con speaker makes a three-minute closing argument. If all of the time is not used it will only be absorbed by the chair.
• The pro speaker makes a three minute closing and debate concludes.
• The moderator will ask everyone in the room to vote on the resolution and fill out ballots to vote for the best speaker.

JSA Thought Talks:

• Thought Talks are labeled in the agenda as such and are similar to large, orderly discussions.
• Thought Talk: Is it America’s responsibility to act as the world’s police?
• There will be a moderator who chooses speakers and dictates the conversation.
• Speakers will not be limited to time limits, but to ensure everyone gets to equally contribute it is asked that comments be short and to the point.
• At the end of the Thought Talk the moderator will ask the members of the room to vote on who was the best speaker by handing out ballots.

JSA Mock Trials/Crisis Scenarios:

• Mock trials and crisis scenarios are events held during conventions and conferences to help JSA members see the interplay of events and actions in the world.
• A moderator will help keep the conversations on track and choose speakers.
• Crisis Scenarios: A moderator will give options to an event that could happen. The moderator then asks who wants the first option and chooses one or two people to explain why that is the best option. This continues for each choice and then a vote is taken and highest vote is the route taken in the scenario.
• Mock Trials: Lawyers will deliver prepared comments on the case.  The audience will be given the chance to participate and ask questions of the lawyers.
• At the end of the proceedings the moderator will have the room vote on the best speaker by means of a ballot.

Society Through the Eyes Of: This is the same as a normal JSA debate. The only difference is the speakers, both pro and con, are to speak (politically) as if they were that person.

Example: Resolved, That Doug Forrester should be the next Governor of New Jersey.

Doug Forrester: Adam Hirst, Jonathon Dayton
Jon Corzine: Stephen Yellin, Governor Livingston
Moderator: Melissa Augeri, Colts Neck

Crossfire: Crossfire is done with four different speakers, two on each side of the issue.  The normal JSA style is used except both people may answer questions and scream at each other if necessary.

Speed Chess: This is similar to a normal JSA debate, but the only difference is that a chess clock is used. The time limits are the same, but instead of forfeiting time or yielding it to questions a speaker may hit the clock when they finish so their opponent will be required to start. The system is the same with the subsequent speakers and closings but the order is the same in that con speaks first.

Tag Team Debates: Same rules and time limits as a normal JSA debate but there will be two speakers for each speech, so that partners can work with each other.

Moderated Caucus Debates: A different style of debate: four topics will be given about one broad issue and speakers will be chosen on the spot to make speeches. Speeches that introduce each topic will be two minutes long; subsequent speeches will be thirty seconds each.

 

Sound Bite Thought Talk: A new type of thought talk. Sound bites are a brief, striking remark or statement normally acting as a summary of a political speech. Other times these sound bites are used to skew the comment made by a politician. A sound bite will be played and the comment made will be discussed. The context of the sound bite will be revealed at the end of the discussion and another sound bite that fits into the topic will be played.

War of the Worlds Debate: A crisis is presented outlining a problem or drastic change in the world. Using the information known and the past as reference a debate question will be posed. Then a normal JSA style debate will take place except it is about the situation given.

• E.g.: For the first time in world history two democracies have gone to war. Resolved, democracies are the most stable types of governments.

20 Questions Debate: A pro and con speaker are chosen. Instead of debating they will be allowed to ask 10 questions to their opponent. Each speaker will take turns asking and answering. Questions can be yielded to the audience if the speaker sees fit. Subsequents will do the same except with 5 questions and closing arguments are the same as normal debate. All times are the same as a normal JSA debate.