The National Educational Debate Association (NEDA) is an American collegiate
debate association emphasizing audience-centered debate. It was founded by debate educators who believe that the debate tournament is an extension of the communication classroom and that even competitive debates should provide students with skills of research, argument selection, and presentation style that will benefit them as public advocates. NEDA schedules eight invitational tournaments a year, primarily in the mid-west. The association debates two resolutions per year. The fall resolution is one of value, and the spring resolution is one of policy.
Several aspects of NEDA make it distinct from other debate organizations, including the ability to decide topicality at the end of the constructive speeches, the ability of judges to give "double losses" in those cases in which neither team argues in a manner consistent befitting a public advocate, closed
cross examination, and a focus on argumentation and delivery. Also, half of all tournament
judges are 'lay judges' - that is, they are not debate coaches. Membership in NEDA is awarded to individuals, not institutions, and all members must apply and be approved the governing body. The intended focus is on the clash over the issues central to the debate proposition. The debate is similar to
Public Forum debate in that it is audience-friendly, but is more formal, and more evidence-based.
History
NEDA began in the fall of 1994 at the Central States Communication Association convention in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. About thirty debate educators and their institutions left the
Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) because they felt CEDA tournaments were no longer conducive to the audience-centered debate to which they were philosophically committed and desired to teach their students. The resulting organization was co-founded by
Gary Horn, professor at
Ferris State University, and Larry Underberg, then a professor at the University of South Dakota. There were quickly nineteen other founding members of the association. In 1999, the Western division of NEDA became the
Great Plains Forensic Conference.
Divisions
Teams in NEDA compete in one of three categories:
Crossfire Debate - Developed from Ted Turner style televised debates, this format is more interactive, involves more cross-examination, and emphasizes succinct arguments that get to the heart of the issues quickly.
Rapidfire Debate - The division may only be entered by an individual.
Policy Debate - Policy debate is an American form of debate competition in which teams of two usually advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government. Evidence presentation is a crucial part of Policy Debate; however, ethical arguments also play a major role in deciding the outcome of the round. The main argument being debated during a round of Cross-Examination is which team has a greater impact.
Novice - Standard cross-examination format of debate for competitors who have participated in six or fewer tournaments ever (including high school).
Open - Standard cross-examination format debate for debaters who have competed at six or more tournaments.
Debate Round Formats
Crossfire:
1st Aff: 4:00
1st Neg: 4:00
1st Crossfire (with first 2 speakers): 3:00
2nd Aff: 4:00
2nd Neg: 4:00
2nd Crossfire (with second 2 speakers): 3:00
Aff Summary (done by 1st aff speaker): 2:00
Neg Summary (done by 1st neg speaker): 2:00
Final Crossfire (with all debaters): 3:00
Aff Final Focus (given by second aff speaker): 1:00
Neg Final Focus (given by second neg speaker): 1:00