How to flow a debate round

The idea

A flow is a grid. Each column is a speech. Each row is an argument. When a speaker makes an argument, you write it in their column on its own row. When the other side answers it, you write the answer in the next column on the same row. By the end of the round, you can read across any row and see exactly what happened to that argument: whether it was answered, whether the answer was answered, and whether anyone extended it into the final speeches.

Setting up the page

Use a legal pad turned sideways or a sheet of paper in landscape. Draw one column per speech. For Lincoln-Douglas that is 1AC, 1NC, 1AR, NR, 2AR (cross-examination is not flowed). For Public Forum it is the two constructives, two rebuttals, two summaries, and two final focuses. Most debaters use two sheets: one for the affirmative (or Pro) case and one for the negative (or Con) case, so each case has its own rows.

What to write

Not sentences. Write the tag of the argument, the name of the evidence (author or source), and the impact, in as few words as possible. Use arrows for "leads to," a slash for "not," and abbreviations you can read later. A row might look like this across three columns:

Abbreviations that save time

Using the flow in a speech

Go down your opponent's column in order. For each argument, say where you are ("On their second contention"), what your answer is, and what it means. Then go to your own case and extend what they failed to answer. Circled arguments are your best friends: "They dropped my second contention. Extend it; it alone is enough to affirm."

Learning it in a week

1. Day one: flow a recorded round, pausing after every speech. Compare your flow with a teammate's.
2. Day two: flow the same round without pausing.
3. Days three and four: flow live practice rounds. Aim to capture every tag, not every word.
4. Day five: deliver a rebuttal speech from your flow alone, with no written blocks. If you can do that, you can flow.

Judges at CUDL tournaments flow too. A speech that follows the order of the flow and signposts each move is the easiest speech for a judge to vote for.

Flowing different formats

• Lincoln-Douglas: one sheet for the affirmative case, one for the negative, with a framework row at the top of each. Columns for every speech.
• Public Forum: the same two sheets, plus a small box for weighing that you fill in during summary and final focus.
• Policy: a separate sheet for each off-case position (topicality, each disadvantage, each counterplan) and one for the case. Experienced Policy debaters carry a stack of sheets into every round.
• Congress: one sheet per bill, with a row per speaker: name, side, arguments, and one note on delivery. It is how you refute by name.

Printable templates for each are on the flow sheets page.

Abbreviations that save time

Build your own list, but start with these: T (topicality), FW (framework), V/C (value and criterion), K (kritik), CP (counterplan), DA (disadvantage), ext (extend), drop, NR (no response), ev (evidence), w/ and w/o, → (leads to), Δ (change), ↑ and ↓, and the first letters of any name your opponent uses more than once.

A one-week flowing drill

Each day, flow a recorded round or a news program with two commentators disagreeing. Day one, flow only claims. Day two, add responses in the next column. Day three, add impacts. Day four, add your own planned responses in a fourth column. Day five, re-flow a round you flowed on day one and compare. By the weekend you will flow a full novice round without losing an argument.