Question

To be a formal debate, the debate must include

strong opinions.
personal attacks.
unlimited time to talk.
set rules and guidelines.

Answer 1

Short answer: No. Of the items you listed, only “set rules and guidelines” is a requirement for a formal debate. The others are misconceptions. Briefly:

- Strong opinions — Useful but not required. A formal debate requires clear positions and arguments, but those should be supported by evidence and reasoning rather than merely forceful conviction.
- Personal attacks — Not allowed. Formal debates expect civility and focus on arguments; ad hominem attacks violate most debate rules and weaken your case.
- Unlimited time to talk — No. Formal debates almost always have strict time limits and speaking order to ensure fairness and give both sides equal opportunity.
- Set rules and guidelines — Yes. A formal debate needs a defined resolution, roles, time structure, adjudication/scoring criteria and rules of conduct.

What a formal debate typically does require
- A clear motion/resolution or proposition.
- Defined sides (affirmative/negative, proposition/opposition).
- A schedule and strict time limits for each speech and for rebuttal/cross-examination.
- Rules of procedure and decorum (what’s permitted, how evidence is cited, no personal attacks).
- A judging method or scoring rubric (criteria for victory).
- Opportunity for opening statements, constructive arguments, rebuttal, and closing statements.

Common formats (examples)
- Lincoln–Douglas: one-on-one, philosophical focus, strict timed speeches and rebuttals.
- Policy: teams, evidence-heavy, includes cross-examination and block time.
- Parliamentary: teams, faster-paced, shorter speeches, emphasis on rhetoric and case construction.

If you’re setting up a formal debate, draft a short rule sheet that states the resolution, speaking order and times, allowed materials, judging criteria, and a code of conduct (explicitly ban personal attacks). That will produce a true “formal” debate.