Lincoln - Douglas Debate

History…

• Abraham LincolnVs

• Stephen Douglas• Topic:– Slavery• Douglas: Citizens should decide for themselves • Honest Abe: Slavery was morally wrong

Proposing a resolution…

• Statement that either asserts or conflicts between two competing courses of action– Resolution: Is the death penalty justified?

– Affirmative: The United States should continue to institute the death penalty

– Negative: The United States should abolish the death penalty

Constructing a resolution...

Policy (CX) Debate Resolution• The United States federal

government should establish a foreign policy significantly limiting the use of weapons of mass destruction.

• The federal government should establish a policy to significantly decrease juvenile crime in the US.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate Resolution

• The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.

• Violent juvenile offenders ought to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system.

Parts of the Debate…

• Value Premise– The value premise is intended to be a non-biased

statement, which the arguments within the affirmative or negative constructive should support.

– “THE GOAL”

Criterion…

• Weighs both sides of the argument• Is used to define the Value Premise

Claim…

• The statement of the argument you are making– Ex: If a college basketball team plays defense they

will be more susceptible to winning the NCAA tournament. If that team blocks shots, plays the passing lane and causes more turnovers and out rebounds the opponent they will win the championship.

Debate Schedule:

• First Affirmative Constructive (1AC)– Cross-examination of First Affirmative by Second Negative

• First Negative Constructive (1NC)– Cross-examination of First Negative by First Affirmative

• Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC)• Second Negative Constructive (2NC)• First Negative Rebuttal (1NR)• First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR)• Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR)• Second Negative Rebuttal (2AR)

Time (minutes) Abbreviation Speech Description

6 AC Affirmative Constructive The Affirmative reads a pre-written case.

3 CX Cross Examination The Negative asks the Affirmative questions about the Affirmative case.

7 NC (1NR) Negative Constructive (and first negative Rebuttal)

The Negative (almost always) reads a pre-written case and (almost always) moves on to address the Affirmative's case.

3 CX Cross Examination The Affirmative asks the Negative questions.

4 1AR First Affirmative RebuttalThe Affirmative addresses both his/her opponent's case and his/her own. This speech is considered by many debaters to be the most difficult.

6 NR (2NR) The Negative RebuttalThe Negative addresses the arguments of the previous speech and summarizes the round for the judge.

3 2AR The Second Affirmative Rebuttal

The Affirmative addresses the arguments of the previous speech and summarizes the round for the judge.

Criteria for Judgment…

• Matter– Convincing logical arguments– Clear examples, stats, analogies

• Manner– Engage the audience– Speaker Etiquette

• Pitch• Eye Contact• Variation

• Method– Most time for “key” issues– Consistency of arguments

Affirmative Constructive (1AC)

• “Kickoff”• 100% Prepared speech• Outlines the Affirmative Claim– Point by Point• Issue• Advantages • Solvency

• Define both sides of argument• Summarize

Cross Examination by the Negative

• Negative’s opportunity to pose questions to the affirmative

• Cross examiner must take notes from the 1AC, formulate quick questions, then pose those questions to the 1AC

Negative Constructive (1NC):

• Three ways to attack:– Attack the affirmative claim first, then read your prepared

speech– Within your prepared speech relate the affirmative points

and attack them within your own speech– Read your prepared speech, then attack the affirmative

claims • A speech should be written so that it is shorter than

the time given, so you can attack the affirmative claims • Summarize

Cross Examination by the Affirmative

• Affirmative's opportunity to pose questions to the negative

• Cross examiner must take notes from the 1NC, formulate quick questions, then pose those questions to the 1NC

Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC)

• Present Rebuttal• Restate arguments• Summarize your point

(2NC) Negative Constructive:

• Present Rebuttal• Restate arguments• Summarize

First Negative Rebuttal

• Speech geared towards proving the affirmative points wrong

• Facts negating affirmative points• Restating why the negative is the correct way

to vote• the Rebuttal by a first negative should be brief

enough to allow the negative to develop their own case fully

First Affirmative Rebuttal

• Speech geared towards proving the negative points wrong

• Facts addressing the negative points• Restating why the affirmative is the correct

way to vote