Transcript LD: Lincoln-Douglas Debate

LD:
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
History:
1858 - Illinois senatorial debates
between Abraham Lincoln &
Stephen Douglas
1980 - Became high school
competitive event
Types of propositions
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LD uses propositions of value:
good or bad, right or wrong,
useful or useless
Different from CX which uses
propositions of policy: what
should be done about a
problem, what changes should
be made
LD Format & time limits
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6: AFF constructive
3: NEG CX
7: NEG constructive
3: AFF CX
4: AFF Rebuttal
6: NEG Rebuttal
3: AFF Rebuttal
– Also: 4 minutes of
prep. time allowed
LD Format
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AFF speaks more than NEG- AFF has
burden of proof
Times are equal for both AFF & NEG
LD Speaker
Responsibilities
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AFF constructive: 6 min. Present AFF case
including definitions
NEG constructive: 7 min. Present NEG
case (approx. 5 min.), present arguments
that clash w/ AFF positions in 1st speech
(approx. 2 min. to attack AFF); will not
be able to introduce new arguments in
rebuttal (only new evidence, reasoning,
or responses to arguments already
stated), so set up arguments now
For each case- have at least one quote per
argument; use philosophers for support
LD Speaker
Responsibilities
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1st AFF Rebuttal: 4 min. Respond to NEG case,
reestablish AFF issues by comparing them to
NEG’s issues, proving AFF to be better position
NEG Rebuttal: 6 min. Challenge comparisons
established by AFF, extend arguments denying
AFF’s case w/ evidence & reasoning, reinforce
NEG positions, summarize debate to NEG’s
advantage
2nd AFF Rebuttal: 3 min. Reestablish
comparisons of value, proving AFF position to be
strongest, summarize debate to AFF’s advantage
ALL: Include voting issues- why you should win!
Case Construction
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Topic analysis
Case needs to include:
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Intro.
Statement of resolution
Definition of terms
Value to be defended
Criteria for evaluating debate
Outline of issues to be debated w/ evidence
& reasoning to support issues
– Justification of issues or values as key
elements
LD Values
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Values- something so prized by society
it becomes a goal in life (liberty,
security, safety, equality, justice,
progress, etc.)
Types:
– Moral- ethical means
– Political- constitutional principles, power
– Utilitarian- efficiency of means; usefulness or
effectiveness of behavior
Maslow’s Hierarchy
of Needs
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Physical- survival (food,
water, shelter)
Security- protection from
threats
Belonging- love
Self-esteem- status,
respect
Self-actualizationfulfillment, being all we can
be!
LD Criteria
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Needs to relate to
value!
How to judge if
value is met
Keep value &
criterion upheld
throughout debate
Cross examination
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Prepare questions ahead of time
Set up arguments to be used in your
rebuttal
Avoid open-ended questions unless
getting opponent to explain how or why
Be polite & direct
When being examined…
– If you don’t understand, have them clarify
– Try to give direct answers
– Don’t fall into a trap!
Steps of Effective
Refutation
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State opponent’s argument as close as you
can
Provide brief summary of what they said
Indicate what they left out
Give your arguments
Summarize & move on (For each argument)
Rebuttals
Where you win the debate!
 Be organized
 Don’t just summarize speech
 Answer every point on the
flow
 Signpost- tell judge which
point you are refuting
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Making evidence cards
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Get articles
Bracket evidence in articles (put brackets around 2-3
sentences you chose as evidence)
Cut out the evidence
Tape or glue the evidence to paper
Source cite the evidence (Author, qualifications, date,
book/mag./etc. name & page number right before each
piece of evidence)
Tag the evidence (Write a 4-9 word complete sentence
that accurately & persuasively states the main point of
the evidence