LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE

2003 Nov-Dec Topic: When in conflict, academic freedom in US high schools
ought to be valued above community standards.

This form of debate involves one person on the aff and one on the neg. Each person constitutes a team.
Each person must be able to debate both the aff and the neg position on a topic. When postings go up, the side each team has is posted. Generally, a team is aff one round and neg the next. Power matching may force a team into two affs or negs in a row.
By the end of a tournament each team should have debated an equal number of affs and negs.

There are usually 3-4 minutes of down time in L-D debates in Washington.

Turn
Explanation
Minutes
1
AFF

Affirmative Constructive Speech (aka the case for acceptance or rejection of a proposition)

Thesis statement
Define terms
Core Value
Number each of your arguments/reasons
2-3 primary reasons for the judgment- being critical to society in maintaining the core value
Substantiation
Conclusion

6
2
NEG

Negative Cross-Examination (CX) of Aff - Both Stand

Ask questions to
* clarify by asking for explanation or repetition
* expose weaknesses by asking for support
Be direct, concise, clear and polite
Not a time to argue or make a speech
3
3
NEG

Negative Constructive Speech

2 Purposes: present neg case and respond to aff case
Thesis
Define terms- agree or not

Thesis statement
Define terms
Core Value
Number each of your arguments/reasons
2-3 primary reasons for the judgment- being critical to society in maintaining the core value
Substantiation
Conclusion

7
4
AFF

Aff CX of Neg

Ask questions to
* clarify by asking for explanation or repetition
* expose weaknesses by asking for support
Be direct, concise, clear and polite
Not a time to argue or make a speech
Questions may pertain to both neg case and neg attack
3
5
AFF

Aff first rebuttal - Stay clear and organized

No new argument is permitted
Purpose: attack or defend what has already been presented

It is here that the debate is won or lost. Mere repetition allows opponent to win argument. The opponent doing the attacking can claim to win by default.

1. Respond to neg case
2. Return to aff case

4-Step Refutation
1. Identify opponent's argument by name or number
2. State your argument by # and label
3. Support your argument with evidence and analysis
4. State the impacts:

a) how does your argument advance your position
b) compare- why your argument is better than your opponent's
c) House of Cards or Slippery Slope?
4
6

Neg rebuttal - Stay clear and organized

No new argument is permitted
Purpose: attack or defend what has already been presented

It is here that the debate is won or lost. Mere repetition allows opponent to win argument. The opponent doing the attacking can claim to win by default.

1. Defend against aff attacks
2. Extend attacks against aff that the aff did not respond to in rebuttal
3. summarize the most important reasons neg has one- args won by neg or lost by aff or both

4-Step Refutation
1. Identify opponent's argument by name or number
2. State your argument by # and label
3. Support your argument with evidence and analysis
4. State the impacts:

a) how does your argument advance your position
b) compare- why your argument is better than your opponent's
c) House of Cards or Slippery Slope?
6
7

Aff final rebuttal

1. Defend attacks
2. List aff attacks not defended
3. Extend those attacks
4. Summarize the most important reasons aff has won (aff successes, neg's failures or both)
3
 

Be the first to shake hands with your opponent and thank him/her for the debate
and then thank the judge and quietly leave room