LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE

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LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE
Where Policy and Public Forum debaters generally
discuss whether the status quo should be changed,
Lincoln-Douglas debaters debate VALUES.
Consequently the debate generally deals with the
concepts of morality and right and wrong.
Debaters must be able to logically examine the
better course of action within the framework of
a resolution.
One of the primary sources of analysis involves
PHILOSOPHY. The superior Lincoln Douglas
debaters are familiar with several philosophers
and their beliefs including Thomas Hobbes, John
Locke, Plato, Socrates, Kant, Descartes,
Rousseau, Mill, Maslow, and others.
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The heart of LD debate is the VALUE which is
offered by each team as its foundation.
The chosen VALUE is the weighing tool by which
the listeners evaluate the debaters arguments.
Do the arguments support the VALUE the debater
considers most important?
What are examples of VALUES that can be used?
SOCIETAL GOOD
JUSTICE
FREEDOM
DEMOCRACY
PROGRESS
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
QUALITY OF LIFE
GLOBAL SECURITY
LIBERTY
UTILITARIANISM
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
MORALITY
SOCIAL CONTRACT
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How does a debater chose what the VALUE SHOULD be?
Its easy!
For example, if the resolution states
The duty of the United States government to
advance democratic ideals throughout the world
ought to be valued above its desire for autonomy.
The NEGATIVE speaker will argue that it is in the
better interests of the United States, and
possibly the world, to concentrate its efforts
and resources on its own citizens and territory.
The AFFIRMATIVE speaker will argue that it is in
the better interests of the United States, and
possibly the world, to promote democratic ideals
throughout the world.
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AFFIRMATIVE It is definitely better for the
United States to promote democratic ideals
throughout the world.
Why?
BECAUSE Democracy advances the idea of group
rule, promoting equality in government voice and
social position.
DEMOCRACY
JUSTICE
BECAUSE Worldwide democracy promotes peaceful
solutions to potential conflict.
QUALITY OF LIFE
GLOBAL SECURITY
BECAUSE Democracy creates a world order that
benefits all people.
UTILITARIANISM
PROGRESS
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NEGATIVE The United States should remain
autonomous whenever possible.
Why?
BECAUSE Forcing Democracy on other countries
may significantly alter their society and
culture.
SOCIETAL GOOD
FREEDOM
BECAUSE The United States needs to reserve its
resources for its own citizens.
PROGRESS
QUALITY OF LIFE
BECAUSE Democracy is a flawed concept that can
only deteriorate into chaos.
QUALITY OF LIFE
SOCIETAL GOOD
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CRITERION The measuring tool by which the
debater weighs the value.
The debater completes the following statements -
By supporting my side of the resolution
Advancement of democratic ideals through the world
With the desire to advance my value of -
Democracy
I believe we would achieve -
EQUAL RIGHTS
AN END TO COMMUNISM ?
WORLDWIDE PEACE ?
IMPROVED WORLD HEALTH ?
POPULATION CONTROL ?
EQUAL RIGHTS ?
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My argument becomes -
The value in todays debate is DEMOCRACY,
because only by advancing democratic ideals
throughout the world will the United States
promote the equal participation of citizens world
wide in their own governments. Thus, my
criterion for the debate today is EQUAL
RIGHTS.
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Once the debater has chosen the VALUE and
CRITERION, the debater selects the major
arguments to be used in arguing his / her side of
the resolution. These arguments are called
CONTENTIONS.
The debater may have one or more major
contentions with sub-points.
These are the building blocks of the argument.
The more contentions the debater includes, the
more time the opponent will have to spend
refuting them.
However, he will have to spend equal time
supporting them.
Suggestion Start with two contentions /
arguments that support your position.
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Back to our previous resolution The duty of the
United States government to advance democratic
ideals throughout the world ought to be valued
above its desire for autonomy.
VALUE DEMOCRACY
CRITERION EQUAL RIGHTS
CONTENTION 1 When compared to other modern
political structures, Democracy provides the most
benefits.
Democracy at a global or transnational level,
dealing with relevant global or transnational
issues, is the best way to protect people and
their environments from abuses of power and at
the same time provide humanity with the
opportunities to fully develop their individual
and collective capacities. Daniel Bray
- Professor of Political Science, University of
Melbourne, Australia
CONTENTION 2 Democratic government works to
protect the rights of its citizens.
Democracy maintains that government is
established for the benefit of the individual,
and is charged with the responsibility of
protecting the rights of the individual and his
freedom in the exercise of his abilities. -
President Harry S. Truman
CONTENTION 3 The greater the number of nations
that practice democracy the more likely the world
condition will improve as more people reap the
benefits of equal rights.
Once a democracy is involved in an international
crisis, it carefully distinguishes the type of
state with which it is bargaining and adjusts its
bargaining behavior accordingly. When faced with
a democratic opponent, a democracy believes that
its opponent shares its desire to avoid the use
of force. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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LETS REVIEW!!!
What is a CONTENTION?
What is a CRITERION?
What is a VALUE?
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HOW DOES THE DEBATER USE THIS IN THE ACTUAL
DEBATE?
Remember the order CLAIM DATA - WARRANT
Example of a claim CONTENTION 1 When
compared to other modern political structures,
Democracy provides the most benefits.
Example of data
Democracy at a global or transnational level,
dealing with relevant global or transnational
issues, is the best way to protect people and
their environments from abuses of power and at
the same time provide humanity with the
opportunities to fully develop their individual
and collective capacities. Daniel Bray
- Professor of Political Science, University of
Melbourne, Australia
Example of warrant Link the contention back to
the VALUE and CRITERION
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SO This is what the debater will actually say
CLAIM -
My first contention is that when compared to
other modern political structures, Democracy
provides the most benefits.
DATA-
Professor Daniel Bray from the Political Science
Department of the University of Melbourne in
Australia explains it this way Democracy at a
global or transnational level, dealing with
relevant global or transnational issues, is the
best way to protect people and their environments
from abuses of power and at the same time provide
humanity with the opportunities to fully develop
their individual and collective capacities.
WARRANT -
He explains that DEMOCRACY makes it possible for
humanity as a whole to develop their
individuality and exercise their EQUAL RIGHTS.
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All you need now is an opening quote which will
precede your value and contention

We agree that democracy is the best political
system for guaranteeing human rights, for
achieving lasting social and economic
development, and for fostering long-term
security. Thinking back to the state of play only
twenty years ago, this hemispheric consensus in
favor of democracy is a truly extraordinary
achievement. And given the state of play
elsewhere in the world even today, it is not a
consensus to be taken lightly.
Because I agree with Ambassador John F. Maisto,
U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization
of American States. I agree with the resolution
which states The duty of the United States
government to advance democratic ideals
throughout the world ought to be valued above its
desire for autonomy.
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For an outlines for both affirmative and negative
cases, consult the hand-outs Affirmative or
Negative Case for Dummies found in the
appropriate link on Ms. Grahams webpage.
The National Forensic League Lincoln-Douglas
topic for November/December is - Resolved In
the United States, plea bargaining in exchange
for testimony is unjust.