Cross Examination Strategies

1
Cross Examination Strategies

• Clarify
• Could you repeat that contention?
• What evidence do you have to support it?
• Do you mean?
• Commit to a Position
• Get your opponent to take a stance
• So then what you mean is?
• Expose Fallacies
• Demonstrate faulty reasoning
• Uncover illogical conclusions
• Expose quotes taken out of context to fit
  reasoning
• Expose Inadequate Evidence
• If your opponent makes a statement/contention,
  challenge them to back it up with vetted
  statistics!

2
Cross-Ex General Strategies

• Cross-ex is a time for questions, NOT for
  statements
• Be polite, yet firm and direct
• Questions should be closed-ended and factual
• Cross-ex is not the time for arguments or ad
  hominem attacks
• Questions should be clear
• When you are being questioned, be honestand
  succinct.
• Dont ramble, stay to the point of the question.
• Do not give your questioner any more than is
  asked.