LD: Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1
LD Lincoln-Douglas Debate

• History
• 1858 - Illinois senatorial debates between
  Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas
• 1980 - Became high school competitive event

2
Types of propositions

• 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

3
LD Format time limits

• 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

4
LD Format

• AFF speaks more than NEG- AFF has burden of proof
• Times are equal for both AFF NEG

5
LD Speaker Responsibilities

• 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

6
LD Speaker Responsibilities

• 1st AFF Rebuttal 4 min. Respond to NEG case,
  reestablish AFF issues by comparing them to NEGs
  issues, proving AFF to be better position
• NEG Rebuttal 6 min. Challenge comparisons
  established by AFF, extend arguments denying
  AFFs case w/ evidence reasoning, reinforce NEG
  positions, summarize debate to NEGs advantage
• 2nd AFF Rebuttal 3 min. Reestablish comparisons
  of value, proving AFF position to be strongest,
  summarize debate to AFFs advantage
• ALL Include voting issues- why you should win!

7
Case Construction

• Topic analysis
• Case needs to include
• 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
  

8
LD Values

• 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

9
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

• Physical- survival (food, water, shelter)
• Security- protection from threats
• Belonging- love
• Self-esteem- status, respect
• Self-actualization- fulfillment, being all we can
  be!

10
LD Criteria

• Needs to relate to value!
• How to judge if value is met
• Keep value criterion upheld throughout debate

11
Cross examination

• 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 dont understand, have them clarify
• Try to give direct answers
• Dont fall into a trap!

12
Steps of Effective Refutation

• State opponents 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)

13
Rebuttals

• Where you win the debate!
• Be organized
• Dont just summarize speech
• Answer every point on the flow
• Signpost- tell judge which point you are refuting

14
Making evidence cards

• 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