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

   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

   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

   AFF speaks more than NEG- AFF has
    burden of proof
   Times are equal for both AFF & NEG
        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
LD Speaker
Responsibilities
   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
   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
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
Maslow’s 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!
              LD Criteria

   Needs to relate to
    value!
   How to judge if
    value is met
   Keep value &
    criterion upheld
    throughout debate
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 don’t understand, have them clarify
    – Try to give direct answers
    – Don’t fall into a trap!
Steps of Effective
Refutation
   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
         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