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Introduction To Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Snapshot Tutorial
Introduction To Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Snapshot Tutorial
INTRODUCTION TO LINCOLN-DOUGLAS
DEBATE
OVERVIEW
Lincoln-Douglas Debate is
a VALUE debate, meaning it is a debate about
what ought to be rather than specific policy.
It is usually a topic regarding the conflict
between the rights of the individual opposed to
the rights of the larger society.
The topic changes every two months; it is
chosen by the National Forensic League.
OVERVIEW
DEBATE BRIEFS
A Brief is a collection of evidence, arguments,
current topic analysis, definitions, etc.
Briefs are helpful, but remember that other
teams may also have these collections
Evidence can also be found on the internet, but
only use CREDIBLE sources (NY Times, WA
Post, etc.)
FORMULATING DEBATE CASES
FLOWING
The judge and both debaters will outline everything that is said in the round. This outline is called
in debate jargon a FLOW. The paper is called a FLOW CHART. Each person's flow chart will look a
bit different, but it should be neat and easily read.
TIME TO DEBATE!
When you go into the round, the Be pleasant and nice to your
judge will sit in a student desk opponent, but be a bit suspicious
in the center of the room. The until you know them. A few
affirmative will use a desk in the debaters can be sneaky and
front left; the negative will use a mean. Don't tell them anything
desk in the front right, although that you don't want used against
this is not a rule. yourself or your team.
You can rearrange the desks a bit The judge will ask you for your
for your comfort, just put them school code, name, and what side
back before you leave the you're on. The school code is
room. You can take a bottle of assigned at registration.
water, but no food or drinks. Sometimes they will want you to
write this on the board; sometimes
they will ask you to fill out the top
of the ballot with this information;
sometimes they will just ask you
casually.
TIME TO DEBATE!
You should already have The affirmative will stand, make
preflowed your own speech on eye contact with the judge to
your flowchart before going make certain he/she is ready,
into round. and read his/her speech.
In the few minutes before the Debaters typically keep their
round starts, you can organize own time on a stop watch
your flowchart, take out any At the end of the speech,
note cards you might need, he/she will say, "I now stand
and focus your attention on ready for cross
your particular stance. examination." The negative
will rise, stand beside the
affirmative and begin to ask
cross examination questions.
They do not look at each other.
Instead they look at the judge.
TIME TO DEBATE!
Each debater will have 4 minutes of Then he/she will read the four minute
Preparation Time that they can take speech. Next he/she will say, "I will
whenever they like. now turn to my opponent's
Usually the negative takes 2 minutes case." Turning to the flow pad, he/she
his/her cross-ex and then another 2 will attack all the points made by the
minutes his second speech. affirmative, showing why his case is
Usually the affirmative takes 2 better.
minutes before each of his/her Any points he fails to attack are
rebuttal speeches. considered dropped and are given to
The negative will then ROAD MAP for the other side.
the judge what he/she intends to
do. He/she will say, "I will first read MOST COMMON NOVICE ERROR:
the negative case and then attack Failing to attack your opponent's case!
my opponent's ridiculous position."
(Not really-- don't really say
"ridiculous"--just think it.)
FINISHING THE DEBATE ROUND
Now the debate goes back and forth in the same
manner. When it's over, shake hands with your opponent,
thank the judge for judging and leave the room.
Both opponents should go out together. It is considered bad
form for one to leave before the other.
The judge stays behind to make his decision (or s/he may
give oral critiques). Be careful of what you say when you
leave the room. If the judge hears you say that you think you
lost, it might persuade him that you did.
Now you can go purchase some really
“good” food at the snack bar!