What is Debate?

1. What is Debate? A debater’s guide to the argumentative universe…

2. How do we define debate? Debate is: • An academic game • You need to know the rules • A rhetorical contest • Communication is essential • A strategic contest • The best placed argument and/or evidence will often rule the day…

3. Our two flavors of Debate • Policy Debate: • Comparison of policy systems • two-on-two debate • affirmative or negative position based on a set resolution • focus on research, policy analysis, and point-by-point refutation

4. Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Comparison of value systems • one-on-one debate • focus on persuasion, logic, spontaneous analysis… • the “big idea” debate

5. Policy Debate Structure • 1AC - 8 minutes • C-X - 3 minutes (2N asks, 1A answers) • 1NC - 8 minutes • C-X - 3 minutes (1A asks, 1N answers) • 2AC - 8 minutes • C-X - 3 minutes (1N asks, 2A answers) • 2NC – 8 minutes • C-X - 3 minutes (2A asks, 2N answers) • 1NR - 5 minutes • 1AR - 5 minutes • 2NR - 5 minutes • 2AR - 5 minutes

6. Lincoln-Douglas Structure AC - 6 minutes C-X - 3 minutes NC - 7 minutes C-X - 3 minutes 1AR - 4 minutes NR - 6 minutes 2AR - 3 minutes

7. Application Exercise

8. 2010 - 2011 Policy Debate Topics Resolved: The abuse of illegal drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice. Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in Afghanistan & Iraq. 

9. Initial Affirmative Burden • It is the obligation of the affirmative to define the terms in the resolution… • Common sense definitions will work, but official defs are best.

10. The Affirmative Burden Establish a Prima Facie case: Need: Establish a SIGNIFICANT reason to adopt the resolution. • Clearly point out the need for a new system… • Establish an INHERENT barrier to the adoption of the resolution…what the status quo cannot meet. Plan: Provide a WORKABLE alternative to the present system. Benefits: provide a plan that is free from relative DISADVANTAGES…and produces obvious and significant benefits.

11. 1AC & 2AC Responsibilities 1AC: • State your team’s support for the resolution • Define key terms • Establish the Need to adopt the resolution 2AC: • Reaffirm support for the Resolution • Outline the Affirmative Team’s Plan • State the Benefits of the Aff. Plan • Allot time to rebut 1NC arguments against 1AC

12. Obligations of the Negative • Goal: To counter the Affirmative’s Prima Facie case… • The Affirmative lacks SIGNIFICANCE, or • The Affirmative lacks INHERENCY, or • The Affirmative plan is not WORKABLE, or • The Affirmative plan contains SIGNIFICANT disadvantages. • The Negative Team must be prepared to defend the Status Quo. • The SQ doesn’t have to be perfect, and minor “repairs” are allowed

13. First Negative Constructive1NC • Time allotted: 8 minutes • The First Negative Constructive (1NC) is used to make specific arguments against the Affirmative case. • These are called Case Arguments • Focus on: • Disadvantages - Critiques (inherent flaws) • Topicality - Counter-plan • 1NC needs to raise doubts in the judge’s mind that the Affirmative team has me (or is meeting) their burden)

14. 2NC Responsibilities 2NC: • Reaffirm 1NC position that the Aff. has not bet the Burden of Proof • Rebut 2AC Plan and Benefits • If time, circle back and support 1AC Case Arguments

15. Cross Examination Goals of Cross-Ex: • Expose contradictions • Do not allow for extended responses • Paraphrase responses to help set the trap • Break the Causal Chain • If you remove an argument from A+B+C = D, then the argument is not valid • Expose gaps in evidence and claims. • Identify missing refutations • A good tactic for pointing out to the judge that your opponent has not proved your case unworthy

16. Don’t forget the Zen… • Be courteous • Use your opponent’s name • Don’t lose your cool • Respond to questions briefly and to the point. Don’t ramble… • Stay focused