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Effective Cross-Examination Techniques for Debates

Learn how to use cross-examination to clarify arguments, expose weaknesses, and establish criteria for voting in debates. Follow the rules, tips, and preparation strategies provided.

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Effective Cross-Examination Techniques for Debates

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  1. Chapter 25 Cross-Examination Techniques

  2. Purposes of Cross-Examination • Clarify arguments • Point out misinterpretations • Point out lack of evidence • Note logical fallacies • Show agreement between sides • Show lack of refutation • Establish criteria for voting

  3. Cross-Examination-NO!NO! • Not to be used to make speeches or statements! • Not to be used to comment on opposition’s arguments or answers • Not to be used to attack an opponent on a personal level, experience, or knowledge • Do not belittle the person!

  4. Rules • For our debate, cross-examination will be two minutes • Rebuttals will be one minute thirty seconds • Constructives will be five minutes • First affirm questioned by second neg • First neg questioned by first affirm • Second affirm questioned by first neg • Second neg questioned by second affirm

  5. Tips • Do not waste time when answering questions or stall • Questioner controls time and can interrupt a lengthy reply • Can decline only if give a valid reason for doing so

  6. Tips • First negative questioner (2nd): should ask questions regarding inherency/harms • Definition of terms • Evidence weakness • Point out casual links and fallacies

  7. Tips • First affirm questioner should: • Question about harms caused by the status quo; show a link between the two • Expose lack of negative attack on affirmative plan • Evidence weakness and reasoning questions

  8. Tips • Second negative questioner (1st neg): • Question the affirmative plan fully! • Will it work? • Will advantages actually outweigh disadvantages? • Expose weakness with evidence and reasoning

  9. Tips • Second affirmative questioner: • Continue to expose weaknesses in negative attack • Show in questions what the negative is saying is not relevant to affirmative plan

  10. Preparation • You and your partner(s) should agree on questions that need to be asked ahead of time • Set up the order of questions • Add your own questions as you hear the affirmative/negative constructive arguments

  11. Preparation of Questions • Ask questions that force the negative to agree with you • Don’t ask questions that fill time! • Make sure your questions’ purposes are clear to the judge and to the person being questioned • DO NOT BE VAGUE IN QUESTIONING! • SPECIFIC! SPECIFIC! SPECIFIC!

  12. Preparation of Questions • Begin questions with verbs or with: Who, What, Where, When, How, Why • Keep questions short • One question should lead logically to the next • Do not be satisfied with vague answers; keep probing

  13. Preparation of Questions • Ask for sources of information that are not stated • Ask questions that point out specifics in plan structure • Ask question that will set up future arguments that you will make • Can then use information in questions to add to your constructive case

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