1 / 52

Mastering Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Speech Structure and Strategies

Understand the order and time limits of Lincoln-Douglas debate speeches. Learn note-taking techniques and key terms like burden of proof and grace period. Discover how to construct affirmative and negative cases effectively. Improve debate skills with strategies for constructing speeches, cross-examinations, rebuttals, and more.

williamsonp
Download Presentation

Mastering Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Speech Structure and Strategies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. LINCOLN-DOUGLAS CASE CONSTRUCTION 3 3.1 Overview of the Speeches 3.2Affirmative Case Construction 3.3Negative Case Construction

  2. 3.1OVERVIEW OF THE SPEECHES GOALS Knowthe order and time limit of each speech in a round. Learn how to take and organize notes using a flow sheet.

  3. TERMS • burden of proof • grace period • rebuttal • refute • dropped point • flow sheet • flowing • preflow

  4. Speeches and Time Limits • As a debate participant, you must be prepared to present • The affirmative side • The negative side • Clear and concise presentation are important. • Speeches in a Lincoln-Douglas debate are • Presented in a specific order • Have pre-determined time limits

  5. When you represent the affirmative side, you must show the judge • Why the resolution should be adopted or • Why you offer the best solution

  6. Burden of proof • The obligation to approve what is stated or disputed • The affirmative side delivers both the first and last speeches. • Grace period • Additional time added to the original time allowance • Usually no more than 30 seconds • Not all judges grant a grace period.

  7. Affirmative Constructive Speech • The first speech of the Lincoln-Douglas debate • The only speech that can be completely prepared before the debate. • Present all major arguments in your case • Statistics • Quotations • Examples • Studies • Reports

  8. For the affirmative constructive speech • Use all six minutes • Face the judge • Not your opponent

  9. Negative Cross-Examination • Ask questions of your opponent during cross-examination periods. • Challenge the affirmative’s arguments • Clarify meanings • Obtain information that they missed • Set up your next arguments • Three minute time limit • Rebuttal • The speech which allows you to counter the attacks and positions of your opponent.

  10. Negative Constructive Rebuttal • Seven minute time limit. • First two or three minutes • Present your stand regarding the resolution. • During the remaining time • Present a rebuttal to show fault with the affirmative’s arguments and/or value. • Attack each of the key issues of your opponent’s case.

  11. Affirmative Cross-Examination • Three minute time limit • The affirmative debater asks the negative side questions about its case.

  12. First Affirmative Rebuttal • Four minute time limit • Rebuild your case • Attack the negative’s case • Refute • Prove false the attacks against your case • Do not introduce new evidence

  13. Negative Rebuttal • Six minute time limit • The negative’s final chance to make an impression on the judge. • Only respond to arguments that you responded to in the negative constructive rebuttal.

  14. Second Affirmative Rebuttal • Three minute time limit • The affirmative’s final chance • Tell the judge • How your case best supports your value • Why your value is better than your opponent’s value • How your value best upholds the resolution

  15. Dropped point • Any argument not addressed in the first rebuttal for the affirmative and the first constructive for the negative

  16. Prep Time • Three to four minutes • Can be used at any time during the debate • It is recommended that you save much of the time for the final speeches.

  17. Flowing • Flow sheet • A piece of paper divided into rows or columns • Highlights and organizes the main arguments and evidence of both the affirmative and the negative • Helps with rebuttal preparation • Flowing • Process of taking notes on the flow sheet

  18. Preflow • When a person on the affirmative side writes down arguments into the first column of the flow sheet before the debate begins • Flowing makes it easier to remember key points about your opponent’s speech. • It helps you prepare your rebuttals. • Use shorthand to help flowing.

  19. Symbols Commonly Used by Debaters

  20. 3.2AFFIRMATIVE CASE CONSTRUCTION GOALS Knowhow to prepare an effective affirmative constructive speech. List tips to help you in a cross-examination period. Understand what should be presented in an affirmative rebuttal.

  21. TERMS • contention • voting issue • crystallization

  22. Affirmative Constructive Speech • There are three basic parts to the speech • The opening statement • 50 to 60 seconds suggested • The body • 5 to 5 ½ minutes suggested • The conclusion • 45 to 75 seconds suggested

  23. Opening Statement • In sixty seconds or less, you should • Grab the judge’s attention • State the resolution and define its terms • State the value and value criteria

  24. Grab the Judge’s Attention • Be original • Consider using • A quotation • Use a reliable source • An interesting statistic • An unfamiliar fact

  25. State the Resolution and Define its Terms • Read the resolution word for word as it was written by the framers. • Define key words of the resolution. • Cite your source.

  26. State the Value and Value Criteria • State the value and the value criteria at the end of the introduction. • Explain how they relate to the topic.

  27. Body • Build a case that upholds your value. • Contention • A self-contained major argument • Every affirmative constructive speech should have two or three contentions. • Present the contentions in order of importance.

  28. Conclusion • Summarize your case by reminding the judge of your contentions. • Restate the value and value criteria and how it supports the resolution. • Ask the judge to vote for you. • Let your opponent know you are ready for cross-examination.

  29. Affirmative Cross-Examination • Prepare some questions in advance of the debate. • Write new questions on your flow sheet. • Face the judge even when addressing your opponent. • Stay calm. • Do not ask open-ended questions. • Answer questions directly and honestly.

  30. Affirmative Rebuttal • Four minute limit • Address each attack made against your case. • There are two ways to challenge your opponent’s arguments: • Attack the argument or evidence used • Attack the soundness of the opponent’s logic

  31. Accomplish the following during the final rebuttal: • Emphasize your opponent’s greatest weaknesses. • Rebuild your position.

  32. Present convincing arguments. • Voting issues • Arguments which prove why you should win the round • Crystallization • Gives the judge information to put all of the arguments together so the debate winner can be decided • Ask the judge to vote for you.

  33. 3.3NEGATIVE CASE CONSTRUCTION GOALS Identifythe purpose of cross-examination questions. Understand the two parts of a negative constructive rebuttal. Describe the purpose of a negative rebuttal.

  34. TERMS • road map • line-by-line presentation • signpost • preempting

  35. Negative Cross-Examination • Use the negative cross-examination period to ask questions of your opponent. • The questions can serve any of the following purposes: • Challenging the affirmative’s arguments • Clarifying meanings of key terms or arguments • Obtaining information that you missed • Setting up your next arguments

  36. Control the cross-examination period. • Avoid questions that require an in-depth answer. • Use the information received during the cross-examination period in your rebuttal.

  37. Negative Constructive Rebuttal • This speech has two parts. • The negative constructive speech • A rebuttal speech • The constructive portion is pre-written.

  38. Negative Constructive Speech • Use an opening statement that catches the judge’s attention. • Repeat the resolution. • State the value on which you believe the resolution should be argued as well as its criteria. • The body contains your contentions. • Back each contention with supporting evidence.

  39. Rebuttal • The rebuttal should show fault with the affirmative’s arguments and/or value. • Road map • Informing the judge exactly what you are going to refute • Line-by-line presentation • Presenting your counterarguments point by point in the order that your opponent presented them

  40. The Four Steps of Refuting • Signpost • Clearly signaling with words to identify which of the arguments you are refuting • State • Make your counter argument • Support • Refer to your research • Summarize • Show how your argument is stronger than your opponent’s

  41. The “No Neg” Case • There is a new trend in some Lincoln-Douglas debates where the negative case is not presented. • This can cause two problems: • The judge has only one area to consider. • You are allowing your opponent to suggest to the judge that you have been abusive in the round.

More Related