Chapter 25 Cross-Examination Techniques

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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