LD Debate Study Information Use the power point to help you study for the LD test.

Value Debate In debate there are 3 types of propositions: propositions of fact, propositions of policy and propositions of value. Lincoln Douglas debate uses propositions of value.

Propositions of value Propositions of value- cannot be answered by knowing the facts or by predicting the effects of a plan. These propositions involve philosophical judgments where there are not true right or wrong answers.

What is a value? ? Value- a standard we apply to judge something right, wrong, good, bad. Examples of values are: justice, security, freedom, equality, progress, liberty, life, and quality of life

Voting Issues: In L-D debate the voting issue include value, criteria, and arguments. Criteria- a set of goals which define the standards your case will meet in the debate. How to weigh the round. Here, the debater is telling the judge what goal they should meet in order to win the debate. Arguments- your primary reasons for supporting or disagreeing with the resolution.  Cases- Both affirmative and negative prepare their cases.

Writing the case Introduction- catch the judges attention, state the resolution definitions- define the key terms in the debate Present your value, define it, and give value justification. This means you explain why your value should be considered important in the debate. Present your arguments. These are called contentions. Contention means belief. Affirmative should have at least three contentions. Support your arguments. Each argument must be backed up with evidence and analysis.

FORMAT AND TIME LIMITATIONS. Constructive (putting forth the main arguments and responding to others) Affirmative, six minutes Cross-examination by negative, three minutes Negative, seven minutes Cross-examination by affirmative, three minutes Rebuttal (responding to arguments and crystallizing the debate- no new arguments in the rebuttals) Affirmative, four minutes Negative, six minutes Affirmative, three minutes (1)    Preparation Time.  A maximum of three minutes of preparation time per debater is allowed during the course of the debate in NSDA in UIL debate FOUR minutes of prep time is used. In class we will be using 4 min of prep time. (2)    Overtime.  Overtime may count against a team at the discretion of the judge. (3)    Abuse of Time.  Excessive abuse of the time allotments may result in disqualification at the discretion of the contest director.

Duties of the Speakers The affirmative speaker is required to support the resolution. The negative speaker must oppose the resolution. The negative may or may not present a negative case. Both speakers bear the burden of clash in rebuttals. Each must speak to their opponent's position in the debate. All arguments a speaker intends to stand on must be introduced in the first speech each makes.

Making a decision Lincoln Douglas debate is a debate over values. Since it is impossible to prove a value, the decision should go to the debater who best upholds their side of the resolution through effective analysis, evidence reasoning, refutation, and delivery. In LD debate, logic and persuasion are stressed. None of this relieves the LD debater from the need to use evidence in supporting assertions of fact.

Constructives and Rebuttals All arguments a debater intends to stand on during the debate must be raised in constructives. Rebuttals are used to expand and extend issues which the speaker has already raised. No new arguments are to be introduced in rebuttals. New arguments issued in rebuttals are to be disregarded. New evidence and analysis are allowed in rebuttals as long as they are being used to buttress positions which were introduced in constructives.

Evidence Should a serious challenge to the legality of evidence be used in the round be issued during the debate, the judge should return to the judges' room for further direction. Judges may only request evidence from debaters if and only if its legality has been questioned. Judges may not call in evidence at the end of a debate simply to reread it. During cross-examination, the questioner may request to see evidence read by their opponent. All evidence must be returned at the end of cross-examination unless it has been seriously challenged.

Note taking- flowing Judges are encouraged to take notes during the round. Only contestants and judges are allowed to take notes during the round. Observers may not "flow" the debate. Regardless of the model used to judge the debate, please allow the debaters to resolve the issue themselves. Sides were assigned, the debaters did not choose to debate the side of the resolution they are debating. Try not to allow your own personal feelings about an issue to influence the outcome of the debate.