I.    WHAT IS LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATING?

Lincoln-Douglas debate is “one-on-one” argumentation in which the debaters attempt to convince the judge of the acceptability of their side of a proposition of value.

 

II.              DEBATING A PROPOSITION OF VALUE

Lincoln-Douglas debaters do not advocate establishing any new policy or advocate changes in existing policy.  Instead, they present and defend a value.

 

III.           TOPIC

FALL RESOLVED:  Colleges and universities have a moral obligation to prohibit the public expression of hate speech on their campuses.

BERKELEY RESOLVED: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral.

SPRING RESOLVED: Coming Soon!

(Please keep in mind that the students come prepared to debate both sides and do not choose which side they will debate)

 

IV.             FORMAT

Each speaker in the debate has an equal amount of time to persuade the judges.

 

Affirmative Constructive…………………………………..6 minutes

Cross-Examination by Negative…………………….. 3 minutes

Negative Constructive……………………………………….  7 minutes

Cross-Examination by Affirmative……………….. 3 minutes

First Affirmative Rebuttal………………………………. 4 minutes

Negative Rebuttal………………………………………………. 6 minutes

Second Affirmative Rebuttal…………………………. 3 minutes

 

Each speaker is allowed three minutes of preparation time during the debate

 

V.                 DUTIES OF THE SPEAKERS

A.      The affirmative speaker, in the first affirmative speech, is required to present a position supporting the resolution.

B.       In the first negative speech the speaker may:

1.      present the opposing position on the resolution

OR

2.      offer a straight refutation of the affirmative position

OR

3.      offer a combination of both

C.       BOTH SPEAKERS BEAR THE BURDEN OF CLASH IN REBUTTAL SPEECHES: that is, each must speak to his/her opponent’s position in the debate.

 

VI.             JUDGING CRITERIA

A.      Only debaters participating in the debate and judges shall be allowed to take written notes or “flow sheets” during the round.

B.       Debaters may not give the judge any written material.

C.       EVIDENCE:  Value debating is more subjective (feelings) than policy debating which is more objective (factual).  That does not mean the Lincoln-Douglas debater does not have to utilize evidence in presenting arguments.  In Lincoln-Douglas debate, logic and persuasion are stressed.  As in all debates, evidence (quoted material from a nationally published source) should be used in supporting arguments.

D.      Only those arguments and/or issues raised in constructive speeches may be discussed in rebuttals.  New evidence and reasoning may be used in rebuttals to support those arguments and/or issues.

E.       Making a decision: Since neither side can absolutely prove a value position, the decision should go to the debater who best upholds his/her side of the resolution by offering effective analysis, evidence and reasoning, refutation, and delivery.  NEVER SHOULD A DECISION BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE JUDGE’S PERSONAL CONVICTIONS REGUARDING THE TOPIC.  REMEMBER THAT THE DEBATERS HAVE NO CHOICE ABOUT WHICH SIDE OF THE RESOLUTION THEY MUST UPHOLD.  THE BALLOT ASKS: “WHO DID THE BETTER JOB OF DEBATING?”

F.       The rules and ballots for LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE are NOT the same as those for team debate.  The specific rules for LINCOLN-DOUGLAS debate are on this sheet.  You should read them carefully while you are waiting to receive your ballot.  If you have questions, please ask them before you leave the judging room and/or when you return from the round.  DO NOT QUESTION STUDENTS ABOUT THE RULES.

G.      RULES FOR HIGH SCHOOL LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE ARE OFTEN DIFFERENT FROM COLLEGE OR OTHER CONTESTS.  JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL LINCOLN-DOUGLAS RULES.

 

VII.          GENERAL PROCEEDURES

 

A.      You will be judging two Lincoln-Douglas debates during one round.  While the two speakers in the first debate are speaking, the speakers for the second debate are to remain outside the room.  When you are ready to begin the second, the speakers from the first debate should leave the room.  YOUR JUDGING OBLIGATION IS TO LISTEN TO BOTH DEBATES.

B.       PLEASE give FULL AND UNDIVIDED attention to each speaker at all times.

C.       NO ORAL CRITIQUES.  They take time.  The comments do not get back to the coach.  If any student asks you for comments, please tell the student that oral comments are against the rules.

D.      Judges should NOT confer before marking and returning their ballots.

E.       Judges are NOT allowed to request evidence from debaters, except when the evidence is challenged as invalid by the opposing debater in the round.