Welcome to
Debate!
CX versus LD
 http://www.uiltexas.org/speech/debate/debateintroduction-video
CX Explained
 CX stands for cross examination--policy debate in which
“teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that
typically calls for policy change by the United States
federal government” (Wikipedia). It is often referred to as
cross-examination debate, or CX, because of the 3minute questioning period following each constructive
speech.
 Affirmative teams generally present a plan as a proposal
for implementation of the resolution. The negative will
generally prove that it would be better not to do the plan
or that the opportunity costs to the plan are so great that it
should not be implemented.
 Criteria for judging CX debate:
http://www.uiltexas.org/speech/debate/criteria-forjudging-cx-debate
2015-16 CX Debate Topic
 Resolved: The United States federal government
should substantially curtail its domestic surveillance.
 Inquiries to Consider:
 How much domestic surveillance is already being used
by the federal government? And for what reasons?
 How is such surveillance a violation of our right to
privacy?
 What potential benefits will come out of reducing
domestic surveillance?
 What potential problems could arise from curtailing
domestic surveillance?
CX Time Format

1AC: 8 minutes

CX of 1Aff by 2Neg: 3 minutes

1NC: 8 minutes

CX of 1Neg by 1Aff: 3 minutes

2AC: 8 minutes

CX of 2Aff by 1Neg: 3 minutes

2NC: 8 minutes

CX of 2Neg by 2Aff: 3 minutes

1NR: 5 minutes

1AR: 5 minutes

2NR: 5 minutes

2AR: 5 minutes

8 minutes PREP Time
LD Explained
 LD stands for Lincoln Douglas, which is one-onone policy debate. LD is also often called values
debate, “because the format traditionally places
a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and
philosophy. The Lincoln–Douglas Debate format is
named for the 1858 Lincoln–Douglas Debates
between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglas, because their debates focused on
slavery and the morals, values, and logic behind
it” (Wikipedia).
2015 Fall LD Debate Topic
 RESOLVED: When in conflict, an individual's right of selfdetermination ought to be valued above public health
concerns.
 Inquiries to Consider:
 Why are some vaccinations required for school
enrollment?
 For what reasons do some individuals opt out of
vaccinations or wish for their children not to be
vaccinated?
 How might such individuals’ personal decisions affect
others?
 Are vaccinations dangerous? Why?
 Could not getting vaccinated be dangerous? Why?
LD Time Format
1st Aff. constructive – 6 minutes
Cross Examination – 3 minutes
1st Neg. constructive – 7 minutes
Cross Examination – 3 minutes
1st Aff. rebuttal – 4 minutes
Neg. rebuttal – 6 minutes
2nd Aff. rebuttal – 3 minutes
Prep time: 4 minutes
Format of the Course
 Debate—both CX and LD—is driven by research. You should
know essentially EVERYTHING about your topic and continually
research it throughout the year (semester LD).
 There will be a new LD topic in the spring semester.
 Therefore, most days of class will be spent in the library, an open
computer lab, or on your smartphone as you do extensive
research to produce and improve your cases.
 After two to three weeks of consistent research, you all will begin
practicing in class; and I will judge each team (or individual
debater—LD) as if it were an actual debate tournament.
Grades
 Research: you will be responsible for acquiring new research each week.
 Cases: While at first you will focus solely on one case, composing multiple
drafts of it and running the case in class debates, eventually, you will be
responsible for developing multiple cases and will choose your best case to
use at tournaments.
 Delivery: Not only will you be graded on the case itself, but your delivery will
also be assessed.
 Terminology: It is imperative that each of you learn the appropriate debate
jargon in order to do well at tournaments. A judge told one of my CX teams
two years ago that they would have won the round if they had simply used
the correct jargon. Thus, you will be tested on debate vernacular, so you will
better your chances at being successful at tournaments.
 Current Events: One becomes a better, more knowledgeable debater when
he or she keeps up with current events. Therefore, you will be quizzed over
current news reports (as specified in the syllabus) each week.
Tournament Information
 Most tournaments will be on Fridays and/or Saturdays. If a
tournament is on a Friday, your absence from school will be
excused. However, you are still responsible for getting your
assignments from your teachers beforehand. Plan ahead, so you
do not get behind!
 Everyone is expected to attend and participate in tournaments.
 Attire: you are expected to dress professionally at tournaments.
 Boys: Dress pants (slacks), dress shirt, and perhaps a suit jacket and
tie if you have them
 Girls: Dress pants or modest, dressy skirt and blouse
 Black (skirt/pants) and white (shirt/blouse) are commonly worn.
Tournament Attendance
and Transportation
 In previous years, I would rent one van through the school and
take about six or seven debate students; but since the debate
program grew significantly, I am still working on our transportation
arrangements.
 Some students may have to provide their own transportation, or we
may only be able to attend the tournaments that other DHS UIL
organizations attend and ride with them on a bus.
 Or to enhance competition in the debate classes, I may only bring
the most skilled debaters to tournaments. So bring on the
competition! 
 But my hope is that every student will attend and participate in at
least one tournament this year.
 Students who are unfamiliar with debate and would like to observe
a tournament before competing in one may certainly do so.
 Watching advanced debaters debate in class will be beneficial to
observe as well.
Tournament Dates
 Saturday, September 26th at Princeton HS (55 minutes away)
 Saturday, October 3rd at Princeton HS (55 minutes away)
 Saturday, October 17th at Melissa HS (48 minutes away)
 Saturday, November 14th at Hillsboro HS (1 hour and 44 minutes
away)
 Saturday, December 5th at Godley HS (1 hour and 20 minutes
away)