WHAP Philosophy Debate Project
How this works: A topic and affirmative or negative side will be assigned to you. You need to research your side’s
position, including the branch of philosophy would best support your argument, and the philosopher who most closely
aligned with your ideals, to build your “case”, and prepare rebuttal arguments, to debate in class.
Topic Choices:
1. It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.
2. On balance, violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
3. When in conflict, freedom of expression ought to be valued above a community’s moral standards.
The time format is as follows:
3 minute 1AC -affirmative constructive speech – this is where the affirmative will build their case, and state their basic
arguments.
2 minute 1NCX – negative cross examination – this is where the negative asks the affirmative questions to clarify or
shine light where holes in the affirmative case/logic would be.
4 minute 1NC – negative constructive speech – this is where the negative will not only build their case, and state their
basic arguments, but also attack whatever they can attack on the affirmative case.
2 minute 1ACX – affirmative cross examination – this is where the affirmative asks the negative questions to clarify, or
shine light where holes in the negative case/logic/ attacks on the affirmative case would be.
2 minute 1AR – affirmative rebuttal speech – this is where the affirmative will rebuild their case, and cut holes into the
negative case, ultimately setting up the major issues in the round, what we need to look to in order to decide who best
argued those issues.
3 minute 1NR – negative rebuttal speech – this is where the negative will lay everything on the line, rebuild their
negative case, bring down the affirmative case, and tell you why the negative had superior arguments on the major
issues in the round.
1 minute 2AR – affirmative rebuttal speech – is a last ditch chance for the affirmative to argue their side.
Yes, you do get “prep time” in round, to gather your thoughts together before you speak, but you only get 2 minutes, so
use them wisely.
Grades:
Research note/ outlines filled out – MAJOR GRADE
Presentation/Vote – Major Grade.
75 points for getting up and arguing your constructive speech. Period.
35 points if the class votes in your favor, and you argue your points well,
25 points if the class does not vote in your favor, yet you argued your points well,
15 points if the class votes in your favor, yet you do not argue your points well,
10 points if the class does not vote in your favor, and you do not argue your points well.
Group Participation – Daily Grade: work together, equally. ‘Nuff said. I have my ways of checking into this!