Outline of a Policy (Cross-examination) Debate
Speech
1 AC
Time
4 minutes (High
School – 8
minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Establish affirmative advocacy of resolution.
Prewritten speech.
There is a problem (Harms)
The status quo is not going to solve the problem (Inherency).
Give a specific proposal of what ought to be done (Plan).
Show that the plan will solve the problem (Solvency).
2 minutes (high
school – 3 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.
2nd Negative cross-examines the 1st Affirmative.
Ask questions to clarify arguments.
Ask questions to set-up arguments to come.
Be polite / professional.
4 minutes (High
School – 8
minutes)
1. Attack affirmative.
2. Make arguments against the specifics of the case (Case
Arguments).
3. Argue that bad things will happen if the plan is adopted (present
Disadvantages / Disads).
4. Argue that the plan is not a representation of the topic
(Topicality).
5. Argue that there is a better alternative (Counterplan)
6. Argue that the aff’s fundamental assumptions are flawed
(Critique or “K”).
2 minutes (high
school – 3 minutes)
4 minutes (High
School – 8
minutes)
1. 1st Affirmative cross-examines 1st Negative.
2 minutes (high
school – 3 minutes)
4 minutes (High
School – 8
minutes)
1. 1st Negative cross-examines 2nd Affirmative
First
Affirmative
Constructive
CX
Cross
Examination
1 NC
First
Negative
Constructive
CX – Cross
Examination
2 AC
Second
Affirmative
Constructive
CX – Cross
Examination
2 NC –
Second
Negative
Constructive
Purpose
1.
2.
3.
4.
Defend affirmative positions and attack negative positions.
This is the affirmative’s last chance to introduce new issues.
Argue that the Disads are really reasons to vote aff (Turns).
Argue that the counterplan and affirmative plan can coexist
(Permanence).
1. Split up the remaining issues in the debate and respond to all
arguments in the 2AC on those issues.
2. Attack affirmative positions and defend negative positions.
3. This is the negative’s last chance to introduce new issues.
4. Work with partner – 2NC and 1NR should cover different issues.
Neg Block
CX – Cross
Examination
1NR –
First
Negative
Rebuttal
Neg Block
2 minutes (high
school – 3 minutes)
3 minutes (high
school – 5 minutes)
1. 2A cross-examines 2N.
1. Attacks affirmative positions.
2. Defend negative positions.
Outline of a Policy (Cross-examination) Debate
Speech
2NR –
Time
3 minutes (high
school – 5 minutes)
1. Weigh the issues.
2. Negative’s closing speech, where the final speaker should
choose the best argument(s) to win the debate and focus on
those, as well as exploit any arguments the 1AR did not
respond to from the 2NC/1NR.
3. Neg last chance to convince judge to vote Neg.
3 minutes (high
school – 5 minutes)
1. Weigh the issues.
2. Affirmative’s closing speech, where the final speaker should
respond to the final arguments made by the negative and
extend/weigh the affirmative case and why the Harms are more
important than any disadvantages the Negative has raised.
3. Affirmatives last chance to convince judge to vote Aff.
5 minutes (8
minutes for high
school)
1. Each team is allowed 5 minutes to plan and collaborate with
each other.
2. The team requests to use this time between any speeches and
should use all their time during the debate round.
Second
Negative
Rebuttal
2AR –
Second
Affirmative
Rebuttal
Preparation
Time
Purpose
Negative Block:
1. For middle school, this is seven minutes of argumentation (4 minute 2NC plus 3
minute1NR).
2. Note: since there is no affirmative speech in between these two speeches to respond
to arguments, these speeches should not repeat each other or be redundant –
instead, the two debaters should take different “flows” and split up the 1NC
arguments to extend them and respond to 2AC.
3. For example, the 2NC might take Primacy DA for 5 minutes while the 1NR would
focus on Harms and Solvency on-case for 3 minutes. Or the 2NC might argue Allied
Proliferation DA for 3 minutes and Solvency for 1 minute while the 1NR focused on
Harms for 3 minutes.