Debate I: Basics & Formats
Presented by Doris L. W. Chang
Presentation Outline
 What is “Debate”?
 What Can Debate Training Do for You?
 Debate Format
 Basic Glossary
 Work Cited
What Is Debate?
A debate means
“a regulated discussion of a
proposition by two matched
sides, providing reasoned
arguments for and against
a proposition.”
(Goodnight 149)
Rules of the Game
 “regulated”: agreed-upon rules
Format,
Speaker responsibilities (judges, affirmative,
negative teams, timer)
Proofs, Logical reasoning, cross-examination
Rules of time, expected performances by both
teams.
“proposition” 1:
A proposition is a statement that is open to
interpretation
It shall be
 controversial,
 significant,
 debatable,
 durable, and most importantly,
 with a single idea
Proposition 2: Examples
In a debate, the affirmative proposes to
change the status quo with a carefully
argued resolution with justification, plan, and
advantages.
RESOLVED: That six years of English in high
school is adequate for a basic education.
RESOLVED: That modern art lacks artistic skill
and creativity
RESOLVED: That AIDS education shall be
introduced at elementary school level.
What Can Debating Do for You?
It
 cultivates your leadership skills
 Consolidates your investigation & analysis skills
 Trains your critical listening/thinking skills
 Enriches your open-mindedness
 Equips you with better organization & speaking skills
 Builds your self-confidence
 Boosts your teamwork & cooperation ability
 Provides you the fun when wits match with competition
Debate Formats
 Policy Debate & Value Debate
 Political Debate—Lincoln-Douglas
 Presidential Debates (kennedy-Nixon Debate, 1960)
 Modified press conferences (since questions & issues
are chosen by a panel rather than the candidates)
 Academic Debate
 Standard Debate Format (highshool/college)
 Cross-Examination Debate Format
Policy & Value Debates
Policy Debate
Resolutions urge taking
action
includes words like
“should” “ought to”
directs the government or
authority concerned
Value Debate
Resolutions related to
evaluating ideas or
actions
Emphasizes objective
arguments backed by
evidence
Emphasizes analysis &
persuasion, rather than
evidence
Based mostly on
subjective reasoning &
persuasion
Lincoln Douglas Debate Format
Affirmative Constructive
6 min.
Negative Cross-exam. of Affirmative
3 min.
Negative Constructive
7 min.
Affirmative Cross-exam. of Negative
3 min.
Affirmative Rebuttal
4 min.
Negative Rebuttal
6 min.
Affirmative Rebuttal
3 min.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
 In honor of Lincoln & Douglas
 L-D debates for Illinois State Senate, 1852
 Regular event in National Forensic League, 1980
 A form of value debate
 Two participants only
 Debate value propositions, not policy propositions
 Same amount of time for both speakers, but
 Aff. has a shorter constructive speech, but 2 rebuttals
 More Cross-examination time, and it’s more important
than building arguments
(Goodnight 21-2)
Standard Debate Format
1st AC
8 min. High School 10 min. (College)
1st NC
8 min.
10 min.
2nd AC
8 min.
10 min.
2nd NC
8 min.
10 min.
1st NR
4 min.
5 min.
1st AR
4 min.
5 min.
2nd NR
4 min.
5 min.
2nd AR
4 min.
5 min.
Cross-Examination Debate Format
1st AC
8 min. High School
10 min. (College)
N X-exam.
3 min.
3 min.
1st NC
8 min.
10 min.
A X-exam.
3 min.
3 min.
2nd AC
8 min.
10 min.
N X-exam.
3 min.
3 min.
2nd NC
8 min.
10 min.
A X-exam.
3 min.
3 min.
1st NR
4 min.
5 min.
1st AR
4 min.
5 min.
2nd NR
4 min.
5 min.
2nd AR
4 min.
5 min.
Basic Glossary (Goodnight 149-151)
 Proposition
 Affirmative/negative
 Constructive: speech presenting the team’s major
points
 Rebuttal: speech rebuilding attacked arguments,
refuting opposing arguments, and summarizing the
debate
 Flow Sheeting (flowing)
 Prep. time
 Presumption—the policy in effect should remain in effect
 Prima facie case—
 the aff. should not only overcome presumption, but present a case
that is complete “at first sight,” to state a justification, present a plan,
list advantages, and provide sufficient proofs to make it strong
enough.
Glossary 1
 Burden of proof—the aff.’s obligation to
provide sufficient reason for adopting the
proposition
 Topicality—issue of whether the aff. plan
falls under and supports the resolution (151).
 Contention
 Voting issues: arguments the teams believe
to be key issues that shall decide who wins
the debate
Glossary 2
 Debate brief
the structure most debaters use for organizing
their evidence,
usually a page of arguments and evidence to be
read as needed in debate rounds
1 single argument per sheet,
several pieces of evidence to be quoted when
needed.
(Goodnight 81)
Proposition Formation
The proposition should include
1.

A single idea, significance, controversy, debatability,
durability
Problem area focused question proposition
E.g. Welfare systemmedical care proposition
Resolved:
That the government should guarantee medical care
for those with catastrophic illness
2.
Questions & Answers
 Sample Debate on LDT (Lie Detector Test)
by students 2004
Work Cited
Goodnight, Lynn. Getting Started in Debate.
2nd Ed. Lincolnwood, Chicago: NTC,
1994.