Ben Anderson's Lincoln-Douglas Debate Crash Course I. What is Lincoln-Douglas Debate? Lincoln-Douglas, or LD debate, is a debate of morals.

Generally, the affirmative side argues in affirmation of some moral principle or some other resolution relating to morality, while the negative attempts to negate this resolution. The resolution is phrased in the following way: "Resolved: Blah Blah Blah." For example, "Resolved: People ought to walk old ladies across the street." Each side has a value, also known as a "core value" or "value premise," and a value criterion, also known as a "judging criterion." The value should be the value that you wish to prove as the most important in the debate, which you uphold through your contentions. Your criterion should be a way to achieve or measure your value, and functions as a lens through which the judge can evaluate arguments. It is often a philosophical thing, such as Utilitarianism (the Greatest Happiness Principle) or the Categorical Imperative, or a social contract. Each side tries to prove with two to three contentions that it is their side that ought be accepted. II. Structure of the Case An LD case usually starts with an introduction, followed by definitions and framework arguments (e.g., the affirmative must prove so-and-so to win). Many schools then state their value and criterion, followed by two to three contentions, but Liberty has the value and criterion as a first contention. An affirmative case has 3 contentions; a negative 2. The remaining contentions after the value and value criterion are used to prove your side through various arguments, usually a mix of your own words and evidence from esteemed philosophers or professors. Essentially: Introduction Definitions/Framework Arguments Value and Criterion Remaining Contentions