Lincoln-Douglas Debate Format

July 6, 2019
 Outline of Discussion
• Lincoln – Douglas Debate Defined
• Historical Background
• Overview
– Speaking Order and Time Allotment
• Speakers Role
• Value Premise, Criterion, Contention
• Case Structure
Lincoln – Douglas Debate Defined
• a competitive speaking activity that
involves two debaters arguing for and
against a pre-determined resolution.
• focuses on the conflicting values of social
and philosophical issues.
• concern themselves with deciding whether
or not certain actions, or states of affairs, are
good or bad, right or wrong, moral or
immoral.
 Historical Background
• The Lincoln Douglas Debates were a series
of seven (7) public discussions held in
1858 between Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen Douglas.
• Debates are for the contested Illinois
Senate seat.
• Lincoln was the Republican Party
candidate and Senator Douglas was the
incumbent Democratic Party candidate.
Historical Background
• The Lincoln Douglas debates transformed
Abraham Lincoln into a national figure
and led to his election to the presidency in
1860.
• The debates concerned the issue of
slavery’s  morals, values, and logic and its
extension into territories such as Kansas.
 Overview
Number of Debaters: 2
Number of Teams: 2
Topic to be Debated: Resolution
For the Resolution: Affirmative
Against the Resolution: Negative
Topic Provided: 1 month/ weeks
prior to actual
debate
Arguments: Contentions
Judge/s: Judges
 Overview
Affirmative Constructive 6 Minutes
Cross-Examination by Negative 3 Minutes
Preparation Time 2 Minutes
Negative Constructive 7 Minutes
Cross-Examination by Affirmative 3 Minutes
Preparation Time 2 Minutes
1st Affirmative Rebuttal 4 Minutes
Preparation Time 2 Minutes
Negative Rebuttal 6 Minutes
Preparation Time 2 Minutes
2nd Affirmative Rebuttal 3 Minutes
 Speakers Role
Affirmative Constructive 6 Minutes
• A good introduction that attracts the audience’s
attention and interest in the topic
• Clearly state the resolution
• Clearly state each of your contentions
• Support with reason and evidence
• Conclude effectively
 Speakers Role
Negative Constructive 7 Minutes
• A good introduction that attracts the audience’s
attention and interest in the topic
• Clearly state the Negative’s position on the
topic/ resolution
• Clearly the Negative’s Observation supported
with reason and evidence
• Attack and question affirmative’s contentions/
evidence
• Conclude effectively
 Speakers Role
Cross-Examination
• You ask questions to the previous speaker.
• Have a strategy or a direction in your
questions.
 Speakers Role
Rebuttal
• Opportunity to CLASH with other side.
• Directly refute arguments presented by the
other side.
• Respond to the observation of the other side
• Show how their value and contentions are not
strong enough or relevant in the topic.
• Rebuild your case.
 Value Premise

• Also called core value or simply value.

• The ultimate value that you seek to uphold
and/or achieve in the debate.
• All arguments/ contention must relate to the
value premise.
e.g. Justice, Morality, Social Welfare, Individual
Welfare, Liberty, etc.
 Criterion
Criterion
• A way in which you can define and achieve
your value premise.
• This is the key to winning the debate.
• A criterion should be the mechanism by which
you weigh the values at stake and ultimately
come to the conclusion that your value premise
is achieved.
e.g. Social Contract, Giving Each his/ her Due,
Protection of individual rights, etc.
 Contention
Contention
• Also arguments