Lincoln Douglas Debate

1
Lincoln Douglas Debate
FORMAT
Affirmative Constructive 6 minutes Negative
Cross-Ex 3 minutes Negative Constructive 7
minutes Affirmative Cross-Ex 3 minutes 1st
Affirmative Rebuttal 4 minutes Negative
Rebuttal 6 minutes 2nd Affirmative Rebuttal 3
minutes Each speaker allowed a total of 3 minutes
for pre-speech preparation prep
2
First Affirmative Constructive Speech 6 min.

• Opening quote
• Definition of terms
• Value
• Criterion
• Contentions

3
First Negative Constructive 7 minutes

• Build Negative Case
• Opening quote
• Value
• Criterion
• Contentions

• Argue Affirmative Case
• Value
• Criterion
• Contentions

4
Affirmative Rebuttal 4 minutes
Time is of the essence. DONT WASTE ANY!

• Rebuild Affirmative Case
• Value
• Criterion
• Contentions

2. Argue Negative Case Value Criterion
Contentions
5
Negative Rebuttal 6 minutes

• Rebuilt Negative Case
• Argue Affirmative Case
• MAJOR VOTING ISSUES (MVIs)
• Two or three major reasons the judge should
  give the decision to the negative debater.
• These should include the value and possibly
  the criterion.

6
Final Affirmative Speech 3 minutes
MAJOR VOTING ISSUES Two or three major reasons
the judge should give the decision to the
affirmative debater. These should include the
value and possibly the criterion.
7
For the purposes of classroom debates, we will
use the following times 1 Affirmative 4
minutes CX 2 minutes 1 Negative 5
minutes CX - 2 minutes 2 Affirmative 3
minutes 2 Negative 3 minutes 3 Affirmative 1
minute
PREP TIME 2 MINUTES EACH TOTAL DEBATE TIME 24
MINUTES
8
See the website for a sample flow.