Debate Vocabulary

L-D Debate:

The name “Lincoln-Douglas” comes from a series of recorded historical debates that took place between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln in 1858. This name was chosen on purpose. Lincoln and Douglas debated the issue of slavery and its extension into the Western Territories and both presented many value-based arguments. While Douglas championed the idea of popular sovereignty – that the inhabitants of the region in question should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery – Lincoln argued that slavery was morally wrong and, as such, should be outlawed.

for the resolution; pro

Affirmative:

a process of reasoning; points are developed that move from the known to the unknown and use evidence to reach a conclusion

Argument:

Make arguments against your opponent’s points

Attack:

your constructive speech that you prepare before debating. You will have an Affirmative case and a Negative case.

Case:

consists of fundamental opposing arguments on the key issues. One of the most fundamental goals of the debate process is to promote good clash, the Aff and Neg taking opposite stances on key issues. If the Negative doesn’t provide any clash, the debaters are like two ships passing in the night.

Clash:

The first speeches in the round that are prepared beforehand.

Constructive Speech:

a major argument. Cases are built out of contentions.

Contention:

a necessary or sufficient standard by which to measure the competing values.  It is a conceptual tool used to decide which value should be upheld. 

Criterion:

or CX – an opportunity for one debater to ask the other questions. They can be about anything, but they should be relevant and designed to get admissions or concessions from the other. CX is one-way in LD debate.

Cross-Examination:

the presentation of a speech including fluency, projection, eye contact, volume, and style

Delivery:

anything used to generate proof or support for an assertion; facts, opinions, illustrations, examples, analogies, and statistics.

Evidence:

Flowing is a note taking technique.  Debaters and judges flow throughout the round to keep track of the arguments being made.

Flowing:

the ability to speak knowledgeably about the topic with a comfortable pace and smooth delivery.

Fluency:

movements to emphasis or express certain ideas and emotions.

Gestures:

to speak on a topic with a short amount of preparation time

Impromptu:

against the resolution

Negative:

time that can be used during the debate to get ready and plan for the next speech. Prep time is used between speeches. Prep time is asked for by the person who will be speaking next, if they want it. You get two minutes to use in any increment you need during the round.

Prep Time:

refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument. Rebuttal speeches are shorter speeches later in the debate in which debaters argue over issues that were built during the constructive speeches.

Rebuttal:

the topic that is being debated.

Resolution:

one full L-D debate.

Round:

The existing state of affairs

Status Quo:

some debaters use subpoints within contentions to organize their arguments.

Subpoint:

the overall standard by which the round should be weighed. It should be something inherently good, like Societal Welfare, Justice, Individual Welfare, Democracy, Quality of Life, Quality of the Future, etc.

Value: