DSDA 2 ROUNDER
2020 — https://zoom.us/j/91935867322?p, PA/US
Lincoln Douglas debate
Event Description:
Debate is one-on-one, with pre-written 1st Affirmative and 1st Negative speeches.
Format: 1st affirmative (1AC)- 6 minutes followed by 3 minute cross-examination by negative.
1st negative (1NC)- 7 minutes followed by 3 minute cross-examination by affirmative. Half of the speech is the pre-written case and the other half is attacking the affirmative case.
1st affirmative rebuttal (1AR)- 4 minutes
1st negative rebuttal (1NR)- 6 minutes
2nd affirmative rebuttal (2AR)- 3 minutes
LD is VALUE-based debate focused on ethics and morals- what is "good", "just", etc.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
1. Definition: Lincoln-Douglas is a debate event involving a proposition of value. One person, called the affirmative, attempts to prove the resolution, while the other, called the negative, attempts to disprove the resolution. A value resolution asks the debaters to argue underlying principles of the question, as opposed to specific policy implementation, such as in traditional two-person debate.
2. Resolution: Examples of sample value resolutions include:
a. Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
b. Resolved: Adolescents ought to have the right to make autonomous medical choices
3. Scheduling: The determination of scheduling for debate events will be overseen by the Tournament Director. The schedule may vary from one tournament to another dependent on the number of schools and teams registered.
a. Small tournaments may require debaters from the same school to compete against each other or to be judged by a judge from their school.
b. The priority will be to debate rather than to have byes and scheduling will be as "random" as possible.
4. Format: The format and time limits in Lincoln-Douglas debate are as follows. It should be noted that there is no set grace period: debaters may finish their sentence or paragraph and judges should use their discretion.
Speaker Speech Time Limit
Affirmative Constructive 6 minutes
Negative Cross-Examination 3 minutes
Negative Constructive 7 minutes
Affirmative Cross-Examination 3 minutes
Affirmative Rebuttal 4 minutes
Negative Rebuttal 6 minutes
Affirmative Rebuttal 3 minutes
5. Preparation Time:
a. Each debater should receive a total of 4 minutes of preparation time, which can be used in whole or in part before any speech or questioning period.
b. The timekeeper or judge shall record the amount of preparation time cumulatively used by each time, announcing the passage of such time in one-minute intervals, with a warning when 30 seconds remain.
c. Debaters may time themselves or each other as long as the judge is timing as well.
6. Judges:
a. Ordinarily, a single judge will decide rounds. At the Varsity level, this must be a debate coach, an experienced college debater, or other experienced adult. At the JV level, experience HS seniors may judge.
b. The executive committee reserves the right to reject judges they deem unqualified. This rejection does not relieve schools of their judging obligation.
c. It is expected that judges not intervene in the round. "Intervention" occurs when a judge votes on an argument or issue that neither team has presented in the round. The judge is limited only to the arguments that are presented before them.
d. Arguments that have been "dropped" (intentionally or unintentionally not addressed) by one debater are considered concessions. Arguments that are "dropped" (intentionally or unintentionally not addressed) by both debaters are not voting issues. In other words, if an argument is not expressed in a final rebuttal, then it is not a voting issue and a judge may not vote on it.
7. Ballots: ONLINE BALLOTS ARE REQUIRED. Each individual debate round exists in a vacuum. It is expected that every judge leave their personal beliefs outside of their decision making process.
a. Competent judging includes an effort to take notes (flow) on the arguments each team presents and to weigh the merits of those arguments against one another before rendering a decision.
b. Judges should write comments on a ballot that will help the debaters (and coach) understand the basis for the judge's decision. Positive feedback and constructive criticism are encouraged.
c. There are no "low point" wins and no ties. The points should match the decision. Judges must follow the speaker point scale provided by the tab room.