WHS Mustang Middle School Debate Invitational
2022 — Houston, TX/US
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Event Description:
Lincoln Douglas Debate is a one-person debate meaning that one person debates against one other person. Students should be prepared to debate both sides of a pre-determined resolution. The affirmative speaker will start and end the debate. Students will speak from prepared notes and will continually be taking notes and writing speeches throughout the debate. A conversational rate of speaking is expected. Eye contact may be limited and this is acceptable. Students should stand on cross-examination and take turns asking and answering questions. Yelling and being rude to the opponent is frowned upon. Anyone observing the debate must be silent and may not take notes or talk to the debaters at any time during the debate. It is unethical for anyone not debating to write or prepare speeches for those who are debating. Coaches should refrain from helping students by flowing opponents and then preparing speeches for their students. This is a student activity, and while coaching is certainly encouraged, it should not consist of preparing speeches during the tournament for their students. The speaking format will be:
Affirmative Constructive Speech 6 minutes
Cross Examination by Negative 3 minutes
Negative Constructive Speech 7 minutes
Cross Examination by Affirmative 3 minutes
Affirmative Rebuttal 4 minutes
Negative Rebuttal 6 minutes
Affirmative Rebuttal 3 minutes
Prep time of 4 minutes per side is allowed at debaters' discretion.
NSDA JAN/FEB TOPIC - Resolved: The appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust.