Lincoln-Douglas Debate

This category is one-on-one debating about values and morals.  Keep track of what the students are saying (in debate terms, “flow” the round on a separate piece of paper – not on the ballot) so that you can more easily determine what was said and who had the better arguments. 

The times are

• Affirmative constructive    6 mins

• Negative cross examination of the affirmation           3 mins

• Neg constructive and first rebuttal                   7 mins

• Aff cross ex of neg               3 mins

• Aff rebuttal                             4 mins

• Neg rebuttal                          6 mins

• Aff rebuttal                             3 mins

Both sides are allowed 3 minutes of preparation time that they may use when they wish.

Clearly state on the ballot why you chose the winner.  Don’t simply say that one side had a more persuasive case.  Name specific arguments that you feel the winning side presented better.

New Judges –

Relax.

Never let the kids know that you’re new.  Sit in the center of the room, act calm.  You’ll be fine.

The most difficult part of LD is keeping time and giving time signals while listening to the kids debate and taking notes on what they are saying (on a separate piece of paper that no one but you will ever see) and writing notes on the ballot.  (Make sure to write notes on the ballot!!! – Tell the kids what you did and didn’t like!) If you don’t know how to give time signals – ask someone!!!

Your job is NOT to think of things that the kids could have said or should have said.   Just on what they did say.  Did they have a good argument?  Did they shoot down what the other debater said?  Did they shoot down the arguments against their cases?  For example – if debater A says, “The pen is mightier than the sword because Bics come in purple and you can never find a good sword that color,” and debater B never says anything about debater A saying something so stupid, then debater A won that point.  You shouldn’t base the round on one argument, but if one side clearly has won more arguments, you have to go with that side.

Do not judge the kids based on your beliefs.  You may never be convinced that the pen is mightier than the sword, but instead judge the kids on who debated better!

Remember to get your ballots to the tab room within five minutes of the debate ending.  Do NOT hold up the tournament!!!  Don’t forget to sign your ballot and give the students points based on the scale that is o the ballot.  The person with the better speaking skills / higher speaker points should have the win.