LD Basics Terms to know 1. Value Foundation for your case Clash of value and support of value is imperative to your case. Ex. Morality, justice, freedom of speech 2. Criterion- Supporting thesis statement 3. Resolution Make sure you know the resolution this should be stated in your case. Fall UIL LD Resolution This will change in early December to the UIL Spring Topic which will be used as the resolution through May. 4. Contentions 2or 3 supporting points (5 ½ to 6 mins.) that directly support Value in the affirmative case. The negative case should only include 1 or 2 supporting points (3 ½ mins. max) Bye odd number of participants or a no show of your opponent. Byes can be a positive but also can be a negative to the overall speech meet. Flights most tournaments have two flights per round. These are flight A and flight B. A LD round last 45 mins. Therefore, if you are a flight B debater, you need to be outside your room 30 minutes after flight A began. Break advance to the next round of competition. Most tournaments will run one of two formats. 1) Round robin of 5 rounds where you debate every debater 2) 3 rounds which are either preset or the last round power matched, there will then be a break for octas or quarters or semis Power Match opponent has the same win/loss record as you Flip for sides the round is not preset and the aff and neg sides will be selected by a flip of a coin Prep time There is four minutes for the debater to use as prep time within the round. Usually the judge will keep this time in increments of 30 seconds.
Voters Reasons to vote for your case based on argumentation presented in the round Tag Lines- Sentence which makes up your contention LD Timing Break Down 6,3,7,3,4,6,3 EVERY LD debater should have this time frame memorized 6 mins.- Aff. Constructive 3 mins. Neg. CX of aff. 7 mins. Neg. constructive (present neg. case and attack aff. case) 3 mins.- Aff. CX of neg. 4 mins. Aff. rebuttal (rebuild aff. Case and attack neg. case) 6 mins Neg rebuttal (rebuild neg. case and continued presented arguments against aff. Case) VOTERS given 3 mins. Aff. Final rebuttal continued presented arguments against neg case Dos and Don ts Aff constructive will use the entire six minutes. Negative constructive needs to be 3-4 mins. Neg begin with your case. In the remaining time, you should hit the aff, point by point and argue each area. It is important to have specific evidence to defeat these arguments. If you have no evidence, still logic argue the points. The debate and case should ALWAYS center on VALUES. Every argument should be hit in every speech. You may not bring up new arguments in the rebuttals. You may bring up new evidence, but not a brand new argument. Don t get bogged down on irrelevant arguments. This wastes precious time and will not win you the round.
Be nice, firm but never rude! Don t be rude in CX. Don t sound pushy or overbearing, but firm. Negative will probably not refute definitions unless they are radical, but always be prepared to present the source of your definitions. I. Writing a case: A. The first step is to write the introduction. To do so use an attention getting device. Ex Historical fact, statistics, quotes, rhetorical fact, analogy B. Introduce value. Based on the value of we must affirm/negate the resolution that. The value premise (VP) is generally an abstract concept like equality, morality, justice or liberty. This years fall topic may use value such as social contract, or freedom of expression, or freedom of speech, or safety C. Define the key terms of the resolution. It is not necessary to define every word in the resolution. 1. The purpose of defining the terms is to set the boundaries or parameters of the resolution, not to define the terms in a unfair or abusive manner. 2. Never use a form of the term being defined as the definition or part of the definition. Ex Justice is defined as something that is just. 3. Be clear and specific. based on the following contention the negative/affirmative will prove/disapprove the resolution and prove the value of with the following definitions. D. Establish the value criterion/criteria. This is sometimes called the voting criterion/criteria.
1. To distinguish the criteria from the value, think of the value as the keyhole and the criteria as the key. 2. The criterion/criteria is the standard by which the value is both defined and weighed in the debate. 3. The criteria must be directly linked to the value. 4. The value chosen by the affirmative must also be fair to the negative and allow for an equal opportunity to win the debate. E. Develop contentions: areas to be discussed that will uphold your value and criteria. Contentions are main points that are documented with evidence. 1. There should be 3 well- developed points in the affirmative case, and 3 well- developed points in the negative case. 2. These developments should include strong supportive evidence, along with specific support from your philosophers. F. Conclusion: should sum up the case, Should be clear and precise, lasting no more than 45 seconds. Affirmative will state at the end because of the value, and my criteria of the affirmative has shown and therefore I can see no other ballot than an affirmative ballot. I stand open for CX. Negative would state3: because of my value defeating the affirmative value and the negative has shown I see no other than a negative ballot. I am now open for CX. Both your aff case and neg case are pre- written and read aloud as your presentation. CX time if you are being CXed eat up as much of the 3 minutes as you can. If you are in CXing, keep control of this time. This is your 3 minutes to CX the opponent s case. ADD Structuring an Affirmative LD Case Structuring a Negative LD Case