Start Here: Teaching Lincoln-Douglas
Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD) is a one-on-one event where debaters argue against one another on a specified resolution.
Students prepare cases and then engage in an exchange of cross-examinations and rebuttals in an attempt to convince a judge that they are the better debater in the round.
LD explores questions of how society ought to be and is often referred to as a “values” debate, as questions of morality and justice are commonly examined.
Students Will Be Able To:
- Write a persuasive speech that features complete arguments with a claim, data, warrant, and impact.
- Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning.
- Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
- Listen effectively and respond to attacks against their arguments with limited prep using logic and/or evidence.
- Craft a framework with a value and criterion that is tied to the resolution.
- Respond to attacks against their arguments and weigh their framework against their opponent’s with limited prep using logic and/or evidence.
- Complete a full Lincoln-Douglas round.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| LESSON 1: The Fundamentals of Argument | 1 |
| LESSON 2: Research and Media Literacy: Part 1 | 4 |
| LESSON 3: Research and Media Literacy: Part 2 | 7 |
| LESSON 4: Formatting Evidence | 9 |
| LESSON 5: Framework | 12 |
| LESSON 6: Case Construction and Writing | 17 |
| LESSON 7: How to Flow | 20 |
| LESSON 8: Blocks, Rebuttals, Signposting, Organization | 24 |
| LESSON 9: Cross-Examination | 28 |
| LESSON 10: Intro to Philosophy: Part 1 | 32 |
| LESSON 11: Intro to Philosophy: Part 2 | 35 |
| LESSON 12: Judge Adaptation | 39 |
| LESSON 13: Practice Debates | 42 |
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