← All events
Debate1v1
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
One-on-one values debate. Affirmative and negative clash over a resolution about justice, rights, morality, or policy principle. Philosophy meets clash.
Time
6–7 min constructive · 3–4 min rebuttals
Prep
4 minutes per debater
Format
1v1
Round structure
AC — Affirmative Constructive
Present your value, criterion, contentions, and warrants. Establish the framework that decides the round.
NC — Negative Constructive
Respond to AC, advance your counter-framework and case. Frontline your strongest offense.
1AR / NR / 2AR
Rebuttals crystallize. Collapse to 1–2 voting issues. No new arguments in final speeches (except responses).
What judges look for
- Clear value and criterion link
- Responsive clash, not two ships passing
- Evidence quality and warrant depth
- Weighing: why your impacts matter more
- CX that generates usable material
Ballot criteria
AnalysisHigh
Depth of warrants, logic, and philosophical rigor.
EvidenceHigh
Quality, citation, and application of support.
Clash & RefutationCritical
Direct responses and comparative weighing.
DeliveryMedium
Clarity, pace, organization, persuasiveness.
Practice tips
- Write 1-page AC and NC skeletons you can adapt to any resolution.
- Drill 'weighing blocks' — magnitude, probability, timeframe, moral priority.
- Record yourself; flag every time you re-read a card instead of explaining it.
- Practice 30-second crystallization speeches until they feel automatic.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the framework debate
- Spreading without analysis
- No weighing in the 2AR
- New offense in the final speech
Sample topics / sparks
- Resolved: Civil disobedience in a democracy is morally justified.
- Resolved: The United States ought to prioritize reducing economic inequality over economic growth.
- Resolved: In the United States, plea bargaining ought to be abolished.
Drills for this event
Value frameworksPhilosophyClashLine-by-lineCX