Basic Debate Terms
Side of the debate whose job is to create doubt
Negative
The first speech in an LD round.
1st Affirmative Constructive (1AC)
The part of a constructive that clarifies the meaning of certain words.
Definitions
The theory that all knowledge is innate and then awakened by experience.
or...
The idea that reason is the supreme authority in decisions and opinions.
Rationalism
The length of cross examination.
3 minutes
Side of the debate whose job is to affirm the resolution
Affirmative
1st Negative Constructive (1NC)
The ideal that should be held highest in the debate round that is supported by your side of the resolution.
Value
The theory that all knowledge comes from experience.
The idea that we should value observation, experimentation, and experience to gain knowledge.
Empiricism
The length of prep time in LD.
3 minutes
Lincoln Douglas Debate is not a policy debate, it is a _____ debate
Value
The name of arguments explaining why your side of the resolution upholds your value.
Contentions
The branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge.
Epistemology
The length of the 1AC.
6 minutes
The 4th speech in an LD round.
1st Negative Rebuttal (1NR)
The measuring stick or method of achieving one's value.
Criterion
In the rationalism v empiricism debate, John Locke sided with this theory.
Empiricism
The length of the 1NC.
7 minutes
A Lincoln Douglas Debate is typically this long.
45 minutes
The 5th speech in an LD round.
2nd Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR)
The topic being debated.
Resolution
In the rationalism v empiricism debate, Descartes sided with this theory.
Rationalism
The length of the 1AR, 1NR, and 2AR individually.
1AR = 4 minutes, 1NR = 6 minutes, 2AR = 3 minutes