Debate Scenarios
(Identifying Fallacies)
(Identifying Fallacies)
During a round, Speaker A argues for increasing local funding. Speaker B responds by saying, “You shouldn’t trust their argument; they don’t even get good grades.”
Ad Hominem
This part of a Prose/Poetry performance explains the theme, author, and emotional purpose of the piece before reading begins.
What is the introduction?
In LD, this side defends the resolution.
Who is the Affirmative?
This speaking event gives competitors 30 minutes to research, outline, and prepare a speech answering a current-events question.
What is Extemporaneous Speaking (Extemp)?
This officer keeps debate running smoothly and maintains precedence and recency.
Who is the Presiding Officer (PO)?
A debater claims, “If the school bans phones in class, the next thing you know they’ll ban all electronics, and then we won’t even be allowed to use computers for assignments.”
Slippery Slope
This performance element changes depending on the mood and emotion of the piece; it can be warm, sarcastic, solemn, or humorous.
What is tone?
In WSD, this speaker responds to all previous arguments in a short 4-minute summary.
Who is the Reply Speaker?
Impromptu speeches follow this classic timing structure, often called “2–2–3.”
What is 2 minutes to prepare, 2 minutes to organize, and 3 minutes to speak?
This type of speech is given by the person who wrote the legislation.
What is an authorship speech?
The opponent says, “We should have shorter lunch lines.” The debater responds, “My opponent wants to get rid of lunch entirely!”
Strawman
In both Prose and Poetry, this technique involves giving each persona a distinct voice, posture, or energy without becoming full-on acting.
What is characterization?
This LD segment allows debaters to ask their opponent direct questions.
What is cross-examination?
Whether Impromptu or Extemp, strong speakers always begin with this attention-getting device; examples include a quote, story, or statistic.
What is a hook (attention-getter)?
This rule decides who speaks next by prioritizing those who haven’t spoken.
What is precedence?
A debater argues, “This nutrition policy must be scientifically correct because a famous actor said it worked for them.”
Appeal to Authority
This process involves selecting the strongest and most meaningful parts of a text to fit time limits and create a coherent narrative.
What is cutting?
This WSD position opens the debate for the government side and lays out the team line.
Who is the 1st Proposition Speaker?
In Extemp, this organizational pattern—intro → analysis → evidence → impact—helps the speech stay clear, supported, and logical.
What is standard extemp structure (or extemp outline)?
This is the term for actions that waste time or delay debate.
What are dilatory motions?
When asked why their plan has missing evidence, a debater replies, “Well, the real issue is that the judge didn’t give us enough time to prepare!”
Red Herring
Interp events focus on emotional connection and vocal skill, though not full blocking, meaning competitors must perform in this restricted stance.
What is “the binder position” or “limited movement”?
This LD speech is where the Affirmative must rebuild their case after attacks, often done in just 4 minutes.
What is the 1st Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR)?
This strategy helps Impromptu speakers stay focused: taking the abstract idea or prompt and turning it into three concrete examples or “legs of a stool” to support a central theme.
What is using a three-point structure (or “rule of three”) to develop the speech?
Before a bill can be debated, this must pass by majority vote.
What is the motion to open debate?